This month’s Riviera Family photo competition winner:
Congratulations to George Salmon
Boat Name: Myrtle
Boat Model: 395 SUV
Photo Headline: Logged Out in the Percy’s
Photo Taken: Middle Percy Island (off Mackay, Queensland)
George Salmon was looking forward to chatting with wife Deb after being informed he had won this month’s Riviera and Belize Photo and Video Competition.
“I’ve got some boasting to do as it’s the first time I’ve ever won an award for one of my snapshots,” he joked of his stunning photo of the couple’s Riviera 395 SUV – Myrtle – anchored off Middle Percy Island, south of the Whitsundays in Queensland, Australia.
“I actually took that photo with an Olympus I’ve had for 12 years. I don’t use it much because the phone cameras are so good these days but the scenery up there was so beautiful I thought ‘I’m going to cart this camera around to get some good shots’.”
George certainly achieved that and in doing so captured another memory of the couple’s three-and-a-half-month return journey from Port Stephens near Newcastle to Airlie Beach in Queensland, a round-trip distance of some 1994 nautical miles.
On the day we caught up with them, George and Deb were moored at the Sunshine Coast and planning the final few weeks of what was their most epic voyage to date.
“We’re really happy with how she’s performed,” George said of the 395 SUV, which they took ownership of in January after upgrading from the Riviera 3600 Sport Yacht they had owned since 2014.
“I initially bought the 3600 Sport Yacht because I wanted to make sure Deb was going to enjoy it. I’ve seen people buy nice big boats and not use them because their wives don’t like boating, but we’ve found Deb loves boating as much as me.
“We’re really enjoying the longer fuel range of the 395 SUV and while I gave myself a fright coming across the Wide Bay bar this week, the boat handled it fantastically.”
And, as a now award-winning photographer, what advice would he have for other Riviera owners seeking a memorable image?
“Get off your boat,” George said. “We were at the Percy Isles for three days and Great Keppel Island for three days and the boat didn’t move.
“We’ll get to a place and explore. These islands are amazing and we spent most of our days traipsing around them. The bottom line is you’re not going to get a good photo unless you go and find it.”
Thanks also for these recent entries…
Name: Kelly Simon
Boat Name: Kokomo
Boat Model: Riviera 39 Flybridge
Photo Headline: Rivin the life
Where was the photo taken: Middle Percy Island
Photo Description: Visiting the beautiful Middle Percy Island after cruising from Manly Brisbane to the Whitsundays and back.
Name: Grant Tucker
Boat Name: FANSEA
Boat Model: Riviera 5400 Sport Yacht
Photo Headline: Winter Bliss
Where was the photo taken: Peel Island
Photo Description: Fansea sunset at Peel Island
Name: Deb & George Salmon
Boat Name: Myrtle
Boat Model: Riviera 395 SUV
Photo Headline:
Where was the photo taken:
Photo Description:
Name: Radiah Dunsford
Boat Name: Akoya
Boat Model: Riviera 51 Flybridge
Photo Headline: Among the wreck ships
Where was the photo taken: Tangalooma
Photo Description: Among the wreck ships in Tangalooma.
Name: Ineke Duncan
Boat Name: Pinot
Boat Model: Riviera M400
Photo Headline: That moment!
Where was the photo taken: Broadwater
Photo Description: Sometimes you see things when out on our beautiful Riv and you so want to capture it! This picture was taken on my I phone, can’t believe the quality and detail! Sublime!
Name: Kelly Simon
Boat Name: Kokomo
Boat Model: Riviera 39 Flibridge
Photo Headline: Rivin the life
Where was the photo taken: Nara Inlet Whitsundays
Photo Description: Looking down at Kokomo in the beautiful blue water at Nara Inlet.
Name: Gary J. Wasserson
Boat Name: Off the Hook
Boat Model: Riviera 565 SUV
Photo Headline: 8 weeks of cruising
Where was the photo taken: Atlantic Coast, USA
Photo Description: Getting off the hook, cruising for 8 weeks.
Name: Jason Hillis
Boat Name: Opal
Boat Model: Riviera 3000
Photo Headline: 20kts In Dodds narrows
Where was the photo taken: Dodds Narrows, BC Canada
Photo Description: Just an average day shooting the gap.
Name: Radiah Dunsford
Boat Name: Akoya
Boat Model: Riviera 51 Flybridge
Photo Headline: Bathing in Bongaree Beach
Where was the photo taken: Bongaree, Queensland
Photo Description: Enjoying a stunning day at Bongaree beach.