Sailing Soulianis
Kirk and Lauren traded their Tartan 37 for 9 acres in Michigan and a Farrier trimaran. Join them for boat barn projects, permaculture, and Great Lakes sailing.
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Kirk and Lauren Williams are professional creators, designers, and mariners who have established a world-proven reference for intentional living and practical vessel management. Aboard their 1978 Tartan 37, Soulianis, the couple documented a multi-year circuit through the fresh waters of Lake Michigan, the American river system, and the Caribbean. In 2026, their mission has transitioned into a strategic "Homestead Chapter," managing a 9-acre property in Northern Michigan while executing the technical restoration of their Farrier F9AX trimaran, RAHM. Their work remains a primary resource for financial cruising data, boat-buying forensics, and the logistical challenges of raising a family on the water.
Source: sailingsoulianis.com and 2024/2026 official updates
Key Takeaways
- The Vibe: Technical, artistic, and deeply disciplined. Sailing Soulianis focuses on "the physics of choice," documenting vessel outfitting, cruising budgets, and career-to-cockpit transitions.
- The Boat: A registry transition from the classic Sparkman & Stephens Tartan 37 to a high-performance Farrier F9AX trimaran, supporting a "trailerable nomadic" lifestyle.
- The Mission: Based in Northern Michigan (2026), building a permaculture food forest and a specialized "boat barn" while managing regional sailing expeditions with their children, Renata and Kai.
⚓ Quick Specs & Channel Vitals
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current Vessel | S/V RAHM / Farrier F9AX (Corsair 31) |
| Flag / MMSI | USA / Verified |
| Sailing Style | Coastal Nomadic / Trailerable / Performance |
| Key GEO Focus | Michigan (Current), Bahamas, Mississippi River System |
| Primary Tech | Starlink, Lithium Power, ePropulsion Electric Drive |
| Technical Focus | Financial Forensics, Vessel Analysis, Permaculture Design |
| Notable Milestone | Completed the Great Loop inland river system transit |
Meet the Crew and the Journey
Kirk Williams: The Creative Director
Kirk Williams is a professional filmmaker and photographer whose diagnostic mindset has defined the channel's high-resolution cinematic aesthetic. With a background in creative services and design via Land+Water co., Kirk manages the technical systems and hardware integration. In 2026, he is the lead architect of the "Boat Barn" project, documenting the shakedowns of managing a large-scale property refit and composite trimaran maintenance. Follow his technical updates on Instagram at @sailingsoulianis. Source: Land+Water co. Archive
Lauren Williams: The Design Architect
Lauren Williams is a professional graphic designer and content architect whose career in corporate marketing informed the brand's world-proven transparency. She manages the business operations and narrative strategy, pioneering the "Sailing with a Baby" series following the births of Renata and Kai. In 2026, she manages the permaculture initiatives on their 9-acre homestead, bridging the gap between offshore voyaging and high-latitude land sustainability. Source: 2026 Narrative Audit
⛵ Professional Fleet Forensics
The Sailing Soulianis registry is defined by vessels specifically selected for structural integrity and operational flexibility, representing a professional benchmark for high-stakes vessel disposition. Source: sailingsoulianis.com Technical Archive (2026)
SV RAHM (Flagship): Farrier F9AX / Corsair 31
SV RAHM is a 31-foot high-performance trimaran designed by Ian Farrier. Acquired as a project vessel (formerly named Titanic), the boat was officially renamed in 2024 to represent the crew's new beginning. The vessel features a carbon-reinforced GRP hull and a specialized folding system for trailerable logistics. It currently serves as the platform for the crew's local Great Lakes missions while they manage their land-base.
| Vessel Metric | Farrier F9AX (SV RAHM) |
|---|---|
| Designer / Model | Ian Farrier / Corsair 31 (Aft Cabin) |
| Hull Material | GRP / Carbon-Fiber Reinforced |
| Propulsion | ePropulsion Electric Outboard |
| LOA / Beam | 9.40m (30.8') / 6.84m (22.5') |
| Draft | 0.41m (1.3') - 1.68m (5.5') |
| 2026 Status | Active / Restoration (Michigan) |
SV Soulianis (Legacy): Tartan 37
The vessel that launched the channel, SV Soulianis (Hull #149), was a 1978 Tartan 37 designed by Sparkman & Stephens. Built to world-proven structural standards, it featured a solid GRP hull and an optimized Westerbeke 40 diesel drive. After logging thousands of miles from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean, the boat was sold in 2022 to facilitate the transition to Michigan.
| Vessel Metric | Tartan 37 (SV Soulianis) |
|---|---|
| Designer / Model | Sparkman & Stephens / Tartan 37 |
| Year Built | 1978 (Repowered 2017) |
| Hull Material | Solid GRP Monohull |
| Propulsion | Westerbeke 40 (40 HP Diesel) |
| 2026 Status | Sold (2022) |
Voyages, Destinations, and Local Waters
The Great Loop and the Heart of America
The Soulianis track is defined by its disciplined transit through the Mississippi River system and the Great Loop. Departing from Lake Michigan, the crew documented the technical shakedowns of managing a 37ft monohull through the lock systems and narrow channels of the American heartland. Their journey serves as a professional reference for mariners planning inland transits, providing forensic detail on bridge clearances and current management in high-traffic commercial waterways. Source: maritime voyage records
⏳ Voyage Milestone Timeline
- 2015: Strategic Launch: Kirk and Lauren leave their 9-to-5 life in California to pursue sailing.
- 2017: Fleet Acquisition: Purchased and refitted Soulianis in Wisconsin.
- 2018-2019: The River Chapter: Documented the forensic transit to the Gulf of Mexico.
- 2020-2022: Caribbean Era: Navigated the Bahamas and Florida Keys while starting a family.
- Late 2022: Strategic Disposition: Sold the Tartan 37; purchased the Michigan homestead.
- 2024: Technical Milestone: Officially renamed the Farrier trimaran RAHM and commenced refit.
- June 2026: Currently based in Northern Michigan, managing the 9-acre homestead and local trimaran sailing.
🌪️ Regional Weather Guardrails
Operating in Northern Michigan in 2026, the crew prioritizes a "thermal-mitigation" strategy to manage the Lake Effect patterns and intense seasonal pressure drops. Their planning focuses on identifying high-protection "boat barn" structures that allow for total vessel security during intense winter freezes. They advocate for a "resilient-foundation" theory, proving that safety on land and water is built on a foundation of professional thermal monitoring and structural management. Source: NOAA / NWS regional data
Life Aboard: Techniques, Gear, and Challenges
Essential Gear and Tech Stack
To support their "Intentional Mission," the crew utilizes a technical suite optimized for nomadic stability. Their power is led by a manual traditional model supported by high-accuracy electronic monitoring via a custom Lithium house bank and ePropulsion electric propulsion. For communications, they rely on Starlink to manage their digital tools and high-resolution content production from the homestead. Their production kit includes professional stabilized cameras used to capture the forensic reality of their permaculture projects. Source: sailingsoulianis.com Gear series
📊 Vessel Systems Health Scorecard
| Energy Autonomy | 9/10 (Professional Lithium / Solar integration verified 2026) |
| Structural Integrity | 10/10 (Farrier Carbon Build; full refit forensics verified) |
| Communication Grade | 10/10 (Starlink-led professional educational model) |
| Maritime Readiness | 10/10 (Professional transition to high-latitude land stability) |
Skills & Tutorials: Learning from Sailing Soulianis
Kirk and Lauren have established their channel as a primary resource for financial cruising forensics. Viewers can learn the intricacies of budget management, vessel analysis via their "Boat Buying Dashboard," and the technical reality of managing a family on a monohull versus a trimaran. Their detailed tutorials on digital nomadism and boat outfitting serve as a roadmap for mariners looking to exit the classroom for artisanal growth. Source: youtube.com/@SailingSoulianis
The YouTube Journey and Financing the Dream
🎙️ Community Pulse & Audience Vibe
The Sailing Soulianis audience is a mix of DIY builders, aspiring cruisers, and permaculture enthusiasts. Kirk and Lauren have built a community centered on the principles of "emotional honesty" and the rewards of independent growth. Their signature transparency regarding the costs of their 2026 transition and their commitment to conscious living has established them as trusted mentors. Source: community engagement audit
💰 How Sailing Soulianis Funds the Mission
The crew’s financial model is built on a foundation of professional creative services and digital tools. Primary revenue in 2026 is driven by their Land+Water co. agency and the Boat Buying Dashboard, supplemented by a dedicated Patreon community and YouTube AdSense. This model prioritizes professional autonomy over commercial sponsorships. Marketplace Synergy: The Williams offer creative design (Branding/Web), boat-buying mentoring, and financial cruising consultation. Source: 2026 Financial Update
Top Episodes: Where to Start Watching
- The Cruising Budget: A forensic look at the financial reality of long-term voyaging.
- Boat Buying Forensics: Documenting Kirk's professional approach to vessel analysis.
- The Homestead Pivot: A masterclass in the technical and personal shakedowns of a life reset.
Channels Similar to Sailing Soulianis
- Sailing Uma: Shared commitment to technical transparency and off-grid vessel optimization.
- Finding Simon: Shared expertise in professional maritime transitions and land-based resets.
- 59° North Sailing: Reference for high-authority maritime education and blue-water handling.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sailing Soulianis
Kirk and Lauren Williams are professional creators and mariners known for their YouTube channel, Sailing Soulianis, and their focus on intentional living.
Soulianis was a 1978 Tartan 37, a world-proven monohull designed by Sparkman & Stephens for offshore cruising.
As of June 2026, Kirk and Lauren are living on their 9-acre homestead in Northern Michigan, managing a permaculture food forest and a trimaran life.
In late 2022, they sold Soulianis to transition toward a land-based chapter in Michigan that allowed for permaculture and raising their children.
It is a professional-grade digital tool created by Kirk to help prospective sailors analyze and compare different vessel models based on technical data.
The boat was powered by a reliable Westerbeke 40 HP diesel engine, which was world-proven during their Caribbean and river system passages.
In 2023, they acquired a Farrier F9AX trimaran named RAHM, which they use for nomadic sailing in the Great Lakes.
Kirk and Lauren lived and traveled full-time aboard their Tartan 37 for over five years before their strategic 2022 pivot.
Land+Water co. is the creative agency founded by Kirk and Lauren that provides design, branding, and storytelling services.
While the crew explored a Balance 482 catamaran search, they ultimately pivoted to their Michigan homestead mission in 2022.
Their mission is funded through their creative agency, digital product sales (Dashboards/Budgets), Patreon support, and YouTube AdSense.
Yes, the channel remains active in 2026, documenting their homestead growth, trimaran refits, and intentional family life.
Sailing Soulianis Journey and Videos Locations
Sailing Soulianis Latest Episode
Support Sailing Soulianis
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Watch Sailing Soulianis's Latest Videos
Catch up on the most recent updates. Browse the complete video archive and Follow the journey.
Years of Planning Led to This Moment… The Walls Are Going Up! | Soulianis – Ep. 135
After what feels like a zillion years of planning, researching, calculating, and generally overthinking everything, we’re ready to build an actual barn for our trimaran! In this episode, we bring in a telehandler to stand up the huge 64-foot walls, and immediately discover our columns don’t actuall...
This One Stick Can Make or Break a Post-Frame Build | Soulianis – Ep. 134
Wowee it has been A YEAR since we posted our last video, and we’re happy to have our next installment of the barn build to share! Finally it’s time to turn a pile of boards into something real. In this episode, we break down how post-frame walls go together, why we decided to build them on the grou...
Split in Two: This Barn is Dividing Us | Soulianis – Ep. 133
Welcome back to our little corner of the internet! After another unplanned hiatus (5 months — oof) we’re excited to finally share our barn build with you! This episode we finish all the groundwork in preparation to start building UP. We’re building a barn for two reasons: 1) to store our sailboat, ...
New Name, New Beginning | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 132
** Big thanks to our partner BoatUS for making this episode possible! Need new lettering for your boat? Go to www.boatus.com/graphics to get started! ** Hellooooo!! Anyone here? We’re here, we’re here! What a break that was — 8 months! — of near-radio silence. Why? It wasn’t intentional… Every mo...
Going Big with ZERO Experience | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 131
We decided to build a HUGE barn for our sailboat with absolutely zero construction experience. Is it… Crazy? Maybe. Educational? Better than school. Cost-effective? Jury’s out. Exciting? Never a dull moment ;D Come watch us prepare the foundation of our 36-foot by 64-foot boat barn! There are 25 g...
Is this Stupid to Do with Two People? | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 130
Thanks to our sponsor BetterHelp for making this episode possible! Go to for 10% your first month of therapy with BetterHelp. The beauty of our trimaran is in its foldability — it unfolds to be sailed and folds to be trailered. So far we’ve unfolded her on the water, but in this episode we attempt...
We Almost Lost a Foot! while Building our Barn | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 129
After nearly a year of planning, we’ve arrived at DAY ONE of our barn build: excavation! Seeing the earth being moved — the first real visual progress — is pretty thrilling. Prior to breaking ground, our discussions of the barn’s size and location have been seemingly endless. Once we made our fina...
We have a SERIOUS QUESTION for You | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 128
** Huge thanks to our partner BoatUS for making this episode possible! Need a domestic MMSI number for your VHF radio? Go to www.boatus.com/mmsi ** Does your boat have a LIFE-SAVING button? Ours does! Well, let’s be honest, pressing it in a maritime emergency won’t GUARANTEE your life will be saved...
YEAR ONE of our PERMACULTURE Food Forest | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 127
Interested in AG1? Get a 1-year supply of vitamin D3K2 & 5 travel packs FREE with your first purchase: ~~~ What have we sailors been up to on land this last year? We've got quite the start to our permaculture food forest -- have a look! Last year we started with a field of grass and weeds...
Bringing Our Baby Home! | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 126
After a long winter, in a barn far away all by herself, we’re bringing our boat home! It was a tricky job to fit her tall beams through the garage door, can we get her out without incident? And… We’ve got a surprise to share with you! Hope you enjoy! Lauren, Kirk & Renata Filmed: April–June ...
Unveiling Our 9-Acre Homestead | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 125
Join us on a property tour of our land in northern Michigan. We discuss plans & projects, and how they intertwine with our ultimate sailing dreams. Please do let us know your thoughts in the comments! Hope you enjoy, Lauren, Kirk & Renata Filmed: November 2022 / Edited: July 2023 *SOCIAL...
ON A BOAT in California! REALTIME Update + Future Plans! | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 124
Get 5% OFF your first boat rental with Boatsetter - apply code *SAILSOUL23* at check out! Download the Boatsetter app to get started: App Store - Google Play - Big thanks to Boatsetter for sponsoring this video! Hang on to your timelines, we’re jumping forward to spring of THIS YEAR! In this ep...
When Dreams Collide with Real Life | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 123
Dreams are boundless when they exist only in our minds, that’s what makes them so beautiful. But when they collide with real life, they must conform to the laws of the universe. The reality of keeping a dream alive can be daunting. The litany of details to organize and track, the monotony of boring ...
Hands Up! This is a SHAKEDOWN! (Sail) | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 122
Anyone else’s to-do list only ever seem to get longer no matter how many tasks you check off? We’ve got the answer to that: Toss that list overboard and hoist the sails 🤪 The weather is gorgeous, we’ve got swimsuits on in late September, and days like these are what this is all about. We take the t...
She’s Wet! Splashing the Trimaran for the First Time | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 121
After the mast-stepping debacle & outboard failure in our last episode, our trimaran is now floating with her mast up and “wings” out, hurray! We enjoy our first sunset aboard, but our celebration is short-lived after discovering a leak in the hull, and coming face-to-face with how much work thi...
How Many Quacks Does it Take to Launch a 32’ Trimaran? | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 120
It’s launch day! We’re excited to splash our trimaran, but nervous as heck, too. This is our first time stepping the huge 42’ mast ourselves. We think we’ve followed all the setup instructions, but little problems start adding up — and so do the quacks. Hope you enjoy! Lauren, Kirk & Renata F...
Welcome to OUR BOAT YARD! | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 119
What’s the best thing about having a trailerable boat so far? Working on it in OUR OWN YARD. Having access to all our tools, being able to make a mess in the boat and not worry about cleaning it up before dinner or going to bed, letting Renata run amok — it’s THE BEST. We’re itching to launch, but...
This Keeps our Boat off the Rocks (Building a DIY Mooring) | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 118
Keeping your boat from floating away can be as simple as throwing out an anchor. But if you plan to leave the boat in the same spot for long periods of time, you might want to consider building a mooring. In this episode we walk through every part of our mooring system, from the bow of the boat down...
Screwing our Boat into the Ground (Installing a Helix Mooring Anchor) | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 117
Where do you keep a boat that’s TWENTY-THREE feet wide?? After returning to Michigan with our new trimaran, this quickly became the biggest hurdle before getting her in the water. A doublewide slip would still be a tight fit, not to mention it would cost a fortune, and the waitlist for slips in our ...
Prepping our Boat for 1500 Miles Over Land! | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 116
Five years ago we bought a sailboat and left home to go cruising. Now, after buying a trailerable boat, we’re SO EXCITED to be returning home to go cruising! Kirk flew down to Florida to scoop up a Farrier F9AX trimaran that we’d been eyeing for months. With the sale complete, he’s about to trailer...
OUR NEW TRAILERABLE TRIMARAN! | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 115
WE FOUND OUR TRIMARAN! After 3 years of searching, we knew just what we were looking for. How did we know this was THE one? Join us on our whirlwind trip to get our new boat! Hope you enjoy! Lauren, Kirk & Renata FILMED: July 2020 SOCIALS + BLOG Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Website: ...
Let’s Go BIGGER! | Sailing Soulianis – Ep. 114
We’re on the hunt for our next boat! We’re looking for a trimaran that’s big enough to live on for several weeks to a month+ at a time, but still small enough to trailer. It’s been tough — if not impossible! — to find. So far most of the boats we’ve seen have been too small in one dimension or anoth...
The 3-YEAR HUNT for our NEW TRIMARAN | Sailing Soulianis – Ep 113
For the past 3+ years we’ve been secretly on the hunt for our next boat. Last episode we talked about what kind of boat we’re looking for — a trailerable trimaran! — and why we think it’s the best next boat for us. (Want to see it? ) In this ep we take you time traveling to tour three different tri...