Riviera apprentice boat builder Bede Haami had a unique opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labour with a Broadwater boat cruise on board a luxurious Riviera 5800 Sport Yacht.

The boat cruise was one of the major prizes drawn at Riviera’s Christmas Party last year and entitled the prize winner to a full day, skippered Broadwater cruise including lunch.

Bede invited his mum, dad and brother to join him for the cruise, which they described as an amazing experience.

“To have the chance to experience a day on board a Riviera has given me a greater appreciation for my trade and I feel so fortunate to have won this amazing prize.”

“Mum and dad have never been on a boat this big before.  They just couldn’t believe they were sitting inside such a luxurious boat and they kept saying it was like a floating house,” Bede said.

“I also had an opportunity to explain to my family what I do at Riviera – it was a really good feeling to be able to show them what I am learning in my trade.”

“Throughout my apprenticeship I have learnt the different processes of building a boat from lamination and fit-out one to new product development and next I will be learning stage two and it is great to see it all come together when the boat is finished.”

“To have the chance to experience a day on board a Riviera has given me a greater appreciation for my trade and I feel so fortunate to have won this amazing prize.”

Bede and his family were treated to some antipasto platters as they cruised down the Coomera River, passed Sovereign Island and Paradise Point to their anchorage at Wavebreak Island in the Gold Coast Broadwater where they enjoyed a swim before lunch.

“The water was beautiful and I had bombing and diving competitions with my dad and brother,” he said.

“I also enjoyed being the boss for the day – the skipper said it was my day and I could do what I wanted, but the biggest highlight of all was seeing the huge smiles on my parent’s faces.

“Riviera really spoilt us and gave us the Royal treatment.  We had a delicious lunch with prawns, crab, chicken and salads.  After lunch the skipper took us for a leisurely cruise around the City’s waterways as far south as Surfers Paradise before turning around and returning to Coomera.

“On our cruise back to Riviera we got a big box of chocolates and seeing my family so happy and enjoying themselves really made my day.”

Riviera’s chairman and owner Rodney Longhurst said Riviera was dedicated to rewarding its team and fostering a positive work environment.

“The skippered boat cruise is a wonderful prize offering the winner the chance to truly experience the fruits of their labour and it is pleasing to see young apprentices like Bede sharing this opportunity with his family.”

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