Two Years, One Stop: Promise 4's Australian Chapter

A French-built Alliage 56 DS paused a circumnavigation at Rivergate — and will leave refreshed and ready to finish the journey.

Promise 4, a 2007 Alliage 56 DS, arrived at Rivergate Marina & Shipyard as part of a round-the-world voyage and stayed for two years. Owners Graeme and Moira set out from France with their family, crossed the Atlantic and then the Pacific, sailing with the World ARC Rally.

Asked to name a favourite stop from the passage so far, the answer came quickly: the San Blas Islands in the Caribbean Sea, and the Marquesas Island in French Polynesia.

Brisbane by happy accident

The decision to make landfall in Brisbane was practical rather than planned.

"When we decided to spend some time in Australia, we headed for Brisbane. Rivergate is a customs port of entry," Graeme said. "Bit of an accident really."

That accident turned into a two-year stay, with family already living in Australia to visit along the way.

Out of the cyclone belt, into the shed

South East Queensland sits below the tropical cyclone belt, which makes Brisbane a natural place for cruising yachts to pause during the Southern Hemisphere summer rather than push on or head south. Promise 4 used the time for both in-water storage and a substantial programme of work.

"Having had a rest, we are now hoping to rejoin the rally and sail back to Europe," Graeme said. "We have had a mini refit to the yacht."

That refit covered engineering work in the centreboard, hull paint, antifoul, a rig inspection, sail repairs and new canvas work.

The hardstand period was largely about giving the boat some TLC. Promise 4 came out of the water for fresh antifoul, new anodes and new Propspeed, along with maintenance on the keel that included removing it, and a life jacket service.

Much of that work Graeme and Moira did themselves, with hardstand manager Brandon on hand throughout, an arrangement Rivergate supports for owners who prefer to be hands-on with their own boat.

Peace of mind from 16,000km away

Graeme and Moira live in Scotland, which meant leaving Promise 4 unattended for long stretches - the part of a long stay that worries most owners.

Rivergate arranged weekly inspections by Dockmaster John, each accompanied by a written report.

"This has eased our concerns over leaving the yacht," Graeme said. "Brandon, Marty, Jaxon and the trades we've used at Rivergate have all been really helpful, demonstrating their significant experience and eagerness to do a good job."

A stopover point for circumnavigators

Promise 4's stay illustrates something Rivergate sees regularly. Boats crossing the Pacific reach Australia at the point in a circumnavigation where a serious maintenance stop makes sense and where the calendar forces a decision about the cyclone season.

Rivergate is a designated Australian port of entry, so vessels can clear customs, quarantine and immigration on arrival without a separate leg to another port. The marina has 105 berths, with 75-tonne and 300-tonne Travelifts and hardstand for vessels hauling out for antifoul, paint, running gear or structural work. On-site and visiting trades cover engineering, rigging, sails, canvas, painting, electronics and interiors, so an owner can hand over a multi-discipline scope in one location rather than chase contractors across several yards.

For owners leaving a boat between seasons, Rivergate offers monitored storage with scheduled inspections and written reporting. This arrangement kept Promise 4 in good order while her owners were in Scotland. Brisbane Airport is roughly 15 minutes away, which makes flying crew in and out straightforward for handovers, sea trials or a return to the boat at the start of a new season.

For yachts on a westbound circumnavigation, the position works: an easy hop from New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji, and a sensible departure point for Indonesia and the Indian Ocean.

What's next

Promise 4 is pointed back towards Europe, the long way.

"Hopefully back to Europe via the Indian Ocean, stopping at Lombok, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling), Mauritius, South Africa and perhaps Brazil," Graeme said. "A long way!"

Rivergate wishes Graeme, Moira and Promise 4 fair winds for their next passage!

Rivergate Marina & Shipyard is the superyacht service centre for the Asia-Pacific region, located at 7 Rivergate Place, Murarrie, Queensland 4172. To enquire about berthing, storage or refit works, contact the team.