Boycott Club Marine

                                                      BOYCOTT CLUB MARINE INSURANCE

Why boycott Club Marine?

 

They don't honour their obligations of their marine insurance policies. The National Claims Manager of Victoria declined a claim and offered a token payout of $10,000 for a grounding incident while my Riviera M400 "Fairview" was used for private use while transporting it from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. Club Marine.

We have sought representation through our insurance representative and the matter is now in the hands of the Financial Ombudsman's Office. This company needs to be brought to account!

They continued to take payments for a premium that would no longer honour.

Boaties need to know that when they take out Marine Insurance they have piece of mind that they will get coverage when accidents happen. You won't get this from Club Marine. Change your insurance provider now!

Ask the National Claims Manager Why They Won't Honour the Claim?

Ph : 8591 1950

www.clubmarine.com.au

Next Leg of the Trip: Lakes Entrance (Gippsland Lakes) to Hastings.

The morning forcast was for easing winds so after a lay off period of a couple of days leaving the Riviera at Gippsland Lakes we headed out to see into a strong head wind. The weather was deterioting and was not getting better and we were pounding into a strong head wind. The swell was building up to 5 metres so a call was made to turn back to the Entrance.

Arriving back at the Entrance and we descided to cruise around the lakes and visited Paynesville, Mekong. Having stocked at at the Entrance with provisions we pulled up into a sheltered cove surrounded by tree's and had a great BBQ and a few glasses of red wine. A few good yarns were told and it was a great night.

Next morning we headed off to Philip Island. On the way we were running out of light and descided to go to Hasings Marina in Phillip Island past San Remo. 

Navigating into Hastings at night was a tense exercise with poorly lit channel markers, and if you miss it you can go aground! Arriving at Hastings we pulled up at the fuel dock and stayed the night.

We noticed though during the trip that the Starboard Engine was using more fuel that the Port Engine and worked out that we lost a prop on the way! Luckily we have a spare one and we are waiting for the opportunity for the winds to die down so we can lift the boat on the crane to fit the prop and take the boat into Port Philip Bay!

Some Videos:

Leaving Lakes Entrance with Captain Dan & Steve 

Passing Wilsons Prom



The Riviera infront of the Riviera Cafe



Paynesville



A Seal Basking it up at the Entrance



Emergency Repairs

Wilson Prom

Snooze Time



At San Remo



At Hastings

Gold Coast to Melbourne: Eden to Lakes Entrance

Pleasure Cruising Club Inc

We left Eden at 6:30am and headed straight to down the coast with a fresh Northly wind with a 2.5 metre swell on our tail.  Our jouney followed the coast and it was amazing to watch the sun rise against the cliffs. There were plenty of dolphins playing in our wake which was quite a site.

It was going to be a long hall as we had to beat the cold front comming through to get into lakes entrance to the Gippsland lakes. Our calculations are based on having 1/3 of a tank left for each section of the journey. The auto pilot worked like a treat, you can program a wavepoint where to go and the Riv will track saving fuel and fatique of the driver!

Our departure was 6:30am and our arrival time was just 4:00pm. Just beat the cold front comming through. Getting into Lakes Entrance is tricky and should only be tempted on a good day.

There is diesel fuel available but initially hard to find. Stop over is $30 per night.  The Lakes is a great playground for boaties! Plenty of facilities.

The weather was closing in and 8 metre swells were forecasted so we left the Riviera at the Lakes and rented the car back to Melbourne.

Next Leg is from Lakes Entrance to Port Phillip Bay the Final Day.

Gabor Island In The Distance

Gary the Boatie with Thermals On!

Lakes Entrance Ahead

Safely Through Lakes Entrance

Refuel At Lakes Entrance

 

Gold Coast to Melbourne

Pleasure Cruising Club Inc

Our jouney has been held up to due a bad weather front comming through, we had to leave the boat in Double Bay Sydney and fly back to Melbourne and delay the trip. Conditions were deteriorating rapidly and it was not possible to continue on.

We flew back to Melbourne and waited for better weather.  A truck was booked to take the Riviera from Sydney to Melbourne but the conditions changed for the better at the last minute.

We flew back the following week to restart the Journey with a break in the Weather. The journey was going to be from Sydney  to Eden which was a long day. Leaving at 5:30am the winds were in our favour and a favourable northly wind helped us to get to Eden in good time and arrive by 4:00pm. Running with the wind ment we were going with the waves which built up to 2 meters so the Riviera handled the conditions extemely well.  Arrangements had to be made to organsie a fuel truck. There is no marina facilities as such as Eden is a fishing village so no shore power! It was great that we had the Genset otherwise it would be a cold night!

Speed : 22 Knots

Captain Dan at the Wheel

Sydney Departure at 5:30am

Fuel Truck Stop

Dusk at Eden

Departing Eden at Sunrise

Distance: 176  Nautical Miles: Sydney to Eden

Day 3 Port Stephens to Sydney Harbour

Pleasure Cruising Club Inc

Port Stevens Distance 80 Nautical Miles: Winds 15-20 knots
Departure Time: 7:30
Arrived Sydney Harbour: 1:30pm
Average Speed : 15 knots

Some Videos:
Whale Watching

Skeet Shooting

Fairview in Sydney Harbour



Punching Through a 25 Knot Head Wind



Dan doing post engine checks

Catching up with Friends!

Dan cleaning the boat with a multi million dollar houses behind us in Double Bay

Port Stevens  was a great stop over with plenty of whale and dolphin action. Its a sheltered port as large as Sydney harbour with plenty of anchorage stop overs. It was time to say good buy to other boaties we met who were following us down from the gold Coast. We were watching the weather charts an it was time to get on with the next leg of the trip to Sydney Harbour. We left at 7:30am and found us punching through a 25knot head wind with 2 meter waves. The Riviera handled the conditions with no problem what so ever. Our cruising speed droped down to 15knots from 22 knots.

We arrived in Sydney Harbour at 1:00pm entering the Harbour which was qute a site. Growing up in Sydney and being a boatie from the age of 13 years it was like a home comming. The conditions in the harbour have maximum of .5 meter swell a piece of cake for a Riviera after the conditions we just went through. We headed to Rose Bay to catch up for drinks and head off to our mooring spot at Ruchcutters Bay Marina next to the Royal Sydney Yacht Club.

The weather is looking bad for the next couple of days. Day 4 & 5 will be lay days in Sydney.

Day 6 Skeet Shooting Morning! Stay tune for the next Blog! Then off to Port Hacking.

Day 2 Coffs Harbour to Port Stevens!

 .

Whale Watching

Entering Port Stevens

Just Arrived!

Dan fuelling Up!

Sunset at Port Stevens

Arrived at Port Stevens at 2:20pm aftr leaving Coffs Harbour at 6:30pm. A great day at sea. Lights winds and a swell less than 2 meters. The Riviera M400 handled the conditions extremely well and cruised all the way at 21 knots. Sites to be seen, plenty of whales on show and a dolphion show. New friends met at the Marina. Tomorrow Sydney!

Riviera Journey Day 1



Going into Coffs Harbour



 Day  1 Gold Coast to Coffs Harbour

This morning we left Southport Yacht Club at 5:30 and headed south down the coast past some impressive land marks such as Byron Heads and headed towards Coffs Harbour. We started at 5:30am and were cruising at 21 knots at 2750 rpm. We covered 160 nautical miles. The Riviera handled the ocean conditions with no problem. Conditions today were excellent and whales, dophins were spotted on the way.

We arrived at 2:25pm just in time to refuel as the bowser shuts at 3:30pm.  On arrrival at Coffs Harbour we filled up the boat ready for the next day to Port Stephens.