Riviera announces new 64 Sports Motor Yacht – Sophistication meets innovation
Australia’s luxury motor yacht builder Riviera broke the mould with the release of its 68 and 72 Sports Motor Yacht models in 2017 and ’18 respectively, and it is set to do so again with another graceful addition to this growing Collection.
The just announced all-new Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht will boast equally high levels of sophistication and innovation as its sisterships. It gives boating enthusiasts, particularly bluewater cruising couples, the long-term liveability and luxury they desire in a 64-foot model.
“The sports motor yacht philosophy has been well embraced the world over, with over 20 yachts purchased by owners in Europe, the Americas, New Zealand and Australia over the past 18 months,” Riviera Australia owner Rodney Longhurst says. “The 64 is sure to be welcomed, with a number of orders already received ahead of its official announcement.
“Our highly experienced international design team has risen to the challenge of optimising the onboard space, ensuring the yacht offers beauty, amenity and functionality.
“The research and refinement process extended to building a full-scale mock-up in our facility and consulting with some of our most experienced owners. This was an important consideration as Sports Motor Yacht owners tend to cruise for longer distances and durations.”
Ultimately, the designers achieved the choice of three or four staterooms, covered mezzanine dining and aft gourmet galley, internal staircase, a pantograph door leading to generous walk-around sidedecks, and a foredeck that cradles a 3.6-metre tender before transforming into a spacious entertainment zone.
Outstanding outdoors
Versatility and practicality shine through in the Riviera 64 Sport Motor Yachts cockpit, with no less than four lockers across the transom and coamings, along with vast underfloor storage that comprises a large insulated fish bin flanked by twin lazarettes. A removeable hatch allows an optional gyro stabiliser to be fitted.
An optional plumbed bait tank can be incorporated in the transom in lieu of the standard wet locker. Docklines and shorepower leads stow in coaming lockers, out of sight but not out of mind. The aft cleats sit within curved recesses to allow a neat fall for the tethers.
To starboard is a wetbar that includes a 190-litre refrigerator and 100-litre icebox. The adjacent unit accommodates twin barbecue plates and sink, along with a recessed bin, all shielded from the elements by a fibreglass benchtop. Immediately above this area is a tackle locker with inbuilt trays.
Skippers are afforded wide access to the sidedecks and the convenience of cockpit-level joystick controls if optioned.
Two generous steps lead to the 64 Sport Motor Yachts mezzanine level and the external engineroom hatch – ideal for quick checks or technician access. To port is an L-shaped day lounge served by an optional icemaker, while an overhead recess can house a fold-down 32-inch TV.
Al fresco dining will be enjoyed in the L-shaped lounge area to starboard, which includes a drop-leaf teak table. Battery switches are also located here for easy accessibility when first boarding the vessel.
Ensuring privacy and sun protection, there are one-way-vision glass panels extending from the cabin superstructure that allow those onboard to enjoy the view but not be viewed themselves. The mezzanine can be enclosed with optional clears and serviced by air-conditioning ducts for maximum comfort during extremes of weather.
Luxurious saloon
The outdoor dinette is the perfect entrée for the C-shaped galley, which is immediately to starboard inside the 64’s saloon.
Notable here is a full-height refrigerator with two freezer drawers beneath, sitting adjacent to a three-burner electric cooktop, below which are a Miele dishwasher and microwave convection oven. Twin sinks face forward, creating a perfect triangular working area for onboard chefs.
The central control C-Zone digital switching display screen is located on the portside of the saloon entry, placing electrical management at the skipper’s fingertips. Also in this unit, which doubles as the internal stairwell, are two under-bench refrigerator, a 27-bottle wine fridge and glass storage. Nearby is a large pull-out storage shelf for bulky items such as food and beverage cartons.
A pantograph door gives clever and convenient access to the port side deck and foredeck.
Plush seating for four or five guests is provided on the port side of the saloon, the lounge also storing three director’s chairs to supplement the seating at the starboard-side dinette or al fresco dining area.
A large flatscreen TV raises from the galley bulkhead to a height of 400mm, so people can catch their favourite programs as easily as catching fish.
Descending to the accommodation deck, the VIP stateroom in the forepeak enjoys views from large topside windows and benefits from overhead lockers, along with two full-height hanging lockers. En-suite access is to starboard, with the compartment including a large walk-in shower, VacuFlush toilet and high-quality vanity.
The day head, residing to port, is of similar dimensions and offers separate en-suite access to the guest cabin. It’s equipped with two single berths that, as an option, can slide together at the touch of a button to form another queen-sized berth. Directly opposite is a fourth stateroom sporting double bunks – alternatively this area can feature an atrium lounge.
A wide companionway leads aft to the Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yachts full-beam master stateroom, which is bathed in light from large topside windows and features a central king-sized bed. A comfortable chaise lounge drinks in views from the portside window. There are no fewer than nine storage areas in this cabin, a highlight being a twin-door robe.
The separate master en-suite is akin to an apartment bathroom, boasting high-quality flooring, a double vanity, heated towel rail, spacious shower and designer fittings. Headroom is excellent at 6ft 5in (1.95 metres).
A doorway then leads to a large laundry with separate washer and dryer, arguably the ultimate in space utilisation for those who like to remain self-sufficient when cruising long term. Owners can alternatively specify a utility room, among myriad alternatives.
An aft bulkhead door in this room provides an internal route to the gleaming white engineroom, housing a 22.5kW genset, 6500-litre fuel tanks and twin MAN V8 1300hp (970 kW) diesels as standard.
Flying first class
In true Riviera sports motor yacht style, the 64’s fully enclosed bridge will pamper guests like a first-class lounge. It’s the perfect spot to watch the world go by, or weekend sport on the 28-inch TV facing the L-shaped lounge. Forward is a servery and chaise lounge.
A rear sliding door and awning window brings the outdoors inside. There’s an additional dinette and wetbar on the rear deck plus the option of siderail-mounted joysticks. Revealing the vessel’s bluewater pedigree, a moulding at the rear of the bridge houses a liferaft and safety cell.
Form and functionality combine seamlessly in the lavish helm station, which has twin leather seats and a wheel sitting almost on centreline facing a trio of 24-inch Volvo Penta glass-cockpit screens.
There is a commanding view over the 64’s foredeck, with its versatile, innovative and easily accessed socialising area comprising a C-shaped lounge area and generous floor space to stretch one’s legs. Dedicated storage lockers are provided, both to port and starboard. A 3.6-metre tender with 50hp jet then resides in this space when underway – it is launched by a low-profile davit, fitted to starboard, which has a 450-kilogram lift capacity.
This foredeck feature proved exceptionally popular on the larger sports motor yachts. From a practical viewpoint, it also provides a convenient location for storing fenders, ropes and a pressure cleaner.
Two large lockers at the bow allow for rope/chain storage, washdown hoses and windlass controller. Such is the beam for’ard, the 64 has no need for a conventional bowsprit. Rather, the sprit is melded into the hull lines for sleek and seamless aesthetics.
In summary, the 64 is a stately and stylish addition to Riviera’s thoroughbred stable of Sports Motor Yachts, a vessel that offers a world of on-water opportunities – from sports fishing and diving to paddle boarding and kayaking, or simply pure relaxation when cruising the coast.
The 64 Sports Motor Yacht is set to premiere in 2020.