The Cruising Kiwis: What Catamaran Do They Sail? (2023)

People and background

Rob Hamill

Rachel Hamill

Finn, Declan and Ivan are their children who often focus on creating the videos. This is one of the most raw videos they have created:

Boats and projects

The boats below are part of the channel’s earlier story; ownership and equipment may have changed since those episodes.

Boat details

The Cruising Kiwis on YouTube sail on their 2019 Fountaine Pajot Belize 43 with an owner’s cabin floorplan.

Refits and equipment

Upgrades to their boat include AIS, chartplotter and water maker.

Journeys and notable episodes

Places in the story

These locations refer to earlier episodes, not a live position.

The Cruising Kiwis were circumnavigating Australia.

Earlier sailing journeys

They have sailed through New Zealand and Australia, although Rob had won a rowing race in the past.

Collaborations

While The Cruising Kiwis do have a small channel, it hasn’t stopped them from collaborating with these giants:

• Sailing Zatara
• Expedition Drenched

I look forward to seeing them connect with other Australian cruising families.

Notable episodes

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.