Gold Coast, Australia – Premium Australian luxury motor yacht manufacturer Riviera has unveiled plans for the new 50 Sports Motor Yacht (SMY) that redefines the form, function and feel of the quintessential blue-water yacht.

The Riviera design team in collaboration with 4D Designs have created the 50 SMY, a remarkably spacious new yacht and brimming with unique features. This sophisticated new design draws on the heritage of Riviera’s larger and very successful 64, 68 and 72 Sports Motor Yacht models.

Among the key sports motor yacht design elements are a foredeck that transforms from tender storage to sunlounge, a sports cockpit, an all-weather mezzanine seating area that affords alfresco dining and entertainment, a stately three-sided glass-enclosed flybridge, and a full-beam master stateroom as centrepiece of a three-stateroom, twin-bathroom accommodation plan – all in a hull measuring 15.4 metres in length.

“Our sports motor yacht design is in a league of its own, as they bring many different yacht designs together for the first time in one yacht. A Riviera SMY has the attributes of a passage maker, pilothouse, motor yacht, and convertible sports fish, all in one.

“The new 50 SMY has considerable internal volume for its size, with multiple living areas and a tremendous amount of practicality and versatility,” Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst says of the 50 SMY.

“She’ll comfortably handle long coastal passages, while being equally adept at serving as a luxurious family, fishing and entertainment yacht with highly efficient planing performance – perfect for day boating and weekending.”

Sydney Australia couple Darrel and Linda Hall were quick to pre-order a new 50 SMY ahead of its formal announcement, one of many purchasers to do so off the plan. She will be their fifth Riviera in the past 10 years.

“We wanted to go to an enclosed flybridge,” Darrel explains. “We go boating with our kids, who are both 19. They bring along friends, so the extra living space you get with an enclosed flybridge is a real bonus – it’s a place to escape to so easily with an internal staircase, and you have the ability to be higher and to see further ahead at sea.”

A new breed of motor yacht

The exterior of the 50 SMY is all about the harmonious marriage of the handsomely sweeping superstructure – unmistakably Riviera in its profile – with the sporty, large-volume hull form. She makes a grand statement of both grace and purpose.

The 50 draws inspiration and innovation from the popular SMY Collection with its 64, 68 and 72 models – most notably in the cockpit, mezzanine and foredeck configurations that consequently look right at home in the 50 SMY.

Accessed from a generous hydraulic swim platform (optional) via dual transom doors, the rear cockpit boasts 6.5 square metres of outdoor living space and accommodates a barbecue/wet bar and fridge/freezer compartment, along with ample storage.

Wide side-decks with raised bulwarks safely connect the foredeck, which in turn offers both an entertainment sun lounging zone and can convert to carry a tender. A lateral walkway negates having to step over the sunlounge when washing the windscreen or attaching covers.

The bowsprit is seamlessly merged into the flared hull design for a cleaner, contemporary look.

In the fully covered mezzanine are two comfortable day lounges either side – the starboard lounge can also convert to a sunbed. There is simply no better place to relax, enjoy a meal or take in all the cockpit action.

Convenient access to the engine room is via a large hatch in the mezzanine floor with a stainless-steel ladder beneath.

The inside story

Linking the mezzanine with the galley and saloon are a tinted glass sliding door and awning window set in a superior stainless-steel frame. A gourmet galley resides immediately to port, while the internal staircase is to starboard, incorporating a television, 100-litre freezer, liquor cabinet and glass storage.

As one of five distinct yet integrated luxury living zones, the saloon also offers two opposing lounge areas that can seat six to eight guests in total comfort.

Linda Hall says this arrangement was a major drawcard: “The social areas of the new 50 SMY look beautiful,” she says. “There’s the cockpit, mezzanine, the almost circular seating arrangement of the lounges in the saloon, the flybridge offering additional onboard space, and the generous downstairs accommodation.

“We basically raised our children on the water and this together time is very dear to us. The new 50 SMY will be just fantastic as our family boat.”

The design team has also excelled with the accommodation plan with a full-beam master suite bathed in natural light from large hull windows, a queen-sized island berth, chaise lounge and en suite. Guests are afforded a VIP stateroom with ensuite/day head forward and twin bunk cabin, all with exceptional headroom and airiness.

The flybridge pampers its occupants in complete comfort while being open to the extended awning – strata glass clears can then fully seal this area. An optional aft helm is available for convenience when fishing.

The main helm station offers twin pedestal-mounted leather seats and places controls, screens and switches close to hand and in clear view.

Power and passion

From here, the captain can summon the choice of either Volvo Penta IPS or MAN V-drive propulsion. The proven and highly efficient power and drive options are twin diesel Volvo Penta IPS 950 (533kW/725HP) or twin diesel MAN i6-800 (588kW/800HP). Both deliver smooth, strong-mid-range thrust and top speeds of over 30 knots.

“In line with our philosophy of always selecting the superior drive and engine configuration for each individual model, we decided to offer a choice of shaft drive or IPS, and in either case, the 50 Sports Motor Yacht will be a brilliant performer,” Rodney Longhurst explained.

The Halls opted for IPS, having owned two shaft-and two pod-drive models previously. Darrel and Linda cited the ease of handling, berthing and efficient performance.

“The plan is to do some coastal cruising, but our twins have just started university and they’re studying from home because of COVID. So for the time being, it will be a mid-week or weekends away,” Darrel says.

The fine finishing detail

Darrel and Linda both noted the evolution and refinement of Riviera’s design and finish quality over the past decade to its world-class standards of today, which gave them supreme confidence and faith when ordering their new 50 SMY.

“Darrel is a Riviera guy,” Linda adds. “When I look back, the quality of Riviera today is just magnificent. The boats are finished to the highest possible standards, and we’ve never been disappointed with any aspect of the boats we’ve owned. Certainly, the new 50 SMY is a whole new level.”

Linda and her daughter delighted in the opportunity to personalise the colour scheme of their new yacht: “There’s a lot of choice but as part of the interior consultation process, Riviera present you with a wonderful book with different stories about the fabric ranges and the colours. We kept the base colours fairly neutral so we could personalise the other furnishing details.”

Rodney Longhurst is just as enthusiastic and confident that the new 50 Sports Motor Yacht will be keenly sought after among discerning boaters either moving within the Riviera model range or coming to the Riviera family for the first time.

“This is a superb new motor yacht for those who want to spend quality time on the water pursuing their own water sports passions or enjoying complete peace and quiet in a secluded anchorage.

“Seaworthiness and safety are deep in her DNA and, as with every Riviera today, she will be built with the highest of principles and quality.

“I really look forward to seeing the 50 accompanying her distinguished Sports Motor Yacht sisterships in venturing far and wide, or simply spending quiet afternoons closer to home,” said Rodney Longhurst.

The Riviera 50 Sports Motor Yacht will have her official premiere in late August 2020 and will debut at Fort Lauderdale International Boat show in October and the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival in November. Private inspections can be arranged with Riviera representatives via RivieraAustralia.com.

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Article provided by Riviera Yachts

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