‘Like a dream’: Female tradie’s wild $6m adventure

If there is one thing Laura Hillman knows a thing or two about, it’s boats, with the 19-year-old helping build a multimillion-dollar yacht.

Laura Hillman knows a thing or two about boats.

The 19-year-old just finished helping to build a $6 million luxury yacht and delivered it though some treacherous waters to its owner in Fiji.

For the last three years, the Gold Coast local she has been working as an apprentice diesel mechanic at Riviera – a dream job if you will, that was inspired by her grandfather.

The Aussie company has been building luxury motor yachts for 44 years.

Laura Hillman, 19, from the Gold Coast is a third-year apprentice diesel mechanic at Riviera – a luxury motor yacht builder company.

“I was put on a riff during family holidays from a young age and from there I had experiences boating in Moreton Bay – my curiously then piqued to engines and wanting to know how this thing is actually built, how it works and what runs it,” Laura told news.com.au.

“I was lucky enough for my pop to have a Riviera when I was younger and I always used to stick my head in the engine room and now I am finally here working on them and can be able to look back at that engine and say ‘hey, I know how to do that’.

Laura (pictured as a baby) as a baby on her family’s boat.

She’s loved the boat life since she was a child.

She works on a range of models from 72, 78, 395 to 6000 sports motor yachts and more recently a 64 SPY which she helped build from the ground up.

“We get given the bottom half of the boat; we fit it all out from the engine, gear box, water system and sanitisation system,” she said.

Laura lives and breathes all-things boating and fishing.

“I describe it as the heart of the boat.”

Last month, the 19-year-old was lucky enough to help deliver the yacht she has been working on for the past four months.

“It’s not common for apprentices to go along on the delivery trip,” she said, adding she was stoked to have received a text to be part of the delivery crew.

She said it’s also a great feeling to finally see the finished product hit the water.

The durability of the 64 footer was really put to the test when the four-person delivery crew encountered an unexpected change in weather conditions.

The teen helped build this $6 million luxury yacht for a US client.

She helped deliver the Riviera 64 sports motor yacht to the client in Fiji.

It was the first time three cyclones formed simultaneously in the region in 26 years — Alfred, which wreaked havoc on the Gold Coast in March, as well as Rae and Seru, which impacted Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

“The boat was originally going to America where the owner lives and I assisted the captain in driving it up to Brisbane – but then there was a change of plans and we needed to get it to Fiji (where the owner also has a place).

During the journey, the crew encountered wild weather. The storms were Alfred, Rae and Seru, which impacted Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Cyclone Seru forced the crew to take refuge in New Caledonia for more than a week as the systems swirled.

“I asked them if they needed a deck hand and I got a text saying ‘have your passport ready’, which was awesome.”

“The forecast was clear and it was a great run until it all changed when we arrived at New Caledonia.”

The cyclone meant they had to dock at the marina for a week before continuing the voyage.

“The first two hours of leaving New Caledonia was phenomenal, it was like a dream going through the islands, being surrounded by crystal clear waters and green mountains but it went from one extreme to another very quickly.”

When they could finally leave for the second leg of their voyage, they had to steer 70 nautical miles around Rae as the worst effects of the storm closed in. Waves reached five metres high.

While Laura got to experience some spectacular sights, the crew faced some extremely rough waters with waves reaching five metres high.

“It can be daunting being so far out in the ocean when all you can see is water and not another boat or landmass,” Laura said.

“It really puts in perspective how vulnerable you are with those cyclones around.”

The end was in sight.

Laura said it was a great experience to see the team’s hard work in building the boat pay off, adding the yacht handled incredibly well in the rough seas.

She said she had total faith in her knowledgeable and experienced crew mates, and of course the strength and capability of the boat.

“I was so excited to join a crew of this calibre to expand my knowledge of the boats I help build at Riviera, but I didn’t count on there being a once in a generation weather event along the way.”

The 19-year-old has her power boat licence, but she’s also working at getting a Coxswains Certificate Grade 2 that will allow her to command and operate a commercial vessel up to 12 metres.

She said they all took turns on watch, adding she did her share of night shifts and despite copping some rough sea sickness, it was all worth it.

Laura said her job involves working in the engineering side of building the motor yachts, so she knows how well they are built and how much care goes into every aspect to make them strong and safe.

“The yacht handled incredibly well in the rough seas – I could feel the Humphree stabiliser fins working to constantly steady her.”

The teen has her power boat licence, but she’s also working at getting a Coxswains Certificate Grade 2 that will allow her to command and operate a commercial vessel up to 12 metres.

Laura said for any female considering a career in the industry, to “just go for it”

“I would honestly say to young females or anyone wanting to try a trade really to just come and do some work experience,” she told news.com.au.

“Find what you love and trust me you will never want to leave.”

Laura is one of approximately 52,000 females employed in manufacturing in Queensland, up from 41,000 in 2017, a 27 per cent increase, according to the Women in Manufacturing 2023 report.

“The marine industry is full of opportunities.”