Quick Facts
Biography
The Schürmann Family are the first Brazilian family to circumnavigate the world on a sailboat and the only Brazilian family to have done it twice. The Schürmann Family has been active around the world through their online school program, as well as their films and TV programs.
In 1984 Vilfredo, Heloisa and their children left their home, their work and school and set off from Florianópolis, the capital city of the State of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, to pursue their dream: circumnavigate the world on a sailboat. Their children, Pierre, David and Wilhelm, were 15, 10 and 7 years old, respectively. On this first adventure, the Schürmann Family spent 10 years at sea.
In 1997 the Schürmann Family began their second great adventure Magellan Global Adventure. The goal was to retrace the route sailed by Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet, the first complete circumnavigation of the planet. For this adventure, apart from the parents only their son David Schürmann and Kat, their 5-year-old daughter went along. Magellan Global Adventure was followed by more than 1,5 million people, from 44 countries. Every month the adventure’s filmed reports, broadcast internationally, had an average of 40 million television viewers in Brazil and many more around the world. After 30 months, the Schürmanns' yacht returned to Brazil.
In 2011 The Schürmanns led the expedition that for the first time in Brazilian history a World War II German U-boat was located in its waters. After 9 years research and 2 years of seagoing searches the U-513 was located 85km east of their hometown of Florianópolis. The find was announced worldwide on June 17th 2011, when the Schürmanns produced images of a Side-scanning sonar.
In Vilfredo’s words, “the bond that keeps our family so united is that we were, are and will be dreamers. Forever.”
The Family members are: Vilfredo, Heloisa, Pierre, David, Wilhelm and Kat Schürmann (d. 2006).
The Family is currently on their third around the world voyage, the Orient Expedition which ends in December 2016. Link to the expedition [1]
They have released 4 best sellers in Brazil and one box office hit documentary film:
Books
- Ao Vento (2010) Portuguese/English by David Schurmann
- Pequeno Segredo (2010) Portuguese by Heloisa Schurmann
- Pequeno Segredo (2013) Italian by Heloisa Schurmann
- Em Busca do Sonho (2006) not yet translated by Heloisa Schurmann
- Momentos De uma Aventura (2001) Portuguese/English by VilfredoSchurmann
- Um Mundo de Aventuras (2002) not yet translated by Heloisa Schurmann
- 10 Anos No Mar (1995) by Heloisa Schurmann
Films & TV
- Schurmann Family - Orient Expedition (TV Series)
- O Mundo em Duas Voltas (The World Twice Around or The World in Two Round Trips) 2007 (Film)
- Em Busca do Sonho (Film)
- Magellan Global Adventure (TV Series)
- Schurmann Family 20 years (TV Series)