Blue-water feel

“The new 50 SMY has considerable internal volume for its size, with multiple living areas and a tremendous amount of practicality and versatility,” he continued.

“She’ll comfortably handle long coastal passages, while being equally adept at serving as a luxurious family, fishing and entertainment yacht with highly efficient planing performance – perfect for day boating and weekending.”

Australian couple Darrel and Linda Hall were quick to pre-order a new 50 SMY ahead of its formal announcement, one of many purchasers to do so off the plan. She will be their fifth Riviera in the past ten years.

“We wanted to go to an enclosed flybridge,” Darrel explains. “We go boating with our kids, who are both 19. They bring along friends, so the extra living space you get with an enclosed flybridge is a real bonus – it’s a place to escape to so easily with an internal staircase, and you have the ability to be higher and to see further ahead at sea.”

A new breed of motor yacht

The exterior of the 50 SMY boasts a sporty, large-volume hull form, drawing inspiration and innovation from the popular SMY Collection, most notably in the cockpit, mezzanine and foredeck configurations.

The rear cockpit boasts 6.5 square metres of outdoor living space and accommodates a barbecue/wet bar and fridge/freezer compartment, and can be accessed from an optional hydraulic swim platform via dual transom doors.

Wide side decks with raised bulwarks safely connect the foredeck, which in turn offers both an entertainment sun lounging zone and can convert to carry a tender.

In the fully covered mezzanine are two comfortable day lounges either side – the starboard lounge can also convert to a sunbed.

Convenient access to the engine room is via a large hatch in the mezzanine floor with a stainless-steel ladder beneath.

The inside story

Linking the mezzanine with the galley and saloon is a tinted glass sliding door and awning window. A gourmet galley resides immediately to port that incorporates a television, a 100-litre freezer, a liquor cabinet and glass storage.

The saloon also offers two opposing lounge areas that can seat six to eight guests in total comfort.

Linda Hall says this arrangement was a major drawcard: “The social areas of the new 50 SMY look beautiful,” she says. “There’s the cockpit, mezzanine, the almost circular seating arrangement of the lounges in the saloon, the flybridge offering additional onboard space, and the generous downstairs accommodation.

Linda Hall says, “We basically raised our children on the water and this together time is very dear to us. The new 50 SMY will be just fantastic as our family boat.”

The accommodation plan includes a full-beam master suite, a queen-sized island berth, chaise lounge and ensuite. Guests will find a VIP stateroom with ensuite/day head forward and twin bunk cabin.

The main helm station offers twin pedestal-mounted leather seats and places controls, screens and switches close to hand and in clear view.

Power and passion

Owners have a choice of either Volvo Penta IPS or MAN V-drive propulsion. The proven and highly efficient power and drive options are twin diesel Volvo Penta IPS 950 (533kW/725HP) or twin diesel MAN i6-800 (588kW/800HP).

“In line with our philosophy of always selecting the superior drive and engine configuration for each individual model, we decided to offer a choice of shaft drive or IPS, and in either case, the 50 Sports Motor Yacht will be a brilliant performer,” Rodney Longhurst explained.

The Halls opted for IPS, having owned two shaft- and two pod-drive models previously. Darrel and Linda cited the ease of handling, berthing and efficient performance.

“The plan is to do some coastal cruising, but our twins have just started university and they’re studying from home because of COVID. So for the time being, it will be a mid-week jaunt or weekends away,” says Darrel.

The fine finishing detail

Darrel and Linda have been fans of Riviera for years and were confident in ordering their new 50 SMY. “Darrel is a Riviera guy,” says Linda.

She adds, “When I look back, the quality of Riviera today is just magnificent. The boats are finished to the highest possible standards, and we’ve never been disappointed with any aspect of the boats we’ve owned. Certainly, the new 50 SMY is a whole new level.”

Linda and her daughter delighted in the opportunity to personalise the colour scheme of their new yacht: “There’s a lot of choice, but as part of the interior consultation process, Riviera present you with a wonderful book with different stories about the fabric ranges and the colours. We kept the base colours fairly neutral so we could personalise the other furnishing details.”

Rodney Longhurst is hoping the new 50 Sports Motor Yacht will attract discerning boaters either moving within the Riviera model range or coming to the Riviera family for the first time.

He says, “This is a superb new motor yacht for those who want to spend quality time on the water pursuing their own water sports passions or enjoying complete peace and quiet in a secluded anchorage.

“Seaworthiness and safety are deep in her DNA and, as with every Riviera today, she will be built with the highest of principles and quality.

“I really look forward to seeing the 50 accompanying her distinguished Sports Motor Yacht sister ships in venturing far and wide, or simply spending quiet afternoons closer to home,” said Longhurst.

The Riviera 50 Sports Motor Yacht will have her official premiere in late August 2020 and will debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October and the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival in November.

RivieraAustralia.com