Northern Magic

The Stuemer family from Ottawa, Canada, completed an around-the-world voyage in their 42-foot sailboat, Northern Magic, during 1997-2001. Herbert Stuemer and Diane King Stuemer, and their three boys (Michael (b. 1986), Jonathan (b. 1988) and Christopher (b. 1992)) started their voyage on the Northern Magic on 11 September 1997. After circumnavigating the globe for 4 years, upon their return to Ottawa in August 2001 they were greeted by a crowd of thousands. During their voyage, Diane Stuemer wrote a popular weekly column for the Ottawa Citizen newspaper. She subsequently wrote a book, The Voyage of the Northern Magic, chronicling their adventures. Diane died on 15 March 2003 .

Northern Magic -- The Boat Northern Magic was a 42-foot steel-hulled ketch. "Built in 1960 in Holland, her sturdy steel hull was soft-chined and graceful. She was built along the lines of a classic bluewater cruising yacht: a deep, full keel, heavy-duty equipment, and at 20 tons fully loaded, a very stable and sea-kindly vessel. This was clearly the kind of boat that was meant to be sailing with a hundred fathoms of water beneath her keel."

After their voyage, the Stuemer family sold Northern Magic. It was subsequently dashed on the rocks in Uruguay .

Northern Magic -- The Book In 2002 Diane King Stuemer published a book, The Voyage of the Northern Magic, chronicling the 4-year voyage.

Northern Magic -- The Charity Upon their return to Canada, Herbert Stuemer and Diane King Stuemer created a charity Northern Magic Fund for International Development . This fund has helped hundreds of children in Kilifi, Kenya, attend high school.