Riviera’s new-era 78 Motor Yacht spectacular

In a spectacular world-wide premiere, Australia’s luxury motor yacht builder, Riviera, has launched its exceptional new 78 Motor Yacht.

Following more than 42 years of evolution and with more than 5,800 yachts launched and now being enjoyed around the world, the 78 Motor Yacht design represents a new era for Riviera.

Riviera Australia owner Rodney Longhurst said the team brought a combined passion for excellence to create a sophisticated yacht that delivers a superb combination of family cruising, entertaining and blue-water passage-making capabilities.

He said the 11 owners all enjoyed an exclusive preview at Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast a week before the official launch.

As guests enjoyed sunset cocktails, the magnificent titanium coloured yacht arrived, and spotlights swept through the evening sky to reveal the elegant lines and profile of the 78. As she pirouetted to an expectant audience, the song Firework was delivered powerfully from the foredeck. She then docked and the guests were invited to step on board for their first view of the yacht.

As they inspected the motor yacht, 78 owners’ comments included: “You’ve considered every detail – you’ve done the best job ever, and it exceeds my expectations” and “I want to congratulate Riviera upon this huge achievement” and “I have goose bumps…. it’s just spectacular.”

She has been designed in an exciting collaboration between the award-winning Riviera team of designers, engineers and craftspeople at the company’s headquarters on Queensland’s Gold Coast and superyacht designer Luca Vallebona.

During an interview from his home on the island of Sardinia in Italy, Luca said: “We decided to do something that was contemporary but not the showroom styling that you see especially in some designs.

“What I love is the way we are mixing our different cultures, the Australian one and the European one and we have found a good balance that will make everyone happy.

“Going forward from the aft saloon deck to the interior of the 78, I think is an incredible space.

“We worked hard as a team to find the right balance in the interior design. I think we achieved a very good outcome. We have introduced new concepts and they look superb.”

Step aboard

The 78 Motor Yacht offers options of an enclosed or open bridge deck and includes luxurious accommodation for up to 10 adults in four luxurious staterooms and crew quarters.

The first element guests at the exclusive preview noticed was the teak-laid swim platform. It was developed to provide a three-step design that spans the full width of the platform and can be lowered into the water to make access simple both for swimming and launching water sports equipment. A swim ladder is incorporated into the side of the platform.

Two doors are built into the transom. A watertight door on the starboard side provides access to the full-height engine room and crew quarters. A larger door on the port side lifts to reveal a garage for water sports, diving and fishing equipment. A shower is built into the underside of the door.

Stepping up from the swim platform, the semi-enclosed saloon deck, covered entirely by the bridge deck overhang, features teak decking, and includes plush lounges across the transom, and an L-shape lounge in the starboard fore quarter around a fold-out teak dining table and comprehensive barbecue centre to port. Teak deck chairs can be added around the dining table to accommodate up to eight guests. A screen across the transom can be lowered for privacy and protection from weather.

This deck includes wing doors on either side of the coaming that can be opened for entry or exit to a fixed dock.

Elegant interior

An electric sliding door opens to reveal the interior of the vast saloon deck with its large U-shape galley immediately to starboard, positioned equally to serve guests on the aft deck or in the saloon. A large window slides down electrically to open the galley to guests on the deck aft.

The galley features Caesarstone benchtops that display a three-burner induction hob and twin underslung stainless-steel sinks. This space also includes twin ovens, a dishwasher, a pair of full-height refrigerators and ample storage drawers and cupboards. Ceasarstone is also utilised on benchtops for the saloon and bridge wet bars.

Superbly varnished, finely grain-matched high-gloss teak features throughout the interior was selected for this yacht.

One of the key design features of the 78 Motor Yacht is flush surfaces throughout the interior, including concealed latches on drawers and cupboards. Panelling is utilised on fridge and icemaker doors to blend with the interior decor.

Premium fabrics and finishes are utilised extensively throughout the interior and owners personalise their yacht from the very beginning of their build, deciding on furniture placement, colours and fabrics and how they wish to best utilise the many spaces on board.

The generous saloon space on this yacht features two premium comfort lounges; a large L-shape lounge to starboard and a two-seat lounge along the port side aft of a comprehensive wet bar. An ottoman is placed over an elegant rug at the centre of this space.

Forward on the starboard side, a watertight door leads to the side deck and, from there, to the entertainer’s foredeck. This highly versatile space offers a number of entertaining layouts and a Euro sun awning with the option to carry a tender or jetski and davit.

The command centre

An internal timber staircase leads from the port side of the main saloon to the bridge deck with its super-yacht like dash accommodating four large navigation screens. The leather captain’s chair is on the yacht’s centreline with companion chairs on either side. Immediately to starboard of the captain is an extended console with engine controls. Aft is a leather lounge and ottoman and entertainment unit. An electrically-operated double sliding and stacking glass door opens up to connect the bridge interior and exterior as one space and leading to the deck with a bar including twin high seats, a U-shape lounge and teak fold-out dining table. The optional day head is in the starboard forward quarter of this space. The coaming on this deck includes port and starboard joysticks for slow-speed manoeuvring.

Luxurious accommodation deck

An elegant, curved timber staircase from the forward end of the main saloon leads to the accommodation deck with its four luxurious staterooms and three bathrooms. The full-beam Master suite amidships is bathed with natural light from extended hull windows. It provides an electrically adjustable king-size bed and extended his-and-hers en-suite bathroom. A striking timber feature adorns the aft wall. The VIP guest stateroom, fitted with a queen double bed boats hull windows and twin overhead hatches, is forward with an en-suite bathroom. The port stateroom offers twin beds that can slide together to form a double at the touch of a button. An option for this stateroom is a double bed. A third bathroom is the ensuite for this stateroom and can act as a day head. The starboard stateroom includes two adult single cross-over berths.

Power to cruise

This magnificent new motor yacht is powered by twin MAN 2000 turbo diesel engines delivering 2,000hp (1,471kW) each through Twin Disc Quickshift gearboxes. She includes Twin Disc’s Express Joystick System with the integrated station-hold Express Positioning System.

Power options include twin MAN 1550 engines providing 1,140kW (1,550hp) each or twin MAN 1800 engines that deliver 1,324kW (1,800hp) each.

With 10,200 litres of fuel available, she is capable of cruising for more than 1,000 nautical miles or offer speed over 30 knots.

The yacht includes Humphree carbon fibre fin stabilisation.

Riviera offers an industry-leading seven-year Structural and two-year Express Limited Warranty which covers all non-structural components.

Riviera motor yachts powered by MAN engines enjoy a five-year mechanical limited warranty. The MAN Gold Standard Premium covers all MAN engines and engine room components.

RIVIERA 78 MOTOR YACHT PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

Length overall	24.82 metres	81 ft 5 in
Hull length (Lh to ISO8666)	22.11 metres	72 ft 6 in
Beam (Incl gunwale)	6.00 metres	19 ft 8 in
Maximum draft (Incl props)	1.90 metres	6 ft 3 in
Dry weight	56,300 kg	124,120 lbs
Fuel capacity	10,200 litres	2,695 US gal
Water capacity	800 litres	211 US gal
Holding tank capacity	500 litres	132 US gal
Vac-u-flush tank capacity for FB/crew	151 litres	40 US gal
Sleeping capacity	8 persons + 1 crew
Engine option (MAN 1550 x 2)	1,140kW	1,550hp ea
Engine option (MAN 1800 x 2)	1,324kW	1,800hp ea
Engine option (MAN 2000 x 2)	1,471kW	2,000hp ea
Generator (primary)	27kW / 240V / 50 Hz
Generator (secondary)	27kW / 240V / 50 Hz