AUSSIE GAMER
riviera’s 72 sports motor yacht is a versatile cruiser for the whole family.
This yacht has the brawn for open-water passages, and is fishing- and watersports-friendly. Meet the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht.
the design philosophy behind the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht is simple, if a touch unorthodox for the Australian boatbuilder. The company wanted to produce a motoryacht that could compete on luxury with its perennially sexy European competitors while still retaining Riviera’s rugged DNA. The result, as I found out during a sojourn to Sydney, Australia, is an interesting and versatile build that spans genres with aplomb, and that should appeal to yachtsmen of many stripes. ¶ My favorite part about this yacht (and, to be totally honest, one of my favorite features on any yacht I’ve seen recently) is the 72’s cockpit. It extends 4 feet beyond the cockpit on Riviera’s 68 Sports Motor Yacht. The 72 cockpit’s total of 286 square feet makes it feel massive for a vessel this size. And it’s well-suited to sports-oriented and entertainment-minded crowds. For diving and fishing, there’s an in-transom livewell and a tuna door that doubles as a dive door. A grill forward is ready to cook up whatever fish might flop onto the teak sole. The cockpit is two-tiered and has a mezzanine that’s a foot longer than the one on the 68, and that has twin tables and an aft settee. There’s also a wet bar with two swing-out stools forward. A television descending from the overhead to port begs for College GameDay or perhaps Finding Nemo, depending on your crew. ¶ In contrast to the yacht’s relatively rugged and typically Australian cockpit, the foredeck has a sophisticated, European feel. Stowaway carbon-fiber poles support a sunshade that protects three bench seats configured in a U shape, with insulated compartments for ice and drinks. There’s also space for a davit and a RIB by Brig, which is Riviera’s go-to manufacturer for dinghies. A stainless-steel Muir 4500 windlass handles anchor duties, while a Fusion stereo system can play Frank Sinatra up front, Iggy Pop in the cockpit and Prince in the interior.