Peter Teakle's 'Aussie Battler' heads on another fishing adventure (left) while Phil Cozens' 'Persistence II" rests at her berth (right)
As part of Experience magazine’s ‘What’s in a Name’ series, we look at the names of motor yachts that have stood the test of time.
A boat’s name is reflective of the character who has it built. So says Peter Teakle, from Australia’s tuna fishing capital Port Lincoln. “Names are significant,” he says. “It’s like when you name a child; it’s important you don’t give them a lousy badge in life, so you’ve got to be very careful.”
Early in his career, Peter worked as a sales representative for his family’s label business. Twice a week he would visit winemakers flourishing in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, where he would ply the family’s wares.
“Every week at 10am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I’d have a production meeting with the purchasing manager for Penfolds,” says Peter.
“He was a dry sort of character and my biggest customer. One day I rolled up in a Porsche – it was not the average car for a sales rep to be driving. His office window in the chateau looked down on the driveway and he was gazing down at me.”
Aussie Battler at ease off the coast of South Australia
Peter visiting Riviera Australia's world class facility in Queensland
“He had me wait at reception for the longest time until finally the receptionist walked me into his office, and he turned from the window, looked me up and down, and said: ‘Aussie battler come good’. I thought, one day I’m going to call a boat by that name.”
And so it was that Peter ceased naming his boats after wines and named his new Riviera 51 Flybridge, Aussie Battler. Some 12 years ago, Mark Hand acquired Aussie Battler and kept the name.
“I really liked it; I’ve even trademarked it and my daughter has started an apparel company called Aussie Battler Co.,” says Mark.
“I think the name really reflects that all of us are Aussie battlers. I mean, we all battle at some stage of our lives. We battle every day. I battled my way through the same as everyone else has in life. We started with nothing and worked our way up, and we’re fortunate enough to have a Riviera. On Aussie Battler, we battle the seas trying to catch tuna – and sometimes we’re successful.”
The sun sets after another marvellous day on the water
Persistence II – Phil's beautiful Riviera 4800 Sport Yacht
Persevering in business through boom years and bad is what led Phil Cozens to name his first Riviera, a 3600 Sport Yacht, Persistence, and his second Riviera, a 4800 Sport Yacht, Persistence II.
“I’ve run my own business for many years, nearly 50,” says Phil. “I left school at 16 years of age, so through my life I’ve had to be persistent to gain the edge you need in business. I used good communication as a major asset to build relationships and was determined in what I went for.
“I’ve had a range of boats over the years, our first being an eight-foot clinker bought for eight pounds including a Seagull motor. That was the first boat the family owned, and we’ve grown from there. My philosophy has been to persist to achieve what I wanted, and to never give up. The biggest thing has been to always believe in what I’m doing, and I always have an out if I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.”
Voodoo enjoying yet another beautiful sunset
John and Jane Edwards, owners of Voodoo
"The name does reflect how we use our boats as we tend to push the boundaries and head to the most inaccessible and magical places we can imagine."
John Edwards
Meanwhile, in Western Australia, John Edwards is on his third Voodoo, having transcended sail boats to a Riviera 54 Enclosed Flybridge for more comfortable adventuring.
“Originally the idea stemmed from my interest in anything magical or mystical and we certainly wanted a name that people would not easily forget,” says John.
“Our first Voodoo was a 66-foot sailing yacht which we had built in the UK. We planned to sail her through the Mediterranean in the summer months and into the Caribbean and West Indies for the European winter. Considering the name and our winter plans, our friends warned us that we might be met unfavourably in the islands, but I was quietly confident the locals would ‘get it’.
Twilight time for Voodoo
“As it turned out, we became rather legendary from our first arrival and the locals were overjoyed at our choice. We’ve kept the tradition on all vessels since. The name does reflect how we use our boats, as we tend to push the boundaries and head to the most inaccessible and magical places we can imagine.”
True to form, two years ago John and his wife Jane took their Riviera 54 to the Kimberley in Western Australia’s rugged north-west. They cruised for nine months and covered 5,280 nautical miles of rugged coastline and remote island archipelagos. In fact, when they commissioned Voodoo, they did so with the Kimberley trip in mind, knowing they’d have plenty of visitors to accommodate in luxury and style.
