Kayleen grew up on the west coast of Canada, exploring the many fjords and coves of British Columbia’s abundant coastline. She spends more time on and in the water than on land and when she’s not sailing, you can find her donning her drysuit in the frigid Canadian waters.

Listen now

In this episode I talk with Kayleen VanderRee — a commercial diver by trade, who’s spent most of her adult life pursuing her love of sailing.

Hailing from British Columbia, we talk about her diving work, what she’s learnt from being captain of her own sailboat, and her personal experiences dealing with frustrations, overwhelm and anxiety in sailing.

Get set for some great adventure stories too. Kayleen sailed her 42’ sailboat to Mexico and back via the Clipper Route, which took 44 days. Most recently she attempted the Race to Alaska with a friend in her Santana 20’ yacht, and shares what it’s really like trying to navigate a treacherous 750nm race from Washington to Alaska, in a non-motorized boat. To cap off her adventures, we hear about her experience with her partner, taking out second place in The Amazing Race Canada.

In amongst this, Kayleen shares the encouragement she received from her Dad — her greatest sailing mentor.

More information

Where to connect with Kayleen

Instagram: @fromsnowtosail
YouTube: All About Spray ⁠

Episode Notes | Kayleen

01:20 Commercial diving
05:40 Her mentor
07:11 Sailing with Dad
08:45 Approaching boat jobs
09:22 Owning and maintaining her own boat
11:19 Figuring it out when things go wrong
13:40 Solo-sailing
14:42 Offshore with Dad
15:30 Sailing from childhood
17:19 Rock climbing
17:56 Current boat
18:50 The Race to Alaska
22:48 Challenges on the race
26:06 The Amazing Race Canada
29:55 Slow is smooth, smooth is fast
33:48 A break from racing
35:19 Giving it a go
37:18 Where to start with mechanics and electrics
38:47 Crossing the continental shelf
40:00 Raw vlogs on YouTube
41:04 Anxiety with sailing
44:22 Strategies for anxiety
46:22 Great advice from Dad

Available on

Listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast joy.

More episodes

Featured

Embracing the Unknown: Kayleen VanderRee on Sailing, Anxiety, and the Race to Alaska

In this episode I speak with Kayleen about life as a commercial diver, lessons as captain of her own sailboat, and strategies for anxiety in sailing. Plus we hear about her Race to Alaska and being in The Amazing Race Canada!

Rhonda: Taking a Chance on Love, Sailing & Adventure

In this episode I speak with Rhonda about ditching landlife to travel the world on a tiny sailboat with her new partner, and all of the challenges that come from transitioning into cruising full-time.

Pip Hare: For the Love of Sailing and the Vendée Globe

In this episode I speak with one of the world’s top sailors Pip Hare — only the 8th woman to have ever completed the Vendée Globe — as she prepares to take on the round the world race for a second time.

Britt Spencer: Conquering Cook Strait & Paddling for Life

In this episode I talk with Britt Spencer about battling serious health issues, and making history as the first New Zealander to cross the Cook Strait, on a prone paddle board.

Closer to Nature with Marybeth, Paddle Adventurer

In this episode we chat with Marybeth — a Canadian Youtube and content creator documenting epic paddling adventures, who gives the lowdow on choosing the right paddleboard, stalking beavers and so much more!

Adventure Meets Luxury: Inside the New Zealand Superyacht Academy with Alice Baker and Courtney Te Whiu

In this episode we talk to founders of the New Zealand Superyacht Academy, Alice Baker and Courtney TeWhiu who give all the inside info on getting set with a luxury superyacht lifestyle and career.

Healing Through Freediving: Renee Taylor from Salt Aotearoa

In this episode we talk to Renee Taylor, a speech-language therapist, freedive instructor and founder of Salt Aotearoa, about her journey into freediving and the power of connection with the ocean.

Ice Maiden: Surviving in the Southern Ocean with Lisa Blair

In this episode we talk to Australian Lisa Blair – solo-sailor, world multi-record holder, climate activist and lover of the Southern Ocean, to talk about fear and survival and her new feature documentary Ice Maiden.

Ice Maiden: The Making Of with Nathaniel C.T. Jackson

In this episode we talk with Nathaniel C.T. Jackson, Director of the feature documentary Ice Maiden, about the film making journey to tell the story of Lisa Blair’s epic 2017 Antarctic circumnavigation.

Saltwater Journal Podcast Trailer

Listen in to wholesome convos with people getting out on the water for great adventures and loving it. Whether it's sailing, freediving, paddleboarding or floating on a pink flamingo - if it brings you adventure, travel and freedom on the water - we'll talk about it.