Bruce Neville
Bruce is back! Bruce Neville joined the Clipper team shortly before Sanctuary Cove show this year. Neville is no stranger to the boating industry, with 26 years experience in the industry and 20 years specifically in ski boat sales, design and operations. Bruce is at home in this new role at Clipper Yachts Australia on the Gold Coast after his tenure working with Brett selling and servicing Grand Banks during Riviera’s tenure as distributors.
Bruce’s passion with the water began as a budding Australian champion water-skier in NSW. This passion grew into his profession and took him to reside in the USA during the US summers from 1981 until 2002 when he retired as the two-time World Waterski Jump Champion and holder of the World Jump Record on three occasions.
Duing this period Bruce also won the World Cup of professional skiing in Jump, three times and represented Australia at The World Waterski Championships over a 15 year span. He also went on to try his distance jumping skills in the snow and spent two winters competing in Nordic jump events in the USA and still holds the Australian Nordic Jump record narrowly missing qualifying for the Australian Winter Olympic team. He is also one of the few Australians inducted into the International Waterski Hall of Fame.
After representing the premium ski boat company Correct Craft in Florida, assisting with boat shows, dealer training, new product development and Australian distribution for 10 years, Bruce and his wife Toni, herself a World Cup winner in professional waterskiing, began their passion for blue water cruising.
In 2001, Bruce and Toni took delivery of a 38” catamaran in France and crossed the Atlantic, finishing in the Caribbean. Following this they lived and cruised the Bahamas’, the US East Coast and Australian East Coast. Together they have cruised in excess of 30,000 nautical miles on three boats, so if you are out on a boat with Bruce, you’re in safe hands.
Today, Bruce and Toni have made the Gold Coast their permanent home and live on Ephraim Island with their daughter Remi, aged 3 ½. “We have been married for 18 years and after 20 years travelling the world, we happily call the Gold Coast home. It’s a wonderful lifestyle for us and with other family members here, it’s a great place for Remi to grow up” says Bruce.
“I have spent the last twelve months cruising on and researching Clippers new models, build quality and future new product and when Brett approached me to join the team here on the Gold Coast I was ready to be part of Clipper. I have experience with every model in the Clipper line-up on and off the water and really believe they are a superb sea boat and built to a very high standard of quality.”
Favourite Clipper model and why?
The Cordova 60 is without doubt the BEST driving and running boat I have EVER driven. She is amazingly quiet and smooth and coming onto plane is effortless, I could cruise in her at 20 knots effortlessly all day or equally at 8 knots for a huge cruising range.
Most memorable boating experience
This has to be sailing through the Turks and Caicos Banks in the Caribbean in 2002 with my wife Toni. The region is approx 70 miles in length and is between 2-3 metres deep, which you need to navigate by eye. It was a beautiful, flat, calm day so we threw off the ropes at the back of the boat and snorkelled amongst the crystal clear waters. We saw dolphins, bommies and the most stunning corals – it was a truly amazing experience which we both love to recollect.
Favourite anchorage and why?
Lizard Island is a personal favourite, 30km off mainland Australia. It’s not too far away from civilization, yet has the most remarkable isolated feel about it. The area is classified as a Queensland National Park and has calm waters surrounding it, making it a popular boating destination. The beaches are stunning, perfect for romantic walks and the surrounding reefs make it a popular spot for snorkelling.
What do you do in your down-time?
Whatever my wife wants me to do!! When I am able, I love to surf, golf and relax with the family. Most of our time off is spent away in Moreton bay boating, we love to get away and explore new anchorages.
To contact Bruce / arrange an inspection please call 0438 768684.
