Nine Riviera owners recently completed an eight-day cruise through some of southern Queensland's most demanding and rewarding waterways, guided throughout by the team at R Marine Jones.
The Great Sandy Straits Experience took the fleet north from the Gold Coast through Moreton Bay to Double Island Point, across the Wide Bay Bar into the Sandy Straits, and on to Kingfisher Bay on K'gari. The route included shallow bays, the Wide Bay Bar crossing, and the narrow entry channel into Lady Musgrave Island's coral reef lagoon.
For Aaron Robins, aboard his Riviera 445 SUV *Grace*, it was a steep but rewarding introduction. "I'd only had the Riviera two weeks before the trip," he laughs. "So I was hesitant at first, I didn't know the waterways, or much about the boat's systems, but thank goodness we went. What a trip!" An R Marine Jones crew member joined Aaron and his brother at various points, helping them work through the boat's systems. "It certainly made it easier to have their support and be able to ask questions the whole time, and having fun along the way," he says. "We were able to learn how to use the navigation and radar, the watermaker, generator, dropping the tender in the water, the anchor…it was all a great experience."
His highlight came at anchor. "I had a 'life's good' moment that first afternoon at Lady Musgrave. It glassed off and there was this crystal-clear water, just mind-blowing. That first afternoon was surreal." Aaron's verdict: "Get out there, work hard and get yourself a Riviera. It's just incredible the things you can do with them."
Syd and Barb Yates, aboard their 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition *Wall Street*, brought 20 years of trips with R Marine Jones to the fleet. Barb's standout moment was swimming alongside loggerhead turtles at Lady Musgrave. "My favourite part was swimming in absolute azure blue water with turtles at Lady Musgrave. We were lucky because the water was so clear. You could stand on the boat, look over the side and see the bottom like a fishbowl. The Loggerhead turtles were huge. They only mate every two to three years, so it was very special."
Syd had his own highlight from the same stop. "We came across a hole in the reef, jumped in the water for a swim and it was like swimming in an aquarium, it was so clear." The nights proved just as good. "Even at night, it was magic at anchor; with no ambient light the Milky Way was simply awesome. That's what I love about this boating life; it makes you stop and appreciate the beauty of things."
For all their time on the water, Syd says the R Marine Jones team still offers something new each trip. "We've been doing trips with R Marine Jones for 20 years and they're still happy to give us tips and hints and cautions; there's always something different to learn. The team goes above and beyond and have taught me a lot about respect for the waterways and other boaties. Randall and his team give us the courage to explore these places, and then we have the confidence to do it ourselves."
Ted Cheng and his family joined the cruise aboard their 46 Sports Motor Yacht *Saphire*. "This was the furthest and longest we've ever been out in one journey," he says. "We wanted to have a dream, to be near the Whitsundays one day in our own boat. This trip was part of that dream realised."
Coming to boating from a land-based background, Ted found the guided format particularly valuable. "For boaties like us without experience, it was an incredible way to learn. We dealt with weather, whales and all the little things that come up at sea, and R Marine Jones were there every step." The bar crossing and the lagoon entry at Lady Musgrave both tested the family's nerve, but having the crew alongside made the difference. "It's absolute paradise. It was scary going through the narrow entry the first time, but once we knew what to look out for, it was fine." His conclusion echoes Aaron's: "If you're going to buy a boat, you have to buy a Riviera."
