First time on Sydney Harbour the Riviera Water Ski Team

Riviera’s new 61 Series II will leave a stunned audience in her wake as she tows 15 water-skiers around Sydney Harbour

In a once in a lifetime opportunity, the striking new Riviera 61 series II Enclosed Flybridge luxury cruiser will celebrate her Sydney debut with a spectacular demonstration, as the 3100 horse power vessel tows 15 elite water-skiers from the Australian Ski Racing Team around Sydney Harbour.

Leaving a stunned audience in her wake the $2.5 million vessel is the latest model to emerge from Australia’s award-winning pleasure boat builder.

Riviera’s director of brand and communication Stephen Milne said it would be a very impressive sight.

“To see this magnificent vessel towing 15 elite water-skiers carrying the Australian flag in front of Sydney’s iconic Opera House will certainly be a spectacular sight and it is the first and only time in Australia that a Riviera will tow so many water-skiers in Sydney Harbour,” Mr Milne said.

Event organiser and former Australian water-skier Darren Osmotherly from Paradise Afloat Houseboats on the Hawkesbury River said this was an Australian first and a one-off event.

“It’s been a big job to organise with a lot of risk assessments and consultation,” Darren said.

“There will be 15 water-skiers who have all represented Australia in the Australian Ski Race Team and have all competed at a world level in their sport.

“This year the Ski championships/World Titles will be held in Moreton Bay, Queensland in September so this is an exciting opportunity to showcase the Australian ski team talent behind an Australian boating icon.”

One of the 15 water skiers is Danny Cropper who will represent Australia at the World Titles this year and is also a multiple Bridge to Bridge winner and world record holder for skiing the 112 kilometre Bridge to Bridge race twice in one day.

The team will also feature the current junior world champion, Jack Houston who is also in the Australian team this year, and Tania Teelow who is also in the Australian team and a former world champion.

Mr Milne said the NSW Maritime Authority had been extremely helpful and supportive of this one-off event.

“We will have four pilot boats plus the NSW Maritime Authority will be there to assist us as the Riviera 61 Series II Enclosed Flybridge departs Rose Bay and makes her way past the Sydney Opera House and back to Rose Bay,” he said.

Riviera owner Scott Taylor has generously donated the use of his stunning new 61 series II Enclosed Flybridge, Mazara, to celebrate the Sydney launch of this new model.

As founding principal of the FleetPlus Group, Scott is a multiple Riviera owner having previously owned a 27, 36 Pro Sport, 39 and 42.

He said he was thrilled to be involved with the Sydney launch of the new 61 Series II Enclosed Flybridge.

“We love our boat as it combines style, capability, capacity, and of course when you see it, the ‘wow factor’ like no other,” Scott said.

“I chose to build a boat made in Australia because of Riviera’s quality, reliability and of course for the fact I love to spend my money in the communities from which I operate my business, which is Australia and New Zealand.

“We were very much involved in the build process in consultation with Riviera Pittwater and the factory.

“My partner, Rebecca, and I use our boat more for lifestyle these days but we still fish competitively at our chosen events with Rebecca and I holding various records through our successful campaigning of competitions.”

The FleetPlus Group is the largest privately owned vehicle leasing business in Australia and New Zealand involved in leasing, novated leasing, salary packaging and asset finance.

Scott and his executive team also understand the importance of helping those in need and recently partook in the CEO Sleepout, raising more than $40,000 for homeless people.

Scott said he looks forward to seeing his 61 Series II on display at the Sydney Boat Show.

The new Riviera 61 Series II will make her Sydney debut at the 2011 Sydney International Boat Show this week and with three of these new models currently under construction for owners in Australia and Central America, Riviera anticipates this model will be extremely well-received by boating aficionados.

Riviera offers 20 different models from 36 to 85 feet across four model series Flybridge, Sport Yacht, Offshore Express and Motor Yachts.