The Cruising Kiwis

In the vast constellation of sailing YouTube, where many channels focus purely on the aesthetics of the horizon, The Cruising Kiwis represents a deeper, more resonant narrative of family, resilience, and historical legacy. Led by Rob and Rachel Hamill, this New Zealand family of five has spent over a decade navigating the global ocean aboard their 43-foot catamaran, Javelot. While their content is packed with 'a truckload of fun,' it is anchored by a profound mission: Rob is retracing the 1978 voyage of his late brother, Kerry Hamill, whose journey ended tragically at the hands of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

As of May 2026, the crew is transiting the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, currently based in Sint Maarten. Their 2026 season has been defined by a transition in crew dynamics; while the family has circumnavigated Australia and crossed the Indian and Atlantic Oceans together, their sons Declan and Ivan have recently pivoted into professional yachting careers. This chapter finds Rob and Rachel navigating the technical demands of their classic Fountaine Pajot catamaran while balancing the emotional weight of their long-promised return toward the United Kingdom and eventually home to New Zealand.

Key Takeaways

• Channel Vibe: Heartfelt, adventurous, and technically grounded. A mix of high-stakes family sailing and deep historical reflection.
• The Boat: Javelot, a 2001 Fountaine Pajot Belize 43 catamaran, heavily customized for long-range autonomy.
• The Journey: A multi-year global circumnavigation currently exploring the Caribbean Sea (2026).

⚓ Quick Specs & Channel Vitals

Meet the Crew and the Vessel

The Sailors: The Hamill Family

Rob Hamill is a world-renowned endurance athlete, a former Olympic rower and winner of the inaugural Atlantic Rowing Race. He brings an elite level of physical discipline and risk management to Javelot. Rachel, the 'First Mate' and logistical lead, manages the complexities of raising three sons—Finn, Declan, and Ivan—at sea. The boys have literally grown up on the water, transitioning from world-schoolers to competent mariners. Finn is currently pursuing his own Olympic rowing legacy in NZ, while Declan and Ivan have recently entered the professional superyacht industry, marking a new, more solitary phase for Rob and Rachel in 2026. Source: thecruisingkiwis.com

The Boat: Javelot (Belize 43)

Javelot is a 2001 Fountaine Pajot Belize 43, a catamaran designed by Olivier Flahault and Joubert/Nivelt. Purchased by the family in 2014, the vessel is known for its balanced hulls and seaworthiness—traits that were put to the test during a direct lightning strike in Australia in 2019. The resulting refit saw a total modernization of the boat's electronics and a striking hull wrap. The Belize 43 offers the internal volume required for a family of five while maintaining the performance needed to cross oceans at 8-10 knots. Source: youtube.com/thecruisingkiwis

Voyages, Destinations, and Local Waters

A Global Circumference of Healing

The TCK track line is a map of global exploration. From their departure in Whangārei, New Zealand, they have crossed the South Pacific to Tonga and Fiji, navigated the Great Barrier Reef, and pushed through the remote waters of Indonesia and the Maldives. Their 2025-2026 transition took them from Thailand, around the Cape of Good Hope, to the Brazilian coast, and finally into the Caribbean Sea. Each mile is dedicated to the memory of Kerry Hamill, turning the act of voyaging into a powerful tribute to maritime heritage. Source: manandculture.com

⏳ Voyage Milestone Timeline

• 2014: Purchased *Javelot* and began the transition to liveaboard life in NZ.
• 2015-2018: Navigated the South Pacific and reached the Australian coast.
• 2019: Survived a direct lightning strike in Australia; complete electronics refit.
• 2020-2021: Circumnavigated Australia during the global pandemic.
• 2023: Crossed the Indian Ocean; explored Thailand and the Maldives.
• 2024: Atlantic crossing from South Africa to Brazil and the Caribbean.
• 2026: Stationed in Sint Maarten; sons transition to professional yachting careers.

🌪️ Regional Weather Guardrails

Currently cruising the Leeward Islands, the crew is highly cognizant of the **Atlantic Hurricane Season** (June 1 – Nov 30). Their recent maintenance haul-out in **Trinidad** was strategically timed to be south of the primary hurricane belt during the riskier summer months. In Sint Maarten, they manage the **Easterly Trades**, which provide excellent sailing but can kick up 'Christmas Winds' reaching 25-30 knots, requiring precise sail handling on the gaff-head catamaran main. Source: Sailing Frida Episode 109 (Tracking Caribbean peers)

Life Aboard: Techniques, Gear, and Challenges

🛠️ The Gear Locker: Crucial Hardware

Rob and Rachel rely on gear that can withstand the rigors of a continuous decade-long circumnavigation. Source: thecruisingkiwis.com/support

📊 Vessel Systems Health Scorecard

Maintaining a classic Fountaine Pajot for full-time family use requires constant systems updates. Here is our technical evaluation as of May 2026:

• Energy Autonomy (8/10): Robust solar array and replacement Cummins engines with high-output alternators.
• Water Independence (9/10): The recently serviced EcoTech watermaker is a benchmark for remote Caribbean cruising.
• Structural Integrity (8/10): Excellent maintenance record; hull wrap and electronics are modern (post-2019).
• Communication Grade (10/10): Integrated Starlink providing high-speed connectivity for the 'TCK is Live' production model.

Skills & Tutorials: Learning from The Cruising Kiwis

What can a viewer learn from the Hamills? It is a masterclass in long-term catamaran maintenance and high-performance sports integration. Rob provides actionable advice on managing replacement diesel engines and high-latitude refits (from their NZ origins), while the family as a whole demonstrates how to balance professional careers (rowing/yachting) with the nomadic life. Their transparency regarding the lightning strike recovery and the logistics of 'launching' their sons into the professional yachting world makes the channel an invaluable resource for families planning multi-year voyages. Source: YouTube - 'CREW CHANGE'

The YouTube Journey and Financing the Dream

🎙️ Community Pulse & Audience Vibe

The TCK audience is defined by its deep emotional investment in the Hamill family’s multi-generational story. Their signature approach—combining raw technical struggle with 'laugh-out-loud' family dynamics—has created a dedicated Patreon community. The "Trust Signal" for this channel is Rob and Rachel's vulnerability regarding the challenges of 'launching' their children into adulthood and the physical toll of a decade at sea. Their supporters, the 'TCK Crew,' often join as paying guests, providing a unique revenue stream that funds their ongoing refits. Source: patreon.com/CruisingKiwis

💰 Cruising Budget & Financial Blueprint

The Hamills have built a sustainable long-term model through physical asset liquidation and digital monetization. Source: manandculture.com

Top Episodes: Where to Start Watching

• CREW CHANGE: Caribbean Adventure (Ep. 300): A milestone look at the transition as Declan and Ivan depart for the superyacht industry in Sint Maarten.
• Our WORST Day Passage: A raw 2026 look at the reality of gear failure and rough conditions in the Lesser Antilles.
• TCK is Live: A look behind the scenes of their digital nomadic life and community engagement.

Channels Similar to The Cruising Kiwis

• Sailing Zatara: For fans of large-scale family voyaging and the logistics of teenage life on a catamaran.
• Sailing with six: Another premier Australian-led family channel exploring the Indian Ocean with four children.
• Motherload sailing: For viewers who enjoy unscripted, high-energy family adventure and world-schooling narratives.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Cruising Kiwis