Riviera launches the ultimate boating event in May on the Gold Coast

For the first time in Riviera’s 32-year history, Australia’s largest and most awarded luxury boat builder will host its biggest and most unique owner experience.

Almost 5,000 Riviera owners from all over the world will be invited to participate in the inaugural festival which will celebrate Riviera’s rich history, the global Riviera family of boat owners and the joys of boating with a raft of 63 individual owners only educational and social events over four days.

Riviera’s director of brand and communications Stephen Milne said the Riviera Festival will be a truly unique boating experience and will be Riviera’s most ambitious project to date.

“This is the ultimate Riviera owner event that will be held to coincide with the annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May,” he said.

“We have called the event The Riviera Festival because we will be celebrating Riviera, the Riviera family and all the unique benefits that are associated with owning a Riviera luxury cruiser.

“The magnitude of such an event is quite awe-inspiring and to think we could potentially have thousands of Riviera owners from around the globe uniting here at Riviera’s Gold Coast headquarters will be an amazing and memorable experience.”

Riviera owners will have exclusive access to a full calendar of events held over the four days of the festival from educational seminars and hands-on workshops through to fun, social and vibrant activities.

“For those new to boating or wishing to brush up on their skills and practical knowledge, we will offer separate women’s and men’s skipper training programs that will include mooring, fenders, lines and anchoring techniques.  Other hands-on courses will include electronic navigation, generator set and sanitation system in-field trouble shooting, fishing clinics, offshore seamanship, exterior maintenance ‘tricks of the trade’ and a full sea trial program.

“Each of The Riviera Festival specialist programs will be conducted by our Riviera experts who love sharing their immense knowledge for the greater enjoyment of boating.”

“People can learn how to navigate, meet our designers and the talented craftspeople that build our beautiful boats as well as enjoy a raft of fun events organised exclusively for our owners.

“We will display selected new models at Sanctuary Cove from May 24-27 in our usual location on Marina F and we will also have a giant display of Riviera’s range at the Riviera factory in Coomera in an all weather undercover venue, including the world release of the new 75 Flybridge.

The new 75 will feature a larger cockpit and flybridge than the 70 Enclosed Flybridge, making it Riviera’s new flagship model and the largest semi-production flybridge boat built in Australia.

Riviera’s large boat program project manager Paul Wrench said the 75’s larger sized cockpit would be excellent for both sport fishing and entertaining.

“The beauty of this vessel is that it is a self-contained luxury home that can take you anywhere in the world, as it has its own fresh water maker system and twin generator sets to supply all the power needed to live aboard in absolute luxury,” he said.

“There is sleeping accommodation for up to 12 in four separate cabins each with their own ensuite, an aft galley which is centrally located between the cockpit and saloon which opens to the mezzanine alfresco dining area through a large awning window and stainless steel and glass door.  The aft galley positioning can also easily serve the flybridge.

“This new design will be a winner for Riviera as it features even more entertaining space and is ideally suited for long range cruising.”

Mr Milne said, “We will also have a brokerage show of pre-loved Rivieras at The Festival so in one giant Riviera display you will be able to inspect boats from a $99,000 pre-loved Riviera Sport Cruiser all the way up to a brand new $6 million 75 Flybridge model.

There will be pod drive comparisons where people can sea trial a Zeus or IPS pod driver boats alongside each other to better understand each systems individual capabilities and performance.

“We have many exciting and invigorating social events lined up including a wine trail tour and lunch at various Hinterland wineries, a relaxing day spa experience for the ladies, the Riviera Masters golf classic, high tea lunch at Palazzo Versace, a champagne cocktail event under the stars on the Friday night and a Gala dinner within the Riviera factory on the Saturday night to mention just a few of our planned events.”

Riviera will also host factory tours for owners and the general public and there will be free parking on site at Coomera.

Riviera owners are encouraged to contact their local Riviera dealer to register their interest in receiving The Festival’s full program details.  All place numbers will be strictly limited at all program events and prior registration will be essential.