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San Diego Family Recounts Their Amazing 2-Year Journey at Sea

In 2003, a San Diego family of six set out to sail around the world in a 55-foot catamaran. After two years at sea, they hit a reef in the South Pacific, destroying the boat and seriously injuring th

San Diego Family Recounts Their Amazing 2-Year Journey at Sea

Originally aired on July 10, 2008.

Maureen Cavanaugh : The Silverwood family of San Diego did something quite remarkable a few years back. They left their comfortable home in North County and made a home out of a 55-foot catamaran. Living on a sailing boat was a dream of John Silverwood .And both he and his wife, Jean, thought sea faring would be an adventurous way to teach their kids about the world.

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But this adventure very nearly ended in tragedy. One night they hit a coral reef in French Polynesia. The accident cost John part of his leg and almost cost the family their lives.

John and Jean Silverwood have written a book about their experience on the boat they called the Emerald Jane. The book is called Black Wave: The Adventure at Sea and the Disaster that Saved Them. Tom Fudge talked with John and Jean Silverwood, and their daughter, Amelia, last summer. Here's that interview.

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