Isolating on a Belize Daybridge surrounded by an idyllic boating paradise

Riviera motor yacht owners made the most of 2020 during the lockdown, and often enjoyed an entirely different boating experience. This is one of three stories in this month’s edition of Experience magazine that shows how some of us coped in the year of COVID-19.

There was no stopping Connie and Tony Borgia from taking the greatest pleasure in their dream luxury motor yacht, Aqua Bella. Not even isolation. Fortunately, these ‘crazy boaties’ can park their Belize Daybridge in front of their home in Calypso Bay. Situated in idyllic boating grounds between South Stradbroke Island and the southern Morton Bay islands in south-east Queensland, and moored since the start of April due to COVID-19 restrictions on boating, Connie spent the majority of her time on Aqua Bella at home.

Moored, but not bored. There was no end to Connie’s daily boating activity during isolation.

Workouts on the cockpit

When gymnasiums closed their doors, this self-confessed ‘gym girl’ took to Aqua Bella’s cockpit for her daily workouts.

“There’s plenty of room to spread the yoga mat out and I have the weights on board ready to go. It’s important to keep up your fitness level now and for boating in general.”

Essential fishing was possible too since Tony registered Aqua Bella’s tender.

“Just in my backyard I put out four crab pots and caught 13 mud crabs in five days. I also caught a big mangrove jack. And a catfish, which went back into the crab pots. People wonder how I catch so much, but it’s crazy easy; the rods are sitting in their holders for the day and they’re catching themselves!”

The Borgias enjoy simple Mediterranean-style dishes on Aqua Bella with plenty of fresh fish and salads.

“We love to cook on the boat and we’ve got everything we need to make great meals, but we like to keep it low maintenance. I’ve done all the Riviera courses on how to prepare for living on a motor yacht, which covers cooking.”

Before the tightening of restrictions at the end of March, the Borgias would spend the better part of every week cruising around their backyard waterways, mostly at their favourite destination, Jumpinpin. Tony works from home and he was also able to take care of business aboard, thanks to Aqua Bella’s satellite internet connection.

“We normally spend four days a week on the water, so we needed a boat that has everything on it. When we purchased the Belize it was a dream come true for Tony and me.”

The couple bought their first boat 11 years ago, a 4.75-metre Quintrex Cuddy Cabin. From there they moved on to a 20-foot Whittley, which at the time felt like a ‘ship with a shower on the duckboard that for me then was a luxury’.

“When we first walked on, we felt it had a sense of European style to it.”

The master stateroom extends the full beam of the yacht and designer bathrooms ‘are just amazing’.

“You can be more than six feet tall and stand tall in the shower!” she says.

“We like to drive from upstairs in the flybridge, which has its own luxury lounge.”

Designed for al fresco dining

The Belize’s flybridge is certainly of note. It’s been designed for al fresco entertainment with a view and it features a traditional teak benchtop that runs the full length of the starboard side and which contains a drawer fridge, a sink with hot and cold water, drink holders and storage.

“I’d live on it full time, I’d sell the house, but Tony still likes the house,” laughs Connie. “Boats aren’t just for fishing anymore. These boats are luxury for us girls and families and friends. You can enjoy them like a floating apartment; it’s our holiday house!”