With stunning views of Fremantle Harbour and the Indian Ocean beyond, the 2021 R Marine Perth Drinks Night in June welcomed more than 110 Riviera owners and friends for the first time in over a year.
As always, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to enthusiastically discuss their beloved luxury motor yachts among likeminded people. The Riviera family’s warmth, openness and willingness to share experiences was a welcome surprise for new owners Simon and Lydia Winter who acquired a 43 Flybridge earlier in the year.
“We were eager to attend because if there’s one thing you want to do as a new boat owner, it’s to listen and learn,” says Simon. “People were kind enough to come over and introduce themselves and share their stories, tips and tricks.”
Lydia says she was surprised by the popularity of the event. “It was a great turnout at a fantastic venue; there was a really lively atmosphere, and everyone was very, very friendly.”
Tonic is the couple’s first motor yacht and has been a significant step for the family to take.
“It’s been fantastic,” says Lydia. “Initially, I was against a boat purchase, to be honest. I didn’t grow up boating or knowing anything about them and as the family plays a lot of weekend sports, I wasn’t sure how much use we’d get out of it. Now, I’m a total convert!”
The more I looked, the more I could see that Riviera just goes the extra mile; they are better engineered, designed and appointed internally.
Simon Winter
“Boating enables us to have fabulous family time. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon on the river or a couple of days at Rottnest Island. The kids have really taken to it and love it, and it’s been great for their confidence on the water.”
For Simon, the challenge is teaching the kids to bait hooks. “That would be helpful! Our boys are seven and nine years old and, after a few months on the boat, their confidence has really improved. They’ll scramble around when we’re underway or at anchor and the nine-year-old can’t get out of the tender. He’d cruise around constantly on that if he could.”
“We’ve had Tonic for three months and haven’t seen a full summer yet. So, we’re absolutely hanging out for the coming summer. We’ll be on it every single moment and we’re looking forward to seeing the kids’ confidence on the water continue to grow.”
Simon had been keen to have a motor yacht for some time. “The more I looked the more I could see that Riviera just goes the extra mile; they are better engineered, designed and appointed internally. I was looking for something bigger, but it was our first boat, so I pulled back. Then I found a 43 Flybridge. It really stood out, beautifully clean, crisp and a good first step into the boating world. In a couple of years, I’d like to head north of 50 feet with an enclosed flybridge and, from what I’ve learned, it’s 99 per cent going to be another Riviera!”
Tonic wasn’t the only new 43 Flybridge on the block. Gary Silcock and Vanessa Robinson also recently acquired a 43 Flybridge and the drinks night provided an opportunity to meet the Riviera family, including Simon and Lydia.
“The main difference we’ve found with Riviera is that you’re really buying into a fraternity of people who are so helpful to each other; it’s really surprising. You buy a boat, and the family is thrown in! Everyone has been really good to us and we’re as happy as Larry,” says Gary.
The couple spent months working out which brand and model motor yacht would suit them.
“We’d had our previous boat for five years and used it a lot, but we weren’t overly keen on the layout. We went to all the boat shows around the country and various factories as well. Walking through the yacht clubs in Perth, it seemed that the Rivieras were the ones kept in pristine condition. There was something different about that community and it was obvious they really loved their boats.”
The couple narrowed it down to the 43 Flybridge and haven’t looked back.
“We loved it initially, as you’d expect, but I think we grow fonder of the boat the more we’re on it,” says Gary.
“The whole family enjoys it and we’re also in a really great yacht club in the city. What we love the most is the layout, from the aft deck to the saloon and the whole interior. It’s really cool to have two sets of windows in the cabins and an unbelievable amount of light is let in; it feels so open. It’s also safe; we can walk all around the sides to the bow and my stepson, who has a disability, can easily come up there, too, no dramas.”
“The flybridge is great when we’re cruising along the river, and we can fit a good number of people up there. Honestly, the whole ambience is fantastic. We love it and we don’t take it for granted; we’ve worked for it.”
It’s not even been a year and the couple have put 145 hours on the clock. Gary laughs: “We use it all the time! To Rottnest, along the river and to Mandurah, every time there’s an event on, we’re there with the boat!”
“Michael at R Marine Perth and his team have been really helpful. The drinks night was their first function since we’ve had Au, so it was good to get out and the vibe was really cool. We met a couple that had the same boat as ours and we exchanged numbers – and I’m sure we’ll see them on the water!”
R Marine Perth’s dealer principal Michael Pitman says he was delighted to have welcomed new boat owners to the Riviera family.
“The past 12 to 18 months has seen many Western Australians new to boating purchase new Riviera motor yachts. Our regular owners commented on the number of new ‘boaties’ that had joined the WA Riviera family since our last event. It was a brilliant night to catch up with old friends and meet wonderful new owners who joined us for the first time. The camaraderie was strong, and everyone very much appreciated the opportunity to get together.”
