Everything You Always Wanted To Know
Joshua Smith
Founder and Editor at Cruising Freedom
This is the definitive guide on Feel The Breeze Family for 2023.
Over the last 2 years, I have spent 47 hours watching and researching everything I could about Gerben and Rianne to learn more about their story.
(Yes, I really am *that* obsessed with Feel The Breeze Family 😃)
If you wanted to know:
➜ How Feel The Breeze Family afforded their boat
➜ How they make their money today and their net worth
➜ What boat do they have and its upgrades
➜ More details about Rianne’s divorce and court case
➜ How you can start crossing oceans
Then you’ve definitely come to the right place.
Before we start, a quick introduction from me…
The Cruising Freedom Author
Ahoy, Matey! I’m Joshua from Australia.
I’ve built the perfect business to sail the world.
A business model which can allow me to:
➜ Own a catamaran debt-free
➜ Go for weeks without WIFI
➜ Create semi-passive income
➜ Inspire others to dream big
But more on that later… 🙂
Feel The Breeze Family FAQs (April 2023)
Boat Name
S/V Perfect Sense (it’s painted on the aft of their boat)
Crew Members
Gerben Hottinga (age 42) who built multiple businesses
Rianne Hottinga (age 37) and was born on a boat
This wonderful couple have been together for 6 years.
Benjamin Hottinga (age 3) who is their son. Rianne just gave birth to their second child in late 2022.
Pedro Wessells (land-based video editor) edits and publishes most of their videos.
Divorce
Gerben and Rianne have had relationship issues through parts of their journey, and have spent time separately. However, they are not divorced. These issues may stem from cabin fever, where two people are in a cramped environment..and having a toddler on board makes things way more difficult.
More details here:
She has had issues with a court case from previous issues due to Gerben’s bankruptcy.
I don’t think they’ll be separating anytime soon, especially as she is pregnant with their next child.
The Boat
Feel The Breeze Family has a 2004 Beneteau 57 sailing yacht. This cost around $195,000.
Upgrades
They have upgraded their boat with:
➜ B&G Zeus 3
➜ Bow thruster
➜ Wireless UHF
➜ New autopilot
➜ 3 water tanks
They’re definitely serious about cruising around the world with this vessel. They even have their own ice maker. 🙂
Location
According to Instagram, they are in Montenegro
According to YouTube, they are also in Montenegro
This means they are currently up to date on their videos.
Past Cruising
They have so far been sailing around the Mediterranean.
Affording It
One of Benjamin’s companies went bankrupt in 2017, with issues that still arise today. It’s definitely been tough for all 3 and this is a key reason why they wanted to leave their past behind and move on to a boat.
Rianne has been open about owning the boat herself, and she’s abundant with money. She previously tried building a sustainable clothing company but struggled, much like many entrepreneurs. Fortunately, she kept some money herself.
Today, they do make a few dollars on YouTube.
Net Worth
YouTubers are often wealthier than we assume.
As of 2023, Feel the Breeze Family has a net worth of just $510,000 USD.
This is an estimation that combines their boat valuation and personal investments. While it’s small, they have found the means to purchase their own yacht.
Making Loot
Today, they make their income with:
➜ Affiliate links placed within their video description
➜ Allowing YouTube to put ads on their channel
➜ Running their own Patreon account
➜ Selling their own exclusive merchandise
With this combined, Feel The Breeze Family are making around $5,500/month through their channel.
It’s clear that they’re running their YouTube account like a business and take their monetization seriously.
Collaborations
I haven’t seen them featured with any other YouTubers.
Big Moments
Their biggest moment was Rianne temporarily leaving to gain some space.
The court case continues to overshadow Feel The Breeze Family’s cruising adventures.
Future Plans
They’re planning to sail around the world, but is Rianne pregnant again? 🤔
Key Takeaways
What can we learn from this wonderful cruising family?
➜ You don’t need to build a million-dollar company
➜ Re-evaluate your life choices as often as you can
➜ Be willing to learn your own boat inside and out
➜ A yacht is much more affordable than a catamaran
And of course, for the men, find a beautiful mermaid to join you on your journey.
Conclusion
I have really enjoyed their adventures on YouTube. It certainly hasn’t been easy but I can’t wait until they have 100% freedom.
Entrepreneurship is a tough gig and they’re holding on to some baggage from the past. I should know – I’ve had a tough journey too.
But with will, persistence and determination, they have found a way to move forward sustainably.
I can’t wait to see what’s to come. 😀
Create Your Own Cruising Freedom
Hey! 😃 it’s Joshua again…
Clearly I’ve been very inspired by Feel The Breeze Family and their travels…
Some say I’m obsessed, but sailing the world is my childhood dream.
They’re living the dream, but that dream isn’t actually that far away.
I mentioned earlier about discovering the #1 cruising business model.
With this exciting opportunity, I’ll be able to:
➜ Generate a sustainable full-time income through learning basic skills
➜ Fund the purchase of my first sailing catamaran without any loans
➜ Do it without selling to friends and family (I found a better solution!)
➜ Share my lifetime passion for sailing, cruising and global adventures
Keen to discover more? Jump on the free training right now. 👨🏻💻
(I share more about it on the next page…🙂)
