Traking a 50-foot luxury motor yacht across the Wide Bay Bar for the first time could unsettle even confident skippers. But with expert guidance from R Marine Jones and Riviera’s onboard technology, what could have been a nerve-wracking challenge instead became, for nine Riviera owners, an invitation into southern Queensland’s breathtaking waterways and a world of possibility.
Enjoy the 3 episodes of the Great Sandy Straits Experience.
For new owner Aaron Robins on his Riviera 445 SUV, ‘Grace’, the journey was an exhilarating baptism by water.
“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!”
A crew member from R Marine Jones accompanied Aaron and his brother at different times. “It certainly made it easier to have their support and be able to ask questions the whole time, and having fun along the way. 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,” he says.
Caption 3.
“Get out there, work hard and get yourself a Riviera. It’s just incredible the things you can do with them.”
Aaron Robins
The eight-day September itinerary set off from the Gold Coast first towards K’gari: through Moreton Bay to Double Island Point, across the Wide Bay Bar into the Sandy Straits and on to Kingfisher Bay. It’s a route with several navigational challenges including shallow bays and one of Australia’s most respected sandbar crossings. Moving on, the R Marine Jones crew were at hand to ensure everyone’s safe passage through the only navigable entry channel into Lady Musgrave Island’s coral reef lagoon.
“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 is simple: “Get out there, work hard and get yourself a Riviera. It’s just incredible the things you can do with them.”
Caption 4
“My favourite part was swimming in absolute azure blue water with turtles at Lady Musgrave.”
Barb Yates
Caption 5
From turquoise shallows and curious turtles, to golden sunsets over the Great Sandy Straits, for seasoned Riviera owners Syd and Barb Yates aboard their 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, ‘Wall Street’, each nautical mile was a reminder of just how magical life on a Riviera is.
“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,” recalls Barb. “The Loggerhead turtles were huge. They only mate every two to three years, so it was very special.”
“One day we went over to the island with everyone,” says Syd. “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. 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.
“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. It’s a good philosophy. I also like that they pick unique locations, places that could be generally a challenge to reach by yourself. Randall and his team give us the courage to explore these places, and then we have the confidence to do it ourselves.”
Caption 6
“We wanted to have a dream, to be near the Whitsundays one day in our own vessel. This trip was part of that dream realised.”
Ted Cheng
The Great Sandy Straits Experience was the realisation of a long-held dream for Ted Cheng and his family on their 46 Sports Motor Yacht, ‘Saphire’. Ted’s family first acquired an SUV 445, and was a complete novice to boating at the time.
“This was the furthest and longest we’ve ever been out in one journey,” says Ted. “We wanted to have a dream, to be near the Whitsundays one day in our own vessel. This trip was part of that dream realised.”
Having come to boating from a land-based lifestyle, Ted describes the experience as both thrilling and reassuring. “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, but R Marine Jones were there every step.”
“Coming into the bay at the Great Sandy Bay Bar was quite an experience. We’d read about bar crossings and they really explained it well, we just followed the leader and got through.”
The same support applied when entering the lagoon at Lady Musgrave. “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. The crew also took us fishing which was a lot of fun. We got up early and it was a very productive morning. We dropped the line and the fish were on it straight away! The whole experience was valuable and confidence-building.”
Ted’s view echoes Aaron’s: “If you’re going to buy a boat, you have to buy a Riviera.”
