What is it like to live on a sailboat and raise a family? Not just for a few years, but for over a decade. And not just one or two kids, but five. If you think this set up might result to some interesting stories, you would be right! Today’s guest, Tanya Hackney, has written a book that is full of stories that give a good look at an adventurous life onboard. In this episode we talk about some of those stories and Tanya shares how she and her husband Jay made their sailing dream happen. The book ...
Nov 03, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 10
While many of us dream of setting sail with no end date in mind, it's probably more common (and more realistic!) to plan for a shorter sailing adventure. My guest this week is Julie Height who put her work as a lawyer aside for two years and during that time she, her husband and their two boys explore all that their home country Australia has to offer. Julie and I talk about how they made this happen with busy careers, school, hobbies and a pandemic, and why this family of four wanted a change f...
Oct 27, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 9
When sailing and cruising internationally becomes a serious life goal, it usually requires some adjustments and a lot of learning. Today's guest, Kayleen VanderRee, learned the sailing lifestyle from her parents as a teenager and it is now her goal to sail the world's oceans with her partner, Tyler. Kayleen shares her journey of progressing from one boat to another, and how her current boat, a Tartan 42, matches her adventurous lifestyle, cruising plans and also offers a comfortable home for her...
Oct 20, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 8
❗️Attention all boat shoppers! ❗️In this episode I chat with Sonya and Jack from Two the Horizon. In addition to a boat shopping misadventure and cautionary tale, this lovely couple shares their story of becoming liveaboards and business owners in sunny California ☀️We also talk about what it means to be environmentally friendly and do our part to fight climate change 🌿 How to follow Two the Horizon ⬇️ 🎥 Two The Horizon on Youtube 📸 Two The Horizon on Instagram 🖥 Twothehorizon.com 🐱 Fathom ...
Oct 13, 2021•58 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Anyone who has researched some sailing literature or been inspired by the phrase 'go simple, go small, go now' will be familiar with my guest in this episode: Lin Pardey. She spent decades exploring the world and circumnavigated twice with her late husband Larry Pardey. In this interview Lin shares some lovely memories from those adventurous years but we also talk about Lin's current sailing plans - after all, nobody said you have to stop sailing when you turn 70! 🎥 The Real Deal Documentary do...
Oct 06, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 6
If you have ever travelled in a foreign country and wished you could help the stray animals living on the streets - this episode is for you. I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Sheddy, an Australian veterinarian who lives on her sailboat and travels in Central America and Mexico while offering free medical services to animals in need: stray cats and dogs, pets whose owners cannot afford expensive treatments or surgeries, and wildlife in distress. She also collaborates with the local communit...
Sep 29, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 5
How do you get started with sailing when you don't have a clue how to sail and you're not part of the sailing community? All you know is that it is the right thing to do.... but how? In this interview I ask Ryan and Sophie to take me way back to the beginning of their sailing adventure and we retrace their steps on how they learned to sail and got started with the lifestyle. We also talk about the pros and cons of sailing in the Mediterranean vs the Caribbean, and Ryan and Sophie also reveal wha...
Sep 22, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Today's guest, Amanda Swan, has decades of sailing experience and she has a wealth of knowledge about all things sailing. It’s not often that I talk about so many different things in one interview but in this one we cover: things to know about rigging, her sailing experience in both polar regions, and in all the amazing places in between. We also talk about what stands out to her from her experience of sailing around the world onboard Maiden in the Whitbread Round the World Race, and share a lot...
Sep 15, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Today's episode is a story about a family who believed there had to be more to life than jobs, school and 'the usual'. After learning about the sailing lifestyle by pure coincidence, they have since sailed the Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean and have turned their sabbatical into a permanent lifestyle. Their journey includes making sacrifices to be able to realize their dream, buying a boat unseen and starting a business that allows them to keep sailing. This is a candid and inspirational...
Sep 08, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 2
As someone who has embarked on this sailing adventure by herself, Liz Riley has experienced the support and positive power of the sailing community. Before she became a liveaboard sailor, she joined the Ocean Cruising Club and crossed oceans on all different kinds of boats before buying her own sailboat. What a great way to gain some valuable experience! We talk about all this and more (like being rescued at sea and costs of liveaboard life in Guatemala!). ⬇️ Links and resources It's The Truth o...
Sep 01, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Season #2 is here! This is the new season kick-off with some much needed updates on the social media side, and a sneak peek at a few of my upcoming guests. Full-length episodes will start next week and there will be quite a few of them, so get ready for some awesome stories and boatload of advice based on real life experiences. Let's be social! Come find me and fellow listeners on Instagram or Facebook , and let's keep the conversation going. You'll find me there as Liveaboard Sailing Podcast. T...
Aug 25, 2021•5 min
That's a wrap! Season #1 is all done and in this episode I summarize some of my key take-aways from the episodes. I also reflect on the success of the podcast which, to be honest, took me by a surprise. And of course, I will also share what's next for Liveaboard Sailing Podcast. I'd love to get your thoughts, questions and ideas about this podcast and season #2, as well. If you want to send me a message, get in touch on Instagram where you can find me as annikarautiola . And another fun thing, y...
Jul 28, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 10
You think you have found your dream boat, but how do you know you're not buying a lemon? You have an expert do a boat survey! As a key part of the boat purchasing process, there's actually quite a bit to know about pre-purchase surveys in particular. In this episode I interview Sarah White from Yacht Associates International based out of Vancouver, Canada. Sarah explains what are the different kinds of boat surveys, how surveyors work with the client and on the boat, what surveyors do (and also ...
Jul 21, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode I bring you something a little different as I interview John Neal from Mahina Offshore Services , and we talk all about what makes a good bluewater sailboat. John has decades and nearly 400,000 nautical miles of experience so he is the perfect person to help me understand how to avoid making boat buying mistakes and how to focus on the right things when looking at sailboats. This chat was incredibly useful and educational, so if you want to learn more about sailboats and what qua...
Jul 14, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This week I chat with Cory and Chris from SV Constellation, a lovely young professional couple who live on their 45 foot Freedom sailboat in Seattle. When deciding on the next step in their lives, they chose a life on water over the traditional land life, which seemed like a natural fit for the experienced sailors. In this episode we talk a lot about finances related to life on a sailboat, from financing and buying a sailboat to liveaboard costs in Seattle, and much more! Follow the PNW sailing ...
Jul 07, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Do you have a dream of starting with local sailing adventures, building experience and confidence and then heading out to explore the world? This week's guests, Jenny and Mac from Cruising Maya did just that. They started in the Pacific Northwest, living on their 37 foot sailboat year round before starting their grand adventure in April of 2021. This amazing couple is full of advice and we talk all about surviving through winters on a sailboat (with great tips!), sailing with a dog, and about th...
Jun 30, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Have you ever thought about the liveaboard life as a sustainable lifestyle alternative? This week I chat with Taryn and Logan from Wayward Life Sailing whose desire for travel and a more sustainable, close to nature lifestyle led them to buy a sailboat and move onboard. They were in for quite the adventure that saw them buy three (!) boats in just two years but despite a few hiccups, they are now indeed living their dream. Taryn and Logan are one of my favourite Youtube sailing channels with the...
Jun 23, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 5
This week I chat with Brooke and Gary from SV One Life, who traded the American dream for their dream, meaning they now live on a sailboat and explore the Caribbean! This couple is so inspirational and they really show what can happen when you just decide to go for it. In this interview we talk about how and why they made their sailing dream happen. Brooke and Gary talk about the reality of living the dream life and what kind of challenges they've faced, and what they would do differently. We al...
Jun 16, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode I talk with a lovely sailing couple, Alie and Ben from Breaking Waves Sailing. They are currently cruising in British Columbia and are preparing to sail south to Mexico - once they've spent a winter onboard. We talk about how exactly they are preparing to do all this, as well as sailing with a dog and working from a sailboat. Alie and Ben also talk about what's it like to have and grow a Youtube sailing channel, and they share some absolutely hilarious stories about some mishaps ...
Jun 09, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Have you ever dreamed of working from a sailboat while exploring the world? Today's guests, Roxy and Phil from SV Sonder are doing just that. In this interview they give practical advice to anyone hoping to work from a sailboat and they also talk about some of the challenges they faced with banks and insurance companies when looking for sailboat financing and insurance. This episode is a must-listen to anyone who's hoping to work while sailing. Roxy and Phil are so helpful, full of advice and ju...
Jun 02, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 2
My first guests are Darren and Amanda from SV Panda and oh boy do they have a story to tell! Their journey has taken them from Florida and the Caribbean to the UK, and one could say they took the scenic route as they crossed the Atlantic via Greenland. They've done all this in two years - did I mention they started with zero sailing experience? Not only do Amanda and Darren share the details of their adventure but we talk about what the liveaboard sailing is actually like, both the good and the ...
Jun 02, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Hi there, and welcome to the Liveaboard Sailing Podcast! It's your host Annika here. I’m hosting this podcast because I want to learn everything that I possibly can about the sailing lifestyle, specifically about becoming a liveaboard cruiser. I do this by talking to liveaboard sailors as well as industry experts, and find out all the essentials about boat shopping and selection, the costs of full time sailing, and exactly how people made their dream a reality. Join me and you will get real-life...
May 25, 2021•2 min
