The wettest east coast summer in decades didn’t dampen Riviera owners’ thirst for adventure and conviviality, as this year’s R Marine Jones Kooringal Experience highlighted. With a less-than-ideal forecast, and under the expert guidance of Randall and Melinda Jones and their team, twenty-five Riviera motor yachts and their 90 crew bravely set off from the Gold Coast towards the south-west coast of Moreton Island in mid-March.
Phil and Marina departed from Sovereign Island soon after 6:00am aboard their new 5400 Sport Yacht, Anesi. “We hit shocking weather on the way up between Peel Island and Kooringal but we managed to get through safely,” recalls Marina. Once R Marine Jones had marked out the channel, in limited visibility, they guided the fleet over the tricky tidal shoals with continuous radio communications until everyone had anchored safety.
“When we dropped anchor the sun came out and there was time to relax and unwind,” Marina says. “Later that night we had a great dinner at the famous Gutter Bar, hosted by the R Marine Jones team. They organised a concierge facility for our tenders so we wouldn’t get stuck on the sandbars with the shifting tides. Kooringal is very special for us. It was during the trip last year on our 445 SUV, while we were watching a party aboard a 5400 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, that we decided to upgrade.”
In the past two years since arriving on the Gold Coast, the couple has joined R Marine Jones on trips to Tangalooma, Slipping Sands and Kooringal. “The biggest thing is the fact that you’ve got the R Marine Jones team there as support all the way,” says Phil. “When the water is a little choppy they’re on the radio, telling you how to handle it, so we really get a lot of seamanship experience from these trips. The comradeship between Riviera owners is special; everyone is down to earth, no one cares what size your boat is or anything like that, we just take care of each other and forge friendships.”
Marina and Phil had invited a family of five to join them for the long weekend. Between relaxing and fishing from Anesi, the party returned to the Gutter Bar on several occasions. “It was a magnificent time, something our friends will never forget. The Gutter Bar is an unexpected place. It reminds me of Gilligan’s Island – just out in the middle of nowhere, through the mangroves and shrubs, and all of a sudden a little cafe appears. It’s really unique,” adds Phil.
R Marine Jones’ Q&A session also added value. “Safety factors are so important and it’s good to be reminded of things like lifejacket preparedness, having emergency plans, storing sufficient torches on the vessel and the annual service on safety equipment. It helps us think through things we might otherwise overlook,” Phil explains.
A few hundred oysters, put on by the team after the Q&A session, also went down a treat. As for their new 5400? “It’s not just a boat, it’s a floating luxury apartment. It’s everything Riviera promised it would be,” says Marina.
Enjoying the fabulous R Marine Jones dinner at the famous Gutter Bar
(Left) RIV 1, a Riviera 57 Enclosed Flybridge, owned by Randall and Melinda Jones of R Marine Jones (Right) In great company, the crew aboard the Riviera 40 Flybridge, 4 Notts II
A few hundred oysters, put on by the team after the Q&A session, were very welcome
Damien and Jo on Rogue One, their 395 SUV, headed south from Bribie Island into the weather to meet the fleet at the entrance to the Kooringal anchorage. “We were driving into the storm on the way down. On a different boat we might have been saturated, but on the 395 SUV we were safely inside and it didn’t even feel like we were in bad weather. It was actually a good opportunity for us to see what the Riviera can do in different conditions,” says Damien. “We don’t have a lot of experience on a motor yacht of this size – we’re used to running around on eight metre boats, so this is a step up and it was a comforting experience.”
Though the weather didn’t play ball for some of the weekend, Damien and his family still managed to make the most of the natural surrounds. “Our 11-year-old son Kobi absolutely loves spending time on the Riviera. He was disappointed we didn’t see the turtles that we saw the year before but it’s so good to spend time together, away from electronics with board games and cards instead. We walked to the other side of the island and had a great night out at the Gutter Bar catching up with everyone.
“The Q&A session with R Marine Jones is always really valuable. We’re new to this type of boating and it’s all about experience. Learning from the Riviera guys and knowing that they’re right there to help us makes us more confident to do our own thing,” he adds. “The R Marine Jones’ team support is fantastic. They’re always happy to help if you have a question. They offer an invaluable support service and everyone there is just friendly, like one big family, supported in this great network of people.”
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