By Jeni Bone
Riviera has perfected the compelling combination of blue-water performance and luxurious family cruising across its comprehensive range of Sports Motor Yachts.
More than 6,300 families around the world enjoy the freedom of time aboard their Riviera motor yachts, exploring coastlines, rivers, bays and islands on every continent.
Of the six distinct model collections, the Riviera flagship 78 Motor Yacht and range of Sports Motor Yachts are prized for their long-range cruising capability, offshore performance and luxurious on-board amenities. The SMYs offer both open or fully enclosed flybridges with wide cockpits and range from the 46 open flybridge to the 50, 58, 64 Series II, and 72 Series II enclosed flybridges.
“It’s their full water sports capabilities – fishing, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding – whatever your family loves to do on or in the water, combined with our legendary blue water heritage and the finest design features of a luxury motor yacht, that have attracted hundreds of owners to the Riviera SMY range” explained Riviera’s Director of Brand and Communications, Stephen Milne.
“Riviera Sports Motor Yachts are today cruising the Mediterranean, Pacific Northwest, Bahamas and Caribbean, the Pacific and the length and breadth of the coastlines of Australia and New Zealand.”
Starting with the top of the Sports Motor Yacht line, the 72 Sports Motor Yacht that premiered in 2018. Since then, there have been constant refinement based on owner feedback and most recently the current Series II edition, which launched to great acclaim at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
Combining the smart boating technology and lifestyle enhancements that have evolved over a decade, the 72 Sports Motor Yacht Series II redefines the fundamentals that made the original series so popular.
Notably, this design boasts wide walk-around side decks with high bulwarks, entertainer’s foredeck lounges, an all-weather alfresco deck, a luxurious saloon with aft galley, an internal staircase to a fully-enclosed air-conditioned flybridge with state-of-the-art helm and its own separate aft deck. The lower deck offers superb accommodation with a choice of three or four staterooms, four bathrooms, and an opulent full-beam master suite.
A key feature appreciated by 72 SMY owners who spend extended time aboard is the separate access via the alfresco deck to the aft laundry, day head, the versatility of having a utility room or crew cabin and walk-in access to the full-height engine room.
The Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht debuted in 2020 and set the benchmark for a 64-foot blue-water yacht. At the time of its world premiere at the 2025 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht Series II was hailed as “a legend, refined”.
Both the 64 and 72 share the same key motor yacht design attributes and are immensely capable cruising and adventure yachts. These yachts can venture over 2,300 nautical miles at displacement speeds, even further with optional long-range tanks fitted, yet have the unique ability to outrun approaching weather at planning speeds of over 30 knots.
Rodney Longhurst, company owner, stated, “Feedback from our worldwide family of Riviera owners has helped to influence our amazing in-house design team to undertake a holistic refinement approach to the Series II models.
“The exterior and interior review has created a new aesthetic that is both contemporary and timeless. Additionally, proven technology innovations have been incorporated that further enhance the pleasure of boating with Riviera.”
Both the 64 and 72 Series II models are now even more functional and luxurious, he continued. “These enhancements deliver the exhilarating sports performance and blue water capability that have positioned Riviera Sports Motor Yachts in a league of their own.”
Media launches and marketing materials never tell the full story of a model’s popularity. Riviera owners are enthusiastic to sing the praises of their boats, and in the case of one American family, proud owners of the Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht, Angel A, it’s every boat they’ve ever wanted, rolled into one.
Based in Virginia, Neal and Angela Klar and their active family sought safety, room to spread out and all the creature comforts of home when they were looking for their next boat.
“My previous boats were all hardcore, offshore fishing boats,” said Neal. “They were high-speed and noisy convertibles designed to get to the fishing grounds fast and begin trolling for blue and white marlin and tuna.”
To accommodate the needs of their family, Neal and Angela set out on the search for a flybridge that provided the vantage point and additional interior volume that also offered multiple areas for entertaining and a large cockpit for fishing and all types of water sports.
“But nothing like that exists in the US,” Neal observed.
A chance encounter with the Riviera dealer at the Miami Boat Show introduced the brand and its broad model range, all characterised by innovative design and quality construction.
Once back in Virginia, Neal perused the Riviera website and the 64 Sports Motor Yacht caught his eye, with its centre helm, shaft drives and all the comforts on board to suit family and friends along for a day, or longer, on the water.
“It struck a chord with me,” said Neal. “That these yachts could be fished and be a great cruiser.”
The deal was done and the new 64, christened “Angel A”, was delivered, opening up a whole new realm of possibilities in coastal cruising and offshore adventure.
“Another wonderful change was Angela’s enthusiasm when I did runs from our home to Florida,” Neil shared. “Where once Angela rarely joined me, now she won’t miss a trip.”
Even in the most challenging conditions, wind, rain and choppy seas, the climate on board Angel A is air-conditioned comfort. “We’re sipping coffee and making phone calls,” said Neal.
“I am also very impressed with the boat’s fish-ability. We can open her up and create nearly double the cockpit size using the large swim platform. My 14-year-old son caught his first white marlin on our first summer with the Riviera. Everyone enjoyed standing on the platform, trolling with our feet in the water.”
Fingertip control and manoeuvrability using the Twin Disc Express Joystick System is yet another attribute they love. “It’s phenomenal and allows me to spin around on a feisty marlin without missing a beat. Using the joystick to fish and dock the boat has become second nature, and the aft helm station while trolling has proven to be very useful.”
Next on the agenda for this avid boating family are a couple of tuna tournaments followed by a week-long annual cruise on Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waterways.
The new Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht is proving to be a true hybrid, with the bonus of turning heads wherever she goes.
In New Zealand, when Colleen and Phil Kenny decided to escape winter to seek sunshine in New Caledonia aboard their Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht Slainte, inviting friends and family was the first consideration.
“For me, the purpose of having this spectacular Riviera is to share it with other people and have a lot of fun,” said Colleen.
They opted for a professional skipper to deliver Slainte to Noumea and they then joined their prized Riv for what’s known as “cool season” in New Caledonia. On their first day in the marina, they bumped into another couple of Riviera 72 owners and enjoyed the first of many superb social occasions during their voyage.
And when the weather was too tropical for other activities, the Kennys were cosy, dry and comfortable inside.
“There’s no hardship on a Riviera because even if it’s pouring outside, you’re very comfortable inside,” said Colleen.
“On those days, half a dozen of us watched a movie and did some cooking with a glass of wine, and there was room to spare. It’s so roomy and spacious on a Riviera, unlike other boats where you feel caged in.”
Even with a large group of people on board, it’s never crowded, she explained.
“And it’s so well designed, even in the galley, which is roomy and with plenty of bench space, everything is still close at hand, and you’re connected to everyone at the same time.
“I also love the flybridge; it’s spectacular! We had the daybed set up on the deck the whole time. Between the flybridge, the sporting cockpit, the alfresco deck, the massive foredeck and the roomy interior, there are so many spaces to enjoy on the Riviera 72.”
Taking advantage of the capacious storage and refrigeration on board, the couple had stocked up with prime NZ meat and other provisions before they left home, and only had to buy fresh fruit and vegetables while they were in New Caledonia.
On the second half of their trip, the weather cleared, and the islands turned on their full panoply of natural attractions: diverse marine life, vivid coral reefs and whales galore!
“The underwater lights on our Riviera drew so much marine life that one night we had three giant manta rays just floating and swirling around us. It was incredible!” said Colleen.
Memorable, marvellous and stress-free adventures are made possible through careful design and engineering.
“We’ve got everything on board that we need to be totally self-sufficient at sea,” Collen observed. “So long as you’ve got diesel in the tank, you’re away and running. There’s the water maker, dishwasher, fridges and freezers galore, so you can really stock up. There’s so much cupboard and storage space. All we needed was fresh fruit and veg, wine, beer, and cheese, of course!”
The 64 and 72 embody the essence of Riviera’s Sports Motor Yacht philosophy: two finely tuned expressions of the same DNA, each delivering blue-water pedigree with an elevated lifestyle edge. Whether it’s the 64’s remarkable versatility as a true crossover for families who fish, cruise and entertain, or the 72’s commanding presence and long-range credentials, both underscore Riviera’s commitment to continual refinement driven by real-world owner experience.
In any waters and for any adventure, they stand as proof that performance, practicality and comfort need not be mutually exclusive but are at their very best when expertly combined.
RIVIERA 64 SPORTS MOTOR YACHT SERIES II
LOA 21.23m
Beam 5.80m
Maximum Draft 1.7m
Fuel Capacity 6,500L
Water Capacity 750L
Holding Tank Capacity 500L
Sleeping Capacity 8 Persons + 1 Crew
Engine Option MAN V8 Shaft-Drive 1300 (2×) 956 kW ea
Engine Option MAN V12 Shaft-Drive 1550 (2×) 1,140 kW ea
RIVIERA 72 SPORTS MOTOR YACHT SERIES II
LOA 23.86m
Beam 6m
Maximum Draft 1.95m
Fuel Capacity 10,200L
Water Capacity 1000L
Holding Tank Capacity 600L
Sleeping Capacity 8-11 Persons
Engine Option MAN V12 Shaft-Drive 1800 × 2 1,324 kW ea
Engine Option MAN V12 Shaft-Drive 2000 × 2 1,471 kW ea
