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KAYLEEN VANDERREE

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Living on the boat again hadn’t been all sunsets and romance. In fact it has been windy, wet, and I’ve spend a portion of each day fighting moisture and chasing leaks. In the depths of winter the boat starts feeling smaller and smaller. Aside from the moisture problems, I’ve still been slowly maintaining and improving. My dad has been working on a new table for my boat as my Christmas present and I spent part of the day sanding and applying the first coat of varnish. I can’t wait to see it installed! Check it out in my story!

2/2 But more importantly, here are the moments that are easy to forget, but it’s really these moments that have brought me to where I am today. 1. I only scored one league goal as captain and forward in my 4 years playing varsity field hockey. 2. Broke up with my long term boyfriend and partied hard for a while. I made selfish choices and lost my priorities. 3. The co-founder of RGC, who was one of my best friends, hired a lawyer and kicked me out because she had a different vision. I lost two years of my passion project. I still haven’t seen or spoken to her since. 4. I tried to get into kinesiology for 3 of my six university years killing myself in math and sciences to finally feel like I was settling with a Recreation degree. (I wouldn’t change anything now!) 5. I learned a lot about self worth of photography through bolt and keel and had to chase publications down for using my photos. There’s still many I never got paid for. 6. 25 days at sea each way to Hawaii, I was forced to learn a lot about myself. My boyfriend at the time was supposed to fly out and meet me but didn’t. I learned a lot about being in charge of my emotions. He broke up with me not long after I returned. 7. While working for a small company, I grew a stronger backbone and learned to ask for what I want and deserve. I won’t say more than this here. 8. Although royalties helped purchase the boat and I had (minimal savings), I still owe a lot of money on my boat and sometimes it feels like I will never be able to pay it off without selling it. 9. My life got flipped upside down when @tyturner14 was in a skydiving accident. I fell in love with him in the hospital. I had breakdowns because I was exhausted and have been emotionally beat down from being a caregiver. I wouldn’t change it for the world. 10. I’ve dreamt of sailing south for about 6 years now. Purchasing and refitting the boat has all been working towards this goal. I recently realized that I’m not even sure if I can financially make that happen or if I even want to do that big of a trip anymore. There’s still a lot of questions to be answered.

1/2: The end of decade! I started putting together my highlights that probably no one really cares about, but realized that it’s not the full story. See second post for the moments that really shaped me these past 10 years. 1. Captain of varsity field hockey team 2. Met amazing people who rekindled my love for the outdoors. The first time I went rock climbing I was wearing fake nails. 3. Started Rad Girls Collective and fostered an incredible online and local community of outdoor women. 4. Persevered through 6 years of university. 5. Found two kittens and took them hiking and canoeing. Started an instagram account and built it to over 100K followers. Later published book with notable publishers. 6. Sailed to Hawaii and back with my dad. 7. Started work with Maple Leaf Adventures. Was surrounded by an amazing network of mariners. Worked my way from customer communications to marketing lead. Got to see Haida Gwaii and Alaska. 8. With book royalties was able to purchase my first 30’ sailboat. 9. Met @tyturner14 and Kirra. Learned how to love compassionately, without judgment, and with a lot of patience. 10. Bought bigger boat and have sunk my heart, soul, and wallet into her. Have done a 10 month refit and multiple smaller trips. Have learned how to maintain the engine and problem solve. With these experiences I have been able to write multiple articles for Pacific Yachting. 11. Quit my secure job and packed up my life after being in Victoria for a decade.

A rainy wet winter voyage from a few weeks back. I’ve winterized Spray for a few months while I live on board and focus on my diving courses. But I’ve already started planning an epic trip at the end of the winter. I have a feeling 2020 is going to be a good year!

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Kayleen VanderRee

kayvdr@gmail.com

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