Riviera launches 6000th motor yacht with a guard of honour

More than four decades after building its first motor yacht Riviera has launched its 6000th vessel with the 950 staff forming a guard of honour.

Riviera has launched it 6000th motor yacht form is Coomera facility on the Gold Coast.

One of Australia’s largest luxury motor yacht builders has reached a historic milestone.

Riviera on Monday launched its 6000th motor yacht at its Coomera base on the Gold Coast.

To mark the occasion, the company’s 950-strong team, all wearing commemorative

shirts, formed a visually spectacular guard of honour for the vessel as it emerged from the manufacturing station.

The motor yacht itself, a metallic silver hulled 5400 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, was

then presented to long-time Sydney-based owners Peter Haig and his wife Denise. The couple has owned 10 Rivieras since their first, a 38 Open Flybridge, in 1988.

A past Commodore of Royal Motor Yacht Club in Sydney, Haig said the design evolution over the 36 years he had owned Rivieras had been “phenomenal”.

“One of the most important points for me is that Riviera is 100 per cent Australian. My wife and I are proud to own a world class motor yacht that has been designed and built by brilliant and dedicated local craftspeople, he says.

Riviera Australia chairman Rodney Longhurst who launched the company’s 6000th motor yacht at Coomera.

For Riviera owner and chairman Rodney Longhurst, the milestone has been a long time coming.

Riviera was founded in Sydney in 1980 before moving to Labrador on the Gold Coast in

1981, building just eight yachts in that first full year. It then moved 19 years later to its current 16.8ha production facility at Coomera, which remains the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

“Our 6000th motor yacht – what an incredible achievement for the thousands of

craftspeople who have built Riviera yachts over the past 44 years,” Longhurst says.

“To be successful on the highly competitive global stage of luxury boat building, you

must have an absolute commitment to design, quality and owner care.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team, and I am grateful to all the Riviera owners around

the world who not only enjoy our motor yachts themselves but share this wonderful

experience with their family and friends.”

Riviera produces around 150 motor yachts a year, more than 60 per cent of which are exported around the world.

Mistress for sale

Still on the a nautical theme the superyacht owned by late shipbuilding icon Keith Lloyd is on the market.

Lloyd died in November aged 85 and his 46m superyacht Mistress has been relisted following an estate sale decision, at a price of $7.95m.

Crafted with precision in Italy by Benetti and delivered in 1991, Mistress underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2022. It was passed in at auction in the middle of last year with price expectations of $10m.

The late Keith Lloyd on his superyacht Mistress.

For stickybeaks Mistress is berthed a Marina Mirage now – next to 44m Benetti superyacht The Star. She offers spacious accommodation for up to 11 guests across six cabins and can sleep 10 crew.

Mistress has a seamless indoor/outdoor flow and an array of entertainment options, including a large main deck entertainment area, exclusive sky lounge, and alfresco dining space.

Prolific superyacht designer Francois Zuretti incorporated elegantly carved wood panelling and luxurious furniture, including pieces from the world-renowned Versace range.

It’s being sold by Ray White Marine’s Jackson Legge and Rick Rodwell.

Legge says the Lloyd and his family looked after Mistress exceptionally well.

“They loved it and it’s a really piece of history," he says