Riviera Festival an investment in boating's future

Riviera is still celebrating after its sixth annual Festival of Boating on Queensland's Gold Coast combined a comprehensive motoryacht education program with a series of spectacular social events for hundreds of owners and prospective boaters.

Created for luxury motoryacht owners to socialise and to grow boating confidence and knowledge, the annual Riviera Festival offered more than 100 workshops, seminars and on-water tutorials.

The event covered 39 separate subjects from technical to safety and lifestyle, each delivered by experts in their fields. These included safe towing and rafting, advanced weather forecasting, the science of antifouling, preventive maintenance, offshore seamanship, radar, planning and provisioning a galley, emergency protocols, navigating at night and more.

New Riviera owners Glen and Mary Phillips said it was a fantastic experience and their entire family was involved.

"Our young boys took a tender handling course, I wanted to learn more about first aid and the Volvo systems in our yacht. Mary took the ladies skipper course and she is now enrolled in a course to get her skipper's licence!" enthused Glen.

ON-WATER TUITION
A fleet of seven Rivieras was dedicated to providing on-water tuition, with special programs for women skippers, classes on yacht handling and manoeuvring, pod drive systems, and handling tenders.

A particularly popular seminar, Living the Dream saw Riviera 61 owners Joe and Cheryl Pengelly talk about their six-month cruise from New Zealand to the Fiji Islands group. They covered preparing and provisioning the yacht, navigation at sea and the careful safety planning that made their voyage comfortable and enjoyable.  

RESEARCHING A NEW BOAT
Many visitors also came to the Festival to research the company and the range of motor yachts. They travelled from across Australia as well as New Zealand, Europe and the Americas to enjoy and learn at the Festival.

New Zealanders Andrew and Alison Turner undertook an on-water workshop on the IPS drives and system that is fitted to their new Riviera 4800 Sport Yacht.

"I also attended a seminar on C-Zone digital switching technology," said Andrew. "Both workshops were highly informative. "

Chuck and Rita Anderson visited from Chicago in the United States. Rita was enthusiastic about the on-water tuition.

"I took two classes on boats. I am usually first mate on our Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht and I want to do some of the driving now."

Chuck was impressed with Rita's new skills.

"I watched her reverse the boat into its pen," he said. "That's the way we berth our Sport Yacht in Chicago. I'll be delighted to have Rita take over the helm."

One couple flew in from Spain for a special visit to review progress and select a range of finishes and equipment for their new Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht that is now in build.

68 SPORTS MOTOR YACHT
The new Riviera Sports Motor Yacht facility was also open to visitors and the full interior mock-up of the luxurious new 68 Sports Motor Yacht was a particular attraction.

The three-day Festival is held each year at the Riviera yacht-building facility on Australia's Gold Coast, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, giving visitors the unique opportunity to tour the factory and see how these luxury motor yachts are crafted.

A total of 12 Rivieras were also on show at the undercover marina, which creating the largest Riviera and Belize exhibit anywhere in the world.

The next opportunity motor yachting enthusiasts will have to see our Rivieras on display will be at the Sydney International Boat Show beginning on Thursday, August 3, with the world premiere of our new 68 Sports Motor Yacht.

More at Riviera.