Paul and Lynette Subritzky with their extended family.
A zest for life and a love for luxury boating with Riviera have enabled New Zealanders Paul and Lynette Subritzky to make the best of even the most challenging situations. From adventure and pleasure boating to family fun, self-isolation, and home office setups, a range of Riviera motor yachts has proven indispensable to their lifestyle.
Decades ago, this ebullient couple were responsible for running a yacht charter business between New Zealand and Fiji with various vessels, including a 72-foot ketch. However, after moving on to other ventures, it had been quite a while since they’d spent time on the water.
In 2018, Paul suggested getting a trailerable power boat, to which Lynette promptly and wisely replied that she was not interested in uncomfortable [New Zealand] winter boating. Instead, they acquired a Riviera M370 from Paul’s sister, sparking a fast-tracked love affair with the luxury boatbuilder – and hilarious sibling rivalry.
“We absolutely loved the M370 and were impressed by the build quality. Even in an older model, it was superb,” says Paul. “We got a lot of mileage out of it through some terrible conditions…we endured a major tropical storm when we took it north to the Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga.” Their renewed passion for boating led them to the Riviera 4800 Sport Yacht, which Paul’s sister had also upgraded to.
“We were in love with the 4800SY. The first day we took it out, our grandchildren came on board; at that time, we had four under the age of three,” explains Lynette. “The kids were pushing all the lit-up buttons, the microwave was going off, the skylights were opening – it was all a shambles. From that point on, we made the boat R18 only,” she jokes.
The Subritzkys consider themselves fortunate to have acquired the 4800SY when they did, towards the end of 2019. “As soon as the Prime Minister said ‘lockdown’, we headed straight to our Riviera. We had a water maker, a dishwasher, a microwave, an oven – all the mod cons we needed. So, we were happy as could be,” says Paul.
“Of course, we could still catch fish, too, while the rest of New Zealand wasn’t even allowed to sit on the beach.” They spent over a month onboard in happy isolation, fishing, relaxing, and cruising around Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf, a haven of vineyards, olive groves and beaches.
Little Ritz at Westhaven Marina in Auckland, New Zealand.
(Left) Anchored at Waiheke Island. (Middle) The grandkids love the tender, aptly named Kids Ritz. (RIght) A beautiful sunset at Westhaven Marina.
Fabulous fishing in the Hauraki Gulf.
“The kids grew up a bit, so we allowed them back on board, but we thought it would be nice to have another cabin so their parents could have a room too,” says Lynette. “Let’s just say it was the grandchildren who inspired us to upgrade to the 5400 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, Little Ritz.” The grandkids now claim the tender too, aptly named Kids Ritz.
“Of course, my sister wasn’t thrilled about me having a bigger Riviera than hers, so she bought a Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition!” Paul adds with a laugh.
Last year was eventful for the Subritzkys. An unexpected six-week gap between the sale and purchase of properties left them homeless but not boatless. They moved onto Little Ritz, turning it into their home office as well. Even Ricoh came to install a photocopier and printer.
“As word got around, everyone wanted to meet onboard. They weren’t interested in meeting anywhere else. It was really fun. The accountant decided she really liked working on the Riviera too. From Westhaven Marina, we had the most magnificent view of Auckland city and the lights at night. It really is a lovely place to stay,” says Lynette.
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The versatility of the 5400SY became apparent during this time. “It was a great office. We could set up our computers and work from the breakfast bar in the galley, or the dining table in the saloon, and the Wi-Fi coped easily. On lovely days, we worked from the aft deck. The photocopier was down in the double cabin, wirelessly connected and there was plenty of storage space for office materials,” says Paul.
“The liveability of the 5400SY is on another level,” adds Lynette. “The wider saloon area makes it easier to move around. There’s much more room in the master stateroom, and the visibility through the windows and portholes is amazing, whether we’re travelling or at anchor. The views are incredible. And we’re completely self-sufficient with a water maker, dishwasher, washer/dryer, plenty of freezer and refrigerator space and, importantly, a wine fridge!”
The Subritzkys’ philosophy is that they both should be able to manage all boating operations. This proved fortunate, as Paul ended up in the hospital four times last year, leaving Lynette and her cousin to take Little Ritz for service runs.
“We share all the tasks – driving, anchoring and berthing. The technology these days makes things so much easier, like the dynamic positioning system. We even have a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera system that identifies heat signatures at night, which is handy in the harbour where there are kayakers around.”
From rekindling their passion for boating to creating a floating sanctuary during life’s unexpected turns, Paul and Lynette have embraced every moment aboard their Rivieras. Theirs is a story of an enduring joy of life on the water and proof that, with the right yacht, the possibilities are as vast as the ocean itself.
Enjoy this Riviera 5400 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition profile film.
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