We craft unforgettable journeys that deeply connect our guests with the wonders of nature. Through immersive experiences and engaging interactions, we foster understanding and appreciation for the reef environment whilst upholding the world’s highest standards for sustainable tourism.
Imagine personalised service blended with expert knowledge, ignited by passion and dedication. Picture yourself aboard a luxurious, spacious catamaran, sailing into one of the world’s most awe-inspiring underwater paradises: a pristine reef system cradled by the rugged beauty of Western Australia’s remote North West coastline
Meet the Team
Luke & Lannie Riley
Luke & Lannie Riley are the passionate owners behind Sail Ningaloo. We are committed to providing each & every guest with an unforgettable ocean escape, ensuring memories that last a lifetime. We introduced live aboard sailing tours to Coral Bay on the Ningaloo Reef in 2010 and have enjoyed providing guests with ‘WOW’ experiences ever since.
The bespoke adventures we’ve curated on board Shore Thing are driven by sustainability and respect of the reef’s precious ecosystem, to ensure future generations can enjoy the delicate beauty of the Ningaloo Reef as we do.
Prior to moving to Coral Bay, Luke had spent the best part of 4 years in the Seychelles involved with various marine monitoring programs, including as team leader with Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS) and being involved in an extraordinary expedition to research the whale sharks of Djibouti in Eastern Africa. Luke has dived and snorkelled in numerous places around the world and rates Ningaloo Reef as the best there is, for healthy, vibrant coral and unrivalled marine life experiences.
Luke oversees all the operations of Sail Ningaloo and you may also meet him on board, where he regularly skippers tours and offers training & support to the crew.
Lannie has extensive experience as an interpretative tour guide, having lead camping and hiking tours in Tasmania, the Red Centre and Northern Australia and snorkelling tours on the Great Barrier Reef. Her early years in Coral Bay, monitoring turtles nesting on the beaches as coordinator for the Ningaloo Turtle monitoring program was a good fix for her love of the land and sea.
As the Riley family has expanded over the past few years, Lannie now works behind the scenes on everything you don’t see, supporting the office team and the crew, whilst raising the next generation of Shore Thing crew!
Reservations and Operations
From the first moment you contact Sail Ningaloo, you will most likely be communicating with one of our reservation superstars, Hayley or Cristie. Tailor-making seamless itineraries for guests that encompass the very best experiences of Ningaloo Reef are what they do best! No special requests are too hard, and these wonderful women will make sure everything runs smoothly for your Sail Ningaloo holiday.
Hayley
Hayley, as our Operations Manager, co-ordinates all of the day to day operations of the boat, usually behind the scenes. You'll also see her on board training any new crew as well as filling in when any crew need covering. You could find her cooking your meal, taking you for a snorkel or dive, driving your transfer bus or just in the peripherals making sure everything is running smoothly.
Hayley has been with Sail Ningaloo since early 2015, previously she travelled & lived in many parts of the world but now thinks of Coral Bay as home. She wouldn't want to be anywhere else, so hopefully she will be with us for many more years to come!
Cristie
As Reservations Manager at Sail Ningaloo, Cristie loves creating unique itineraries for guests, to ensure they make the most out of their Ningaloo holiday by experiencing the best this special place has to offer. When you call Sail Ningaloo you will most likely hear Cristie's friendly voice on the other end of the phone.
Cristie has spent many years living and working in some beautiful & remote places in Australia as well as overseas, and Coral Bay is one of her favourites! If you can't find her in the office, she'll likely be on one of her 3 hour snorkelling jaunts or wandering up the coast finding new amazing spots to explore.
The Crew
Joining you on board, we have a hardworking team of 3, who are all experienced and passionate tourism professionals. Working together to anticipate your needs and exceed your expectations, they create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making you feel like part of the Sail Ningaloo family. A multi-talented team, they will be your skipper, dive guide, snorkel guide, cook, marine-biologist, tour guide, photographer, entertainer & bartender!
Awards & Certifications
We’re proud of what we’ve built and achieved with Sail Ningaloo and can’t wait for you to experience life onboard Shore Thing for yourselves!
Sail Ningaloo is an accredited and award-winning ecotourism leader. Following is a selection of our achievements, memberships and certifications. For more information, visit our Community and Environment page.
