Australian motor yacht builder Riviera will present the world premiere of its much anticipated flagship Belize 66 and the American premieres of the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht, the 39 Sports Motor Yacht and the sporty 395 SUV at the opening of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in the United States on October 31.
The spectacular new Belize will be the centrepiece of a nine-model red-carpet showcase for Riviera that also includes the sophisticated 6000, 5400 and 4800 Sport Yachts, a blue-water Riviera 52 Enclosed Flybridge model and the classic Belize 54 daybridge model.
Riviera CEO Wes Moxey said: “We have been able to include a wide range of options as standard in the Belize 66, beginning with the overall layout of a single-level lifestyle sedan or a daybridge with classic bimini top or hardtop.”
A swim platform is submersible to assist in launching and retrieving the tender from the garage and the large cockpit features a dinette and L-shape seating in the starboard fore quarter, a comprehensive barbecue unit and a second lounge. A massive forward sundeck offers a large sunken U-shape lounge and a central dinette table.
A large awning window links the outdoor space with the galley while a sliding glass door provides entry to the salon. The large U-shape gourmet galley is aft and the dinette is forward to starboard with a free-standing lounge or armchair opposite.
A water-tight pantograph side door opposite the dinette provides immediate access to the port deck.
The lower helm area offers a range of options; a minimalist single-seat layout to starboard or a more expansive central location with companion seating.
The accommodation deck offers many layout options: three or four staterooms including a midships Master, and three bathrooms. A space aft of the master stateroom can be fitted out as full beam bathroom, a massive walk-in wardrobe, a utility room, workshop or a crew cabin.
Power for the new Belize 66 comes from the proven Volvo Penta 1350 IPS3 pod drive system, with Volvo Penta's Station Hold and joystick control for fingertip manoeuvrability.
Also making an appearance at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will be Australian motor yacht manufacturer Maritimo. The centrepiece of the company's on water display will be the revolutionary new X60 sport yacht. Maritimo will also be showcasing the new generation M54 and the S51 at Fort Lauderdale.
Maritimo Americas’ president Dave Northrop said feedback from customers was that Maritimo's huge emphasis on the combination of refinement to its already five star product and major advances in terms of fit out, style and design was a winner.
“The X series is no doubt a game changer in what we call the 'coupe style' boat sector, but the new M series models and the S series sedans are also turning heads,” he said.
“The M series motor yachts with their climate controlled flybridges have major appeal and the new X series vessels with the huge variety provided in space utilisation in the aft cabin area are resonating well with potential buyers.
“Interestingly we have had pretty much an equal level of interest in that aft cabin space being used as either a beach club or another VIP cabin with twin accommodation.”
Maritimo's CEO Garth Corbitt said it was a milestone for the company to have so many dealer partners involved at this year's Fort Lauderdale show.
“We have been rolling out this strategy of appointing top flight and highly successful dealer partners across the Americas for some time and with Dave Northrop rejoining us to help drive that effort we have made large in-roads in recent months,” he said.
“We want our brand represented by only the best and now we have a network of true professionals that is second to none in that marketplace.”
Jack O’Rourke is a contributor to Ocean Media
FISH STOCKS
Australia’s fisheries have received a clean bill of health following the latest annual audit of the nation’s 95 fish stocks spread across 22 sites managed by the Australian Government.
The Fishery status reports 2018 revealed that almost 70 per cent of the nation’s fish stocks were not overfished, or subject to overfishing.
“The reports reflect a positive change in a number of stocks managed jointly with regional fisheries management organisations,” Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics executive director Steve Hatfield-Dodds said.
However, while no fish species was identified as overfished for the fifth year running, the report said a number of stocks were close to it.
SEASON START
The ICOM Ocean Pointscore has begun, hosted by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club. The series is an offshore day racing series for yachts in the build up to the major summer blue water events such as the Southport and Coffs Coast races, and ultimately the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht.
Mick Martin’s TP52 Frantic took out Line Honours in the first race last weekend. Joe Ferguson, a 19 year old sailor of the NCYC Academy has been training on the bow of Frantic with intentions to compete with them in this years’ Hobart race. Next up is the Moon Island Race this Sunday.
