Changing Course: An Epic Voyage in Search of a Sustainable Future

By Ivar Smits and Floris van Hees

Floris van Hees and Ivar Smits set sail with a mission: to discover solutions for an ecologically sustainable and socially just future. Leaving behind their jobs, home, and loved ones, they embarked on a voyage around the world as Sailors for Sustainability.

Over eight years, they traversed more than 55,000 nautical miles and visited 38 countries. They crossed oceans to wild Patagonia, mysterious Easter Island, remote atolls, and cold Greenland. They faced storms, calms, and icebergs. Along the way, they were captivated by wild landscapes, vibrant underwater worlds, and the kindness of strangers. Yet they also confronted the stark reality of a planet under pressure - pollution, poverty, deforestation, dying coral reefs, and melting glaciers.

Yet they found hope. Across the globe, they met pioneers who are building a different future: regenerating soil, producing clean energy, working cooperatively, and living with less. They encountered indigenous communities who show, through centuries-old wisdom, how to live in balance with nature and with one another.

In their book, Changing Course - An Epic Voyage in Search of a Sustainable Future, they weave together adventure, insight, and personal transformation. It is a powerful invitation to see the world differently - and to realise that a sustainable future is already within reach. It is a source of inspiration for humanity's journey towards that future and offers a concrete perspective for action for all those who choose to get on board.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9083750604
• ISBN13: 9789083750606
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Sailors for Sustainability Foundation
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.6" x 0.7" x 6.7"