Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst says the 395 provides a compelling new entree to the cruiser family, while the 72-footer represents the epitome of innovation, style and advanced technology.

“It’s our much-awaited sub-40-foot model, offering a generous cockpit, two spacious staterooms, a large bathroom and an open and comfortable saloon with aft galley,” Longhurst said of the handy-sized SUV.

“Our second world premiere is the 72 Sports Motor Yacht, which offers discerning owners the exhilaration of sports performance with the luxurious comforts for which Riviera is recognised.”

Every model in Riviera’s Sanctuary Cove showcase will feature innovations like Glass Cockpit navigation and systems monitoring as well as touch-screen CZone digital switching and joystick controls for low-speed manoeuvring.

Longhurst adds that a number of unique features were added to the new models, reflecting a commitment to continuous improvement.

“The new 395 SUV features an entirely new hull and deck design and raised bulwarks on the side decks to provide an additional level of security when moving forward or aft.

“It combines the single-level entertaining that is in the DNA of our Sport Yacht collection with the wide, open cockpits and go-anywhere attributes of our classic blue-water flybridge collection.”

The cockpit looks well suited for entertaining as a comprehensive barbecue centre is set across the transom, facing forward and accessed from the swim platform.

Sun-lovers will also enjoy the foredeck that can take a large sun lounge.

Power for the 395 SUV comes from Volvo Penta D6 IPS 500 turbo-diesel engines providing 370hp apiece with IPS 10 drive units. These are covered by a five-year warranty to complement the Riviera five-year structural warranty.

As an extension of last season’s Riviera 68, the 72 Sports Motor Yacht was designed to blend whisper-quiet performance and super-smooth running at speed with luxurious cabin and flybridge comforts.

“From an expansive cockpit offering everything for the sports fisher and water sports enthusiast to a massive entertainer's foredeck and alfresco dining opportunities with an elevated and covered mezzanine, this is a motor yacht that delivers the ultimate on-board experience,” Longhurst says.

In the main saloon, the U-shaped aft galley wouldn’t look out of place in My Kitchen Rules.

Further forward are a large lounge to port and a leather dinette to starboard.

The accommodation deck offers two stateroom options – the four-cabin Classic or three-cabin Presidential with full-beam master stateroom.

Power for the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht is provided by twin MAN V12 turbo diesel engines delivering 1800hp as standard, or 1900hp optionally.

See sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au.

IF you don’t mind travelling, the 50th Keepit Kool regatta is planned for next month’s long weekend (June 9-11) on the remote waterway between Tamworth and Gunnedah.

Racing is open to all off-the-beach dinghy classes, catamarans, sports boats and trailer yachts. There are also club boats available for visiting competitors – Lasers, Corsairs, Toppers and Manly Juniors among them.

Six races are planned over three days.

All meals are catered for by Lake Keepit Sailing Club and there are log fires, hot showers, and evening entertainment. The club itself was formed in 1960, not long after the dam was completed.

IT’S with sadness I report that the boating industry has lost arguably its finest contemporary scribe with the shock passing of David Lockwood after a short illness.

Latch, as he was nicknamed, knew boats better than anyone, having plied his writing trade continuously for 30 years and owned various vessels throughout. He also knew better than anyone how to write about them, putting craftsmanship into the craft. Few matched his eloquence.

I worked with David at Modern Boating for many years before he embarked on roles at Trade-a-Boat, Sydney Morning Herald, Afloat magazine, and more recently the online news section for Boatsales.

RIP.