Everything You Always Wanted To Know
Joshua Smith
Founder and Editor at Cruising Freedom
This is the definitive guide on The Cruising Kiwis for 2023.
Over the last 3 years, I have spent 57 hours watching and researching everything I could about The Cruising Kiwis to learn more about their story.
(Yes, I really am *that* obsessed with Rob and Rachel’s Australian journey 😃)
If you wanted to know:
➜ How The Cruising Kiwis afforded their boat
➜ How they make their money today
➜ What boat do they have and its upgrades
➜ If their catamaran is a bluewater cruiser
➜ 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… 🙂
The Cruising Kiwis FAQs (April 2023)
Boat Name
S/V Javelot
Crew Members
Rob Hamill (age 49)
Rachel Hamill (age 47)
Finn (19), Declan (17) and Ivan (14) are their children who often focus on creating the videos. This is one of the most raw videos they have created:
The Boat
The Cruising Kiwis on YouTube sail on their 2019 Fountaine Pajot Belize 43 with an owner’s cabin floorplan.
Upgrades
Upgrades to their boat include AIS, chartplotter and water maker.
Location
The Cruising Kiwis are currently circumnavigating Australia.
Past Cruising
They have sailed through New Zealand and Australia, although Rob had won a rowing race in the past.
Affording It
Rob and Rachel worked hard for decades
Net Worth
The Cruising Kiwis have a net worth of $1,570,000 based on their boat valuation and personal savings.
Making Loot
The Cruising Kiwis aren’t trying to make money on YouTube, as they create their content for inspiration.
But they would like to continue crusing, and so:
➜ They offer a small Patreon account
➜ They sometimes allow YouTube to run ads
They’re only making around $900/month, unlike other channels that absolutely ‘clean up’ through creating videos.
They could monetize their channel so much more by adding referral links and creating sponsorship agreements or even offering to consult for those seeking to purchase a boat.
Collaborations
While The Cruising Kiwis do have a small channel, it hasn’t stopped them from collaborating with these giants:
I look forward to seeing them connect with other Australian cruising families.
Big Moments
Excuse the pun, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing for this wonderful family. Rob got a fish hook in his foot once, but that’s small compared to the rest:
While sailing, they have experienced the WA Government trying to catch them out for swimming with whales which was legal for private vessels. More details here:
They also had a sketchy entrance into Noosa Heads. I’ve struggled on that bar crossing too so I don’t blame them.
In addition, in 1978, Rob’s older brother Kerry was unfortunately attacked by a Khmer Rouge gunboat, along with his two friends.
Sadly, they were captured, tortured and eventually murdered. Part of the Cruising Kiwis journey is to re-trace Kerry’s route.
More details about that story here:
There is also a movie that tells the story.
Future Plans
Now that the circumnavigation of Australia is almost over, they’re planning to head into SE Asia.
Key Takeaways
What can we learn from this heart-driven cruising family?
➜ You can definitely cruise with older kids
➜ Find the right catamaran for your needs
➜ Work through the challenges along the way
➜ You’ll find fellow kid-boats along the way
➜ Make your cruising a journey worth telling
And of course, take it easy on the waters!
Conclusion
The Cruising Kiwis have absolutely inspired me to go sail around Australia. They’re down-to-earth and despite their smaller audience, share way more wisdom than channels 10x the size.
I certainly can’t wait to see more!
Create Your Own Cruising Freedom
Hey! 😃 it’s Joshua again…
I’ve been very inspired by The Cruising Kiwis 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…🙂)
