Riptide (Channel 7 1969, Ty Hardin, Sue Costin)

Riptide was an action adventure series that cast American Ty Hardin as sailor Moss Andrews, the show was a typical late sixties production, shot on film (with an eye on the international market) and with plenty of location footage.

The premise of the series had Andrews, an American, sailing to Australia to try and get over the loss of his (Australian) wife (killed in a car crash), Andrews then decides to stay ands help his father in law run a charter boat business.

The show carried the original title of “charter boat” and was filmed in around the Sydney Northbeach area, it also has the distinction of being the first hour long colour show produced in Australia and had a budget per episode of anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000.

Interestingly much of the behind the scenes crew came from the UK and guest stars were among the likes of Rowena Wallace, Chips Rafferty, Helen Morse, Tony Ward and Jacki Weaver.

production details
Australia / Channel 7 – Artransa Park – Trans Pacific Entertainment / 26×60 minute episode / Broadcast 1969

Creator: Michael Noonan / Idea/Executive Producer: Guy V. Thayer Jr / Music: Tommy Tycho / Story Consultant: Robert Banks Stewart

cast
TY HARDIN as Moss Andrews
SUE COSTIN as Judy Plenderleith
JONATHAN SWEET as Neil Winton
SLIM DE GREY as Carl
CHRIS CHRISTENSEN as Barney Duncan