Riviera: Into Africa
Riviera’s distinctive flybridge designs are becoming an increasingly familiar sight up and down the east and west African coastlines, where they have truly proven their mettle in both the Atlantic and Indian oceans as supremely seaworthy deep-sea fishing platforms.
Riviera’s dedicated dealer for South Africa, Boating World has been quite busy in recent times delivering some of the finest deep-sea fishing boats in the world further north along the African shoreline.
Early February, Boating World’s owner Derrick and his talented team were in the Seychelles for pre-delivery checks on a brand-new Riviera 45 Open Flybridge, uShaka, commissioned by respected game-fishing experts, Seychelles Yacht Charter.
In the same bay off Mahe are several other Riviera designs, including Riviera 63 and 77 Enclosed Flybridge models – both fully laden with tackle and ready to chase the big ones off the shelf where Seychelles waters suddenly run deep.
“Riviera yachts are not only in a class of their own, they also have the right stuff to operate along the sometimes challenging African coast,” says Derrick.
“This is Seychelles Yacht Charters’ second Riviera, having previously owned a 43 Open Flybridge with IPS,” he says.
“uShaka is a yacht that has it all. Decades of innovation at Riviera has fashioned a yacht that offers an extraordinary combination of comfort, performance, reliability, safety and value.”
Derrick says a trip out to sea in these waters requires good storage for bait and catch alike, and the Riviera 45, christened uShaka (King of the Ocean), will not be found lacking at all.
“She has a removable stainless steel rail on the platform that allows even more space for fishing and fun, and there are fully lockable, removable bins in the floor, with gas-assisted struts and rubber seals,” he says.
“The classic helm sits high with full visibility and the ergonomics of the console design are outstanding. This includes top-mounted, twin-lever electronic engine control units and a choice of different formats to suit the electronic display options. The helm seat is ultra-luxurious, made for a long day of play.
“And with an underwater exhaust system, noise or fumes are minimised.”
During her build, uShaka’s captain Francis Marais and fleet manager Gareth Dovey flew to the Riviera facility for pre-delivery water test where they requested the flybridge electronics be integrated with the saloon TV for live-time positioning to enhance the experience of charter clients.
“For the annual hot humid climate of the Seychelles, the Riviera 45 offers a robust, long-lasting combination for the lovely, mostly flat waters and long distances that are travelled to different beautiful islands and fishing grounds,” he says.
Her accommodation layout caters to up to six people in three spacious staterooms below, with the master stateroom forward featuring a private en suite.
Derrick says the quality finish of the 45 Open will be highly appreciated by charter clients.
Seychelles Yacht Charter welcomes existing and aspiring members of the Riviera family to add their tags to the huge sailfish off the coast of Ghana, Kenya, Angola, Seychelles, Mauritius or Mozambique.