BUILT TO ROAM - DESIGNED TO IMPRESS
It’s been three years in the making, with a collaboration between the Riviera design group and superyacht designer Luca Vallebona. The much anticipated 6800 Platinum Edition is now the new, and very worthy, flagship of Riviera’s four model Sport Yacht Collection.
REFINEMENT
The question I have, is how do you keep coming up with such innovative ideas after creating your 6000th motor yacht and over 100 individual models in 45 years of operation? Ideas always being refined; envelopes pushed and a brand that stands out as one of the leaders around the world. I guess you head to the factory, where all the magic happens. Riviera’s Brand and Communications Director, Stephen Milne said the 6800 had been created after extensive consultation with some of Riviera’s most experienced yacht owners around the world. Then the highly credentialed Riviera design group all worked together and in partnership with Lucca Vallebona, conceptualising, designing, detailing and documenting this new yacht using the most sophisticated computer aided design systems. Precision 5-axis routers were then used to cut mould plugs and parts and then Riviera’s senior boat builders were empowered to bring this concept to brilliant life. All of this took more than 45,000 man hours of research and development over three years. As Stephen says: “Our team relish each new design opportunity as this allows them to evolve, challenge, refine and create something different and better.”
THE HULL
Watching a new 6800 hull being laminated is fascinating. It starts with the isophthalic gelcoat being applied to the mould followed by fibreglass matting, longitudinal and transverse stiffeners, different cores, engine bearers, steel and aluminium fixing plates
and pod rings all digitally pre-cut and numbered for their exact location, are dry-fitted in accordance with the Riviera engineers lamination schedule. When the entire hull framework is complete, the mould is bagged, placed in a negative vacuum and vinyl ester based resin is infused into the entire structure all at the same time. This leading edge technology creates an immensely strong, consistent part that is a completely bonded single structure, that has weight saving and positive environmental advantages which creates a hull that will take anything the sea throws at it. This same infusion process is applied to the deck and the myriad of small parts.
THE SHAKEDOWN
After several visits to Riviera’s Gold Coast-based factory watching various stages of the build, I headed off for a sea trial with Dean Brickell, Riviera’s Final Quality Control & Sea Trials Manager. Dean was among a team, of engineers, designers and senior boat builders who took hull number one out for its ‘barebones’ testing, undertaken before the interior was fitted, which I must admit sounded like a lot of fun. “We waited for a two-metre-plus swell day, where we ran the yacht hard into the swell, across and with the swell, falling off waves at high speeds,” said Dean. Basically, we ran the yacht the way an owner would never do, but we wanted to test the yacht and to push the yacht to its limits. What we determined was that the hull was supremely strong, nothing moved and there was no cracking. This severe testing was a huge success and was a testament to our team’s ability.”
JOYSTICK BOAT HANDLING
I arrive at the Runaway Bay Marina dock, as pre-arranged, but there is no yacht. Dean had moved the 6800 to another berth – solo – and he made it look so very easy. I watched as he reversed down a fairway, bordered by boats on one side and rocks on the other, and as he pulled up, he engaged the Dynamic Positioning System, keeping the yacht steady while he got the lines and fenders ready. The final piece of docking was a gentle move sideways where the yacht just kissed the dock. At 79’9” length overall, it really is amazing how easily a yacht this size can be handled – even one-up. And while she does look imposing from the dock, it is her wonderfully balanced engineering and the joystick control that gives you the confidence and feeling of being in total control, particularly in tight quarters when you have wind and currents to contend with.
SEA TRIAL
Dean and I took the 6800 out for a run on the Broadwater and I must say the Dynamic Positioning System is just incredible. We cleared the tight channel, engaged the
DPS and the yacht took over, holding us perfectly, while we were busy readying for sea. It’s the same with the trim tabs, Humphree fins, thrusters and engines – they all work together to hold you steady and upright either at rest or underway. The run up through the Broadwater is not really a sea trial for something of this size, although its cornering capabilities shine with very little to no heel on a full lock turn at 27 knots. Not a drop of my coffee was spilt.
FAIRLY SLOPPY CONDITIONS
Time to head out through the seaway with fairly sloppy conditions, a mix of a moderate northeast wind and around a metre and a half of easterly swell. We clipped along at 27 knots at 2200RPM with a fuel burn of 10 litres per nautical mile total, pretty incredible for the 40-plus tonnes (including fuel) we were pushing through the water. With the windows and doors closed, the ride is almost surreal. It’s dry, effortless and despite the speed there is no engine, grinding hull or fitting movements, meaning you can happily chat away in a normal voice. Back to the Broadwater and we docked, maybe shoehorned is a better word, into an inside berth at Marina Mirage. Again, plenty of time to get things prepared and come in quietly regardless of the conditions. A couple can easily handle this yacht.
THE BOARDING PLATFORM
My 6800 experience begins with the large boarding platform and there’s nothing ordinary here. At the touch of a button, it lowers into the water and at the same time breaks into four well-positioned and generous sized steps. And in a following sea, you can raise the platform up, from its normal horizontal position to a metre or so off the water.
THE BEACH CLUB
There is a garage in the transom large enough to house an optional 3.8-metre amphibious tender. The tender has three drop-down drive wheels allowing for a dry landing on the beach. The tender is launched and retrieved via a track and roller wheel mechanism which slides out and attaches onto the platform. In the garage there’s also a fully integrated compressor for the tender and all your inflatable water toys. When at anchor, with the tender and toys all deployed and the garage door raised, this area becomes a beach club with a roof over the swim platform providing shade protection and there’s even a rain shower to wash the salt off. Fantastic. Adjacent to the tender garage door, is a second door in the transom that provides direct access to the engine room allowing service technicians or captain access. The engine room forward door opens into the optional captain or crew quarters, equipped with a wet head, small galley and a single berth on top of the washing machine and dryer.
There are two locked and soundproofed doors located between the crew cabin and the master stateroom. This cabin can also be optioned as a laundry with a walk-in robe in the master connecting the two.
THE ENGINE ROOM
In typical Riviera fashion, the engine room is well laid and thought out. A pair of Volvo Penta D13 IPS 1350’s are located under the tender garage and each generates 1000 horsepower fed by the 4500-litre fuel tank further forward in the yacht. The dipsticks and coolant are all very accessible, with plenty of room around them. I love a well labelled engine room and here it is. Everything can be traced back to fault find. There’s also a 22.5-kilowatt primary generator and a secondary generator delivering 11-kilowatts.
INSPIRATION
Superyachts have clearly inspired many of the 6800’s innovations, this in part is due to the design partnership between the Riviera design group and superyacht designer Luca Vallebona. Rope boxes are cleverly hidden under the cleats tailing ropes away and out of sight. The massive aft deck and hugely adaptable foredeck lounge both offer extensive seating capacity and all reflect superyacht thinking with their scale, amenity and attention to detail. The rich teak used around the cleats, on the decks and inserted into the steps on the side decks where the deck height changes so these steps can be seen in the glare of the sun, are all beautiful and practical. On the aft deck opposite the port side lounge/dining area there is an outdoor galley with ample bench space complete with two drawer fridges, an icemaker, sink, rubbish bin and a double plate BBQ with a clever extractor system.
INNOVATIONS
Moving into the galley, which is separated from the outdoors by a sliding glass door and saloon window which can be lowered at the touch of a button, is everything you would expect from Riviera’s luxury yachts. Ample bench space, premium appliances, full-height fridge with a superbly appointed wet bar opposite complete with wine fridge. And there are more innovations. The dining area features a table that can be quickly folded back into the lounge by simply removing the back and seating cushions. This then transforms this space into a more casual lounge area or into an inviting family daybed courtesy of two moveable ottomans where a 65” LED TV rises up from the cabinetry apposite to starboard to create a full Gold Class theatre experience. In front of this TV cabinet is a further lounge facing the C-shaped dining area.
THE PILOTHOUSE
Further forward on the port side and opposite the helm is a third lounge that is L-shaped and allows guests to all converse when underway and share the skippers view. One of the moveable ottomans can be placed here to also turn this lounge into a daybed for longer passages.
The helm is a well-considered station with twin fully adjustable, electric leather helm chairs, with the mate’s chair turning 180 degrees to become part of the conversation when at anchor. To the right of the helm is a console that has the thruster, joystick and throttle controls along with the windscreen wipers and the grid controller for the three 19” Glass Bridge screens. These all fall easily to hand which is great at sea. Studying the controls further, I find a button on the dash which operates the two side electric windows, these close by rising up on tracks and then move outward to seal out the elements. Amazing engineering.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Down a small flight of stairs, I find the accommodation deck with a generous forward VIP guest stateroom with ensuite, a portside twin single or at the push of a button it transforms into a double bed stateroom with en-suite access to the shared day head. To starboard there is further accommodation with the fourth cabin offering two large crossover berths. It has to be said that the finish is amazing, the grain-matched timber work sparkles with eye-catching patterns which perfectly complement the upholstered bulkheads. Sheer luxury.
OWNER’S STATEROOM
The pièce de resistance though, is the owner’s full beam master suite that is vast with a walk around king bed, lounge, entertainment centre and exceptional storage. It has one of the biggest bathrooms, in terms of sheer volume I have ever seen in a yacht of this size. There’s even a dedicated mini-bar that has a refrigerator, space for a coffee machine, crockery and glassware. And it’s all so quiet and comfortable as I experienced offshore whilst clipping along at 28 knots flying past the Gold Coast skyline.
BEHIND THE NAME
Riviera has a 45-year heritage and a name synonymous with boating not only in Australia, but right around the world. Last year, Riviera launched their 6000th motor yacht to great fanfare, highlighting the success and significance of Riviera in the global yacht building industry. Riviera is the true beating heart of Australia’s boat manufacturing and the brand is something to be proud of. Not only from the boat owners perspective, but as a locally owned and operated company that truly investing in its people, technology and its future. Last year the company opened the Riviera Academy of Excellence, their own in-house apprentice training facility which is now training some 150 apprentices.
SUMMARY
The Riviera 6800 Sport Yacht has been beautifully designed as a go anywhere blue water sport yacht with grand proportions. But it’s all about family with this motor yacht. The 6800 is obviously perfect for a long- range adventure with its excellent accommodation options and the impressive tender garage devoted to all manner of water sports. However the thing that really struck me was that it has so many separate entertaining areas that family groups, friends and couples can all be together or find their own space. When you slide open the saloon door and lower the electric galley window the massive aft deck flows inside creating one grand living, entertaining and relaxing space with two separate dining areas. But the 6800 certainly doesn’t need a family to handle her thanks to the ease of boating systems that Riviera has engineered into this exceptional yacht. She can be simply and easily handled in tight quarters with no stress by a couple following a Riviera captains training course.
SPECIFICATIONS
Make Riviera
Model 6800 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition
Length Overall 22.18m
Hull Length 19.88m
Beam 5.56m
Maximum Draft 1.65m
Dry Weight 37,100kg
Fuel Capacity 4,500L
Water Capacity 800L
Holding Tank Capacity 500L
Sleeping Capacity 8 + Optional Crew
Engines 2 X Volvo IPS1350 1,000hp each
Generator Primary 22.5kw, secondary 11kw
PERFORMANCE DATA
RPM KNOTS L/h Range
600 5 11 2045
1000 8 45 800
1500 11.2 142 355
2000 22.8 243 422
2150 27.7 282 442
2470 34.2 378 407
