Riv owners enjoy Easter Experience

The annual R Marine South Australia Easter Experience was a real treat for more than 120 Riviera owners and their guests who enjoyed plenty of entertainment, food and activities over the long weekend.

R Marine South Australia’s Michael Pitman said it was great to see a blend of Riviera owners from Adelaide, Port Lincoln and as far south as Robe come together for the annual event.

Riviera owners Adrian and Joanne de Bruin made the 700 nautical mile round trip from Robe, where they berth their new Riviera 565 SUV, to Port Lincoln and back.

This was Adrian and Joanne’s first R Marine South Australia Easter Experience and their first blue water voyage.

"The weather was absolutely perfect and we went to some gorgeous spots around Port Lincoln and met some delightful people along the way," Adrian said.

This was also the first Easter Experience and blue water voyage for Leslee and Brian Findlay who took delivery of their new Riviera 445 SUV two months ago.

"The trip was amazing, the boys from R Marine South Australia go above and beyond to spoil us delivering the newspaper in the morning and on Easter Sunday we were surprised when they delivered Easter eggs," Leslee said. 

"They had just the right balance of organised events and free time, so we had an opportunity to go off and do a bit of fishing and then come back for the evening’s entertainment.  We met some wonderful people and I look forward to the next event," she added.

Michael said, "The first official function was held on the beach at Fisherman’s Point in the Port Lincoln National Park where the Riviera fleet was treated to a fully catered dinner of exquisite seafood and meats all sourced from the beautiful waters and farms surrounding Port Lincoln."

"The next day the fleet lined up in a convoy behind well known Riviera owner and promoter of all things Port Lincoln, Peter Teakle, for the 22 nautical mile journey to the Sir Joseph Banks Group of Islands where we anchored for the night."

The Sir Joseph Banks Group is a picturesque archipelago of about 20 islands in the Spencer Gulf off the coast of South Australia. It is a popular breeding ground for seabirds and with its chain of islands, it offers sheltered bays, reefs and golden sandy beaches, making it a lovely spot to drop anchor.

At 4.00pm, the historic Port Lincoln tuna trawler, the Tacoma (circa 1948) signalled her arrival at Reevesby Island (located within the Sir Joseph Banks Group of Islands) with her booming horn.

"The Tacoma is widely recognised as the fishing trawler that started the tuna fishing industry in Port Lincoln and has been immaculately restored to its original condition and is now used for functions and charters in Port Lincoln,” Michael said.

"At 6.00pm our ‘Riviera Taxi’, a 7.8m Brig inflatable collected Riviera owners and their guests from their boats and ferried them to the Tacoma for a night of hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music from a local band who entertained the 100 strong crowd in the Tacoma’s massive cockpit."

On Easter Sunday everyone gathered for a beach barbecue, which marked the end of the long weekend. Some Riviera owners returned home to Port Lincoln, while others stayed on for a few extra days, including Adrian and Joanne de Bruin who enjoyed two weeks on board in total.

"We enjoyed a deliberately slow trip from Robe to Port Lincoln and back again. We spent two weeks onboard exploring various islands along the way such as Kangaroo Island."

Plans are already underway for R Marine South Australia’s 2015 South Australian Riviera Experience, which will also be held at Port Lincoln. For more information visit www.rmarineadelaide.com.au or contact the team on 08 8295 9000.