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Episode #8: Katie and Lyall Burgess on Sailing the World With Your Kids

Welcome back to Latitude 38’s new podcast, Good Jibes! In this podcast, we’re bringing you the world of sailing through the eyes of the West Coast Sailor. Each week, you’ll hear stories and tips from the West Coast sailing community on cruising, racing and just plain sailing. Cast off, laugh and learn, and become a better sailor. Hosted by John Arndt, Nicki Bennett, Ryan Foland, and the team at Latitude 38 — the sailing magazine for West Coast sailors since 1977.

This week’s host, John Arndt, is joined by Katie and Lyall Burgess to chat cruising the world as a family and bringing their kids into the sailing culture. Katie and Lyall are the Co-Founders of Sun Powered Yachts and met while sailing in St. Lucia, after the ARC in 2011 — it was love at first sight. Hear how to sail the world with your family, live off the grid, balance working life and sailing life, find your home in the sailing community, and their favorite sailing adventures. This episode covers everything from boat school to beautiful islands.


Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

  • What is Sun Powered Yachts?
  • How did Katie & Lyall go from backpacking to sailing?
  • What do their daughters do on the boat?
  • How do you turn a charter boat into a cruising boat?
  • What have Katie & Lyall done to prepare for long-term sailing?
  • Where does their philosophy of living off the grid come from?
  • What’s the value of bringing your kids into the sailing culture?
  • Tack or Jibe: If Katie & Lyall could sail anywhere, where would it be?

Learn more at https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/sailing-turkeys-turquoise-coast/.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!

Good Jibes is brought to you by the Safe Boating Campaign, in partnership with the National Safe Boating Council and U.S. Coast Guard. Learn more at SafeBoatingCampaign.com.

Check out the episode and show notes below for much more detail.

Show Notes

  • Katie and Lyall Burgess on Sailing the World With Your Kids
    • [0:00] Good Jibes is brought to you by the Safe Boating Campaign, in partnership with the National Safe Boating Council and U.S. Coast Guard. Learn more at SafeBoatingCampaign.com
    • [0:38] Welcome to Good Jibes with Latitude 38
    • [0:43] John Arndt
    • [1:04] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
    • [1:14] Learn more at https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/sailing-turkeys-turquoise-coast/
    • [2:22] What is a story that shaped Katie & Lyall about sailing?
    • [3:25] Marquesas
    • [3:57] When did Katie & Lyall start sailing?
    • [4:43] How did they go from backpacking to sailing?
    • [5:15] Sociology
    • [5:33] What is World Cruising Club?
    • [6:21] ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers)
    • [7:07] What is Sun Powered Yachts?
    • [7:47] How do you balance cruising life and working life?
    • [8:35] Pandemic
    • [8:40] What do Katie & Lyall’s daughters do on the boat?
    • [9:48] Are they more excited or worried about sailing?
    • [10:51] Baja Ha-Ha
    • [11:08] What is Katie & Lyall’s long-term vision for sailing?
    • [12:52] How do you turn a charter boat into a cruising boat?
    • [13:40] Working From Home (WFH)
    • [14:52] What boats do Katie & Lyall like to cruise on?
    • [15:39] Tahiti
    • [16:41] What have Katie & Lyall done to prepare for long-term sailing?
    • [17:28] Skype
    • [18:35] Do Katie & Lyall live off the grid in Hawaii?
    • [19:04] Where does their philosophy of living off the grid come from?
    • The Sailing Community
    • [20:48] What do Katie & Lyall enjoy about the sailing community?
    • [22:03] Airplane cameo!
    • [23:18] Why do Katie & Lyall love Summer Sailstice?
    • [24:35] What’s the value of bringing your kids into the sailing culture?
    • [26:08] Silicon Valley, Zoom, WiFi, GPS
    • Tack or Jibe?
    • [26:49] What is Katie & Lyall’s favorite sailboat?
    • [37:58] What is their cruiser-to-racer ratio?
    • [29:52] What’s the longest sail they’ve ever done?
    • [31:14] If they could sail anywhere, where would it be?
    • [32:09] La Paz
    • [33:09] How would Katie & Lyall convince a non-sailor to go sailing?
    • [34:01] How would they convince cruisers to go on Summer Sailstice?
    • [34:40] Good Jibes is brought to you by the Safe Boating Campaign, in partnership with the National Safe Boating Council and U.S. Coast Guard. Learn more at SafeBoatingCampaign.com
    • [34:43] What is Katie & Lyall’s most important safety piece other than a life jacket?
    • [35:18] Dove by Robin Lee Graham
    • [35:40] Moby Dick by Herman Melville
    • [35:58] John Arndt on the pilot of Good Jibes with Latitude 38
    • [36:44] Captain Ron
    • [36:59] Reaching Reality
    • [38:05] What final thoughts do Katie & Lyall have?
    • [38:55] Connect with Katie & Lyall at SunPoweredYachts.com and on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
    • [39:38] Learn more at https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/sailing-turkeys-turquoise-coast/
    • [40:07] Make sure to follow Good Jibes with Latitude 38 on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
    • [40:34] Follow our sponsor, the Safe Boating Campaign, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @boatingcampaign and use the hashtags #SafeBoating and #RealBoatersWearit. Learn more at SafeBoatingCampaign.com
    • [40:58] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
    • Theme Song: Pineapple Dream by SOLXIS

Thanks for listening to Katie Burgess, Lyall Burgess, and John Arndt on Good Jibes with Latitude 38. Subscribe here to receive Latitude 38 to your home each month.

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