Coomera, Queensland, Australia: The world-class Riviera headquarters at Coomera, Australia will be a hive of activity throughout the 2014 Gold Coast International Marine Expo from 17-19 October.

Not only will the stylish and sophisticated new 6000 Sport Yacht make her Queensland premiere, but Riviera will for the first time at Expo host guided factory tours via a fully narrated train ride, The Riviera Express, taking in many sections of the impressive, 14-hectare, state-of-the-art facility.

“The factory tours are a great opportunity for Expo visitors to see behind the scenes of how we craft a Riviera from the early lamination stage to engineering and final fit-out. This is a prime opportunity for families and friends of our 430-strong team to come and see the result of the commitment and passion that our people every day put into our premium luxury yachts,” Mr Longhurst said.

Riviera is also organising a fun-filled ‘Expo Xperience’ cocktail evening with ‘Contagious Xuberance’ for Saturday 18 October at B Arm of the Riviera Marina. Dress is smart casual with a hint of Expo orange. Tickets are available here

Mr Longhurst said Riviera was proud to be a founding partner of the not-for-profit Gold Coast International Marine Expo, alongside Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard, Quintrex, International Paints and Clipper Motor Yachts.

“Now in its fourth year, the Gold Coast International Marine Expo has quickly grown in terms of visitor and exhibitor numbers and in terms of its stature within the marine industry, evidenced by the growing list of products and boats making their world, national and Queensland premieres this year,” he said.

The Expo will bring together everything from super-yachts to jet skis and fishing equipment … and everything in between … and will feature a huge range of live attractions and demonstrations every 15 minutes across a 3km-long display circuit

Expo will be somewhat of a homecoming for the flagship of Riviera’s award-winning Sport Yacht collection, the 6000 – which has been billed as ‘the ultimate entertainer’.

The 6000 Sport Yacht is a supremely comfortable with innovative alfresco lifestyle concepts, ultramodern marine technology and palatial appointments – a high-performance yacht akin to a floating six-star resort.

Her key features include an impressive sports-styled helm with full joystick steering control while underway, a flexible four-stateroom accommodation layout with luxurious full-beam master, three bathrooms, contemporary and stylish hull windows and portholes, dual electric sliding sunroofs and fixed skylights … as well as a large, open cockpit with BBQ centre and undercover seating and dining areas.

Underneath the cockpit of the 6000 Sport Yacht is a large garage for a 3.2-metre tender and outboard that can be easily loaded using the built-in electric winch, or for a jet ski to be securely stored with additional room for accessories and water toys.

“The 6000 Sport Yacht also has a level of attention to every detail that confirms she is indeed a world-class Riviera,” said Mr Longhurst. “This is one of the first boats in Australia to have full joystick steering while underway and it comes as a standard feature,” he said. “Also standard are full auto-pilot, auto-trim, Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) for station-holding while rafting up or waiting off a fuel jetty, as well as Anti-Corrosion Protection (ACP).

For the 6000 Sport Yacht, Riviera has employed the revolutionary Volvo Penta propulsion system with twin IPS2-950 (533kW /2 x 725hp) pod drives which, in addition to superior handling and manoeuvring in tight quarters, also offer impressive fuel efficiency, low noise levels, long cruising range and a high top-end speed.

“The Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht has a top speed of around 31 knots under full load and has a cruising range of 281nm at 22 knots (with 10% fuel reserve),” said Mr Longhurst. “Of course there’s an additional pop-up joystick in the cockpit for precise docking control. Indeed a skipper – either solo or with a novice crew – can simply push and twist the joystick in the direction required to make the boat respond immediately, pivoting in place or crabbing sideways into a berth that’s just long enough to fit the boat.

Mr Longhurst said Riviera’s international designers and engineers incorporate state-of-the-art technology from around the globe to help Riviera owners achieve ‘the ultimate boating experience’.

For example, the 6000 Sport Yacht includes C-Zone digital switching. This means that you no longer need to decide which circuit-breakers to turn on or off – simply select the mode which best suits the operation of the yacht such as ‘cruise’, ‘entertain’ or ‘dock unattended’ … and the appropriate circuits will be energised or disengaged,” he said. “These modes can be customised by the owner, so the system works exactly as you want.” C-Zone control panels in the 6000 Sport Yacht are located at the saloon entrance, at the stylish helm and also in the impressive full-beam master stateroom below deck.

Riviera’s floating display at the 2014 Gold Coast International Marine Expo will be located on Arm B in front of the Riviera Yacht Club restaurant and bar, where the 6000 Sport Yacht will be showcased alongside the new 515 SUV, the very popular 445 SUV, the stylish and sophisticated 3600 and 5000 Sport Yachts, as well as the classic 43 Open, 53 Enclosed and 63 Enclosed Flybridge models.

The Expo will mark only the second Queensland appearance for the new 515 SUV which is proving immensely popular with boating aficionados, and opening up a whole new world of boating enjoyment for both the cruising entertainer and the avid angler.

“The SUV combines the high-performance, blue-water cruising and fish-raising abilities of the classic Flybridge collection with the single level, leisurely entertaining features of our very popular Sport Yacht series,” said Mr Longhurst. “Our valued owners tell us it’s like having two boats … in one.”

Riviera’s top-of-the-range Flybridge series offers seven magnificent long-range offshore vessels that are all immensely capable for extended adventures and each of which has an exquisite finish and unique level of luxury on all decks. The 53 and 63 Enclosed Flybridge models are among the most popular, although there is growing worldwide interest in the 75 Enclosed Flybridge – the flagship of the Riviera fleet.

Tickets for the Gold Coast International Marine Expo are available online so keen patrons can avoid any queues at the gate. Simply visit www.gcmarineexpo.com.au to pre-purchase tickets for any of the three big days.

There will be free on-site parking and a nominal ticket charge of $8 per adult, $5 for seniors and children under the age of 15 years will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult, making Expo not only one of Australia’s largest boat shows, but also one of the most affordable as well.

To date the Gold Coast International Marine Expo entry fee has contributed towards raising over $50,000 for charity. This year’s beneficiaries are the Rotary Club of Coomera River, Sailability Gold Coast, Sea World Search and Rescue Foundation, and the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Service.

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