Long periods of absolutely beautiful weather made the Just Because
We Can Getaway a great experience.

Runaway Bay, Queensland, Australia: Being able to get away for an enjoyable weekend with family and friends and to cruise in company among fellow Riviera owners is an opportunity to which we all look forward.

And while Riviera’s aspirational Experience voyages to idyllic destinations are often the pinnacle of power-boating pleasures, our growing Australia-wide network of R Marine dealers regularly host their own wonderful weekends where owners can hone their skills for extended passages … and also have great fun.

Gold Coast-based R Marine Crawley recently hosted a Just Because We Can Getaway in which seven motor yachts made a short trip across the Broadwater to Dux Anchorage on South Stradbroke Island, and although intermittently interrupted by tropical storms, participants enjoyed extended periods of great sunny weather.

Riviera M400 owner Chris Haack has been on “half a dozen” of organised Riviera trips and says not even short periods of heavy rain could dampen the spirits of those who attended the Just Because We Can Getaway, even though it meant the intended destination of Moreton Bay would have to wait for another day.

“We’ve been on a few of the Riviera trips to Moreton Bay – I really like Kooringal and Peel Island – but Dux is a fantastic anchorage and we were very well sheltered,” he said of the covered picnic area maintained by Southport Yacht Club. “The weather wasn’t a worry at all and we strolled across to the surf beach to watch the storms roll in.

“In fact it was a great weekend – I have a stand-up paddleboard and I can tell you there were plenty of dolphins out there, and also plenty of crabs – one owner pulled up 10 in the one pot … four of them keepers.”

Great company at Dux Anchorage.

First-time Riviera owners, Chris and his wife Sandy will attend the Riviera Festival of Boating (21-24 May) at the home of Riviera at Coomera on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Chris says he has already booked for several workshops, as well as the evening social events. “I’m particularly interested in the offshore navigation seminar because we are very keen to do Lady Musgrave at some stage,” he said. “I really like the family aspect of Riviera – they are great boats and we have made many new friends during the past 3.5 years and that has only added to making the step up from trailer boats a fantastic experience.

“We often share these experiences with our kids who, although they now live in Sydney, can’t wait to head out for 4-5 days onboard. Now they are getting older, it might be time to start thinking about upgrading to a bigger Riviera.”