In a matter of months, a new Riviera 465 SUV has changed the lives of Lindy and Leigh and their family.
The enriching experiences as a family have brought them closer together, allowed them a respite from
their busy lives, and provided them with the luxury and comfort dreams are made of.
Owning a Riviera has brought Leigh and Lindy’s family closer than ever before.
In a few short months since Lindy Hunt and Leigh Parsons have taken possession of their Riviera 465 SUV Elva May, they’ve enjoyed so many enriching experiences that the couple can barely believe it.
“As business owners we live really hectic lives, so finding time to connect as a family isn’t always easy,” says Lindy. “When we’re on the boat though, we invest that time with each other and it makes my heart warm. We’ve had her only two months and there have already been so many magical moments. It is truly better than I expected.”
If you’d asked Lindy a year ago, though, she’d have been adamant they would not be putting their name to a new luxury motor yacht. “We came to the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show last year for a look around and we could definitely see the difference in brands,” she says. The South Australian couple viewed the freshly launched Riviera 465 SUV. The Australian design, build, layout and the impeccable attention to detail and its capability as an all-rounder, immediately appealed.
"You can see the difference in Riviera compared with every other brand."
LINDY HUNT
“For me, the quality of all the fittings, of the carpets, the quality of the woodwork – the woodgrain on Riviera is world renowned – and the matching finishes are just spectacular,” says Leigh. “You can see the difference in Riviera compared with every other brand. The 465 SUV seemed like a one-off compared to models that are either a fishing boat or a sport yacht. Having the ability to have both on the same vessel, for me, was a big selling point.”
Enjoy the superb 465 SUV (Above).
"You can see the difference in Riviera compared every other brand."
LEIGH HUNT
Postponing the building of their forever home, Lindy and Leigh decided to build memories of a different kind, and they placed an order for the 465 SUV. “Our kids at the time were 15 and 11 and we wanted to share experiences with them…already we’ve enjoyed wonderful times together,” says Lindy. They took possession in March this year. “Recently we went to Kangaroo Island. We’d been told about a place called Snug Cove. We felt like we were explorers. We found this little nook that was just for us; a deserted little place and, as the sun was setting…I can’t find the words. It was like, ‘Oh my goodness, look at where we are’. That was a standout moment. Then last weekend our daughter turned 16 and we took her and her friends to Glenelg for lunch. Looking out to the back deck and seeing the girls dancing to music and laughing, with the sun and waves, it was another ‘pinch me’ moment. Our son is loving it too. It’s the first opportunity he’s really had to go fishing and he’s really enjoying it. He literally rolls out of bed in his PJs, walks out and asks us to bait his hook and he’ll fish for hours. No gaming, no phone. It’s a new passion for him.”
The family is mesmerised by the sunsets at Kangaroo Island and Leigh enjoys a fishing spot.
"We spend a lot of time as family on the water now, entertaining friends and also fishing."
LEIGH HUNT
The versatility of a Riviera SUV and the flow between indoor and outdoor living has helped unite the family; it’s a design that suits their lifestyle. “We found the layout of the 465 really suited our needs,” says Leigh. “We wanted to spend more time as a family so a flybridge wasn’t really what we wanted. Having everyone on the same level, everyone together, is what we were after. We spend a lot of time as family on the water now, entertaining friends and also fishing. Having a decent size vessel means we can have a few people on board and go a lot further. It’s such a seaworthy vessel that it gives you the confidence to be able to take it out a bit further. There is a lot of boat in the 465 SUV, and Riviera did a great job with the handover. They flew a professional skipper down to Adelaide to spend a few days with us. The ongoing support from Riviera has been amazing.”
Named after Leigh’s late grandmother, Elva May has transformed the way Leigh and Lindy live. “We’re drawn to her,” says Lindy. “We call it our little bubble because when we’re on there we actually feel like we’re away, even though she’s docked just 25 minutes from work. We also use it like an Airbnb and stay a night in the marina as a getaway from home. I see it in Leigh’s face – his face softens when we’re there. It’s been really good for us.”
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