LIVE - Riviera 53 Enclosed Flybridge IPS unveiled
Thursday, May 19: Hi from the sunny Gold Coast where Trade-a-Boat
The 53 is definitely one of the highest-volume flybridge boats we’ve even been on, as evidenced inside by the full-beam stateroom with king-size bed and 2m of headroom.
Meanwhile, Australian boatbuilding doyen, Bill Barry-Cotter introduced Gold Coast-based industrial designer David Stewart, who’s been commissioned to spice-up the interiors of all Maritimos and the new Mustang range. Stewart did the interior of Australian businessman Marcus Blackmore’s Nordhavn 76 Ammonite, and brings some of that pizzazz to one of Australia’s most popular production yards.
Also announced at Sanctuary Cove is the new Australian boat brand called Belize. You can read all about the cool cruiser in the latest edition of our magazine on-sale yesterday. Meantime, here’s a little something about Belize to tide you over. Be sure to check back for more breaking news from the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show…
BELIZE LAUNCH
Good mates Wes Moxey and Lee Dillon need no introduction but their background is everything. After all, in this age of great scrutiny and diligence, experience counts for a lot. While fly-by new-boat brands struggle to get a toehold, marques with heritage enjoy strong custom. Moxey and Dillon hope to trade on their past.
Wes started his career as a boatbuilder at Riviera, studied the production of Grand Banks in Singapore before they were made under licence in Australia, and then worked his was up to CEO at Riviera before relinquishing the helm after 26 years at the big Gold Coast yard.
Lee, meanwhile, sold more Rivieras as Sydney’s leading boat dealer from the 1980s, when Riv started, than anyone else. He’s forte was customer service second to none. He did a stint on the Riviera board before embarking on a marine-industry sabbatical a few years back.
Using their collective nous, Moxey and Dillon are in the process of building a new cruiser with a difference. Belize is the badge. And the first thing they were adamant about was that their boats would be built different. Yet they are building them in Asia.
“Our rationale for Taiwan is that we see the Australian market and current business environment here, the way the Government and everything is, not conducive to producing a globally competitive product. We’re not just building a boat to bring to Australia, we’re trying to build a brand and a global product that’s market-acceptable in Europe, the US and Asia,” Wes explains.
So Wes and Lee sought an established yard with a long tenure and history to help develop their product. Wes has since spent most of his time in Kaohsiung (at Kha Shing Enterprises), guiding them in modern boatbuilding techniques. This is the same yard that builds Hargraves and Horizon megayachts.
The first Belize is a 52 Hardtop, due to arrive here in about August, and then a subsequent 52 Flybridge. Another two Belize models are planned — smaller and bigger. In all cases, the boats will be positioned somewhere between the production-made Riviera and the custom-built Palm Beach, but Wes is quick to point out he’s not competing with either and is building a niche boat.
“We’re not trying to be all things to all men, but we want that touchy, nice (classic) look with modern technology. We have clear and exciting thoughts about where we want to go,” Wes says, adding that his love of boating tradition and cars has influenced his Belize lines.
“After all, it is our last job,” says Lee. “Our brand will grow organically and we’ll keep control of the whole thing.” Lee and Wes are at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show where they held a press conference last night and unveiled scale models of the two new Belize 52 variants.
Giorgia Drudi is the interior designer for Belize. She hails from Italian motoryacht yard Ferretti but now lives in Australia, where she’s establishing herself on the boat-interior front. Drudi has taken Dillon and Moxey to the edge, even scared them a bit with her creative design.
While talking over dinner last night, Drudi said she admires Australia’s practical approach to boatbuilding but that we are rather staid in our boat interiors compared with Europe.
Meantime, the hull and deck for the first Belize have come together. A second hull is being laid-up. Soon they will start on a third. Sight unseen, Belize is gaining traction. And we’re in line to grab a ride.
SNAP SHOT
BELIZE 52
How much: $1.29 million Hardtop; $1.375 million Flybridge
LOA: 16.1m
Beam: 5.03m
Draft: 1.07m
Displacement: 18,500kg
Fuel: 2400lt
Water: 700lt
Holding tank: 380lt
Power: Twin 600hp Cummins QSC 600 Zeus pod drives
Generator: 17.5kW Onan
Range: 400nm at 22kts
Layout: Two or three cabins, galley up or down, scope for an office
Sanctuary Cove Show opens today
The 23rd Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show opens today with 384 exhibitors generating a multi-million-dollar display.
The four-day show, which runs to Sunday, May 22, has consolidated its position as an international event with exhibitors from China, Taiwan, South Africa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, organisers said. Australian exhibitors come from around the country showcasing locally-manufactured boats and marine products as well as imports from around the globe.
“Visitors can see some fabulous displays at this year’s Show with close to 100 world and regional marine product and service launches plus hundreds of boats on-water and through the Marine Village,” said Sanctuary Cove’s Sue Thomson.
The Show features two large pavilions — the 5000m² MarineBusiness-World.com pavilion plus the Superyacht Australia pavilion with exhibitors catering for this sector of the market.
Through the Marine Village streets are trailerable boats and kayaks, with roving musicians entertaining the crowds daily.
Eye-catching displays include the 31.5m superyacht Black Pearl and the 37.1m Masteka 2. Brisbane businessman Stefan Ackerie’s 25.7m boat is sure to draw interest. Called Hairazor, as an apt reference to his hair salon business, the boat is built by Stefan Racing. The catamaran, which weighs around 26 tonnes with a beam of 8.7m, offers dramatic fuel savings due to its light weight and the hull design, which cuts the water rather than planing.
For the first time at a boat show, the Queensland Water Police 23.35m vessel the Brett T Handran is on display. There will be regular timed tours of this vessel which is used for training, exercises and counter terrorism and is deployed over a 200nm offshore zone along the Queensland coast.
“The 2011 Show has 30 world releases, which indicates how important this event is to the marine industry,” said Thomson. There are a further 69 Australian and Australasian boat, marine product or marine service releases.
Initiatives added to the event program this year include daily Marine Queensland Boating and Fishing seminars, which are included within the ticket price.
Visitors can also enjoy the Women on Water program, which acknowledges the role of women in the marine industry. Elements include female skipper training, fashion parades and the booked-out High Tea on the High Seas.
On Friday, the Australian Marine Industry Breakfast features Monte Carlo Yachts Carla Demaria, who will talk about New Trends and New Challenges for the Boating Industry. Boating Industry Alliance Australia chairman, Darren Vaux will also speak at this function.
An invitation-only Women on Water lunch on Friday has a guest panel including Carla Demaria, leading yachtswoman Adrienne Cahalan and Marine Queensland president Sharon Russell.
A wide range of interesting activities are offered daily and included within the Boat Show ticket price with cooking demonstrations by Club Marine’s Bart Beek; Channel Seven activities featuring Creek to Coast host Scott Hillier, Queensland Weekender host Dean Miller and presenter Sally Jenyns plus My Kitchen Rules contestants Mal and Bec on Saturday and Artie and Johnny on Sunday.
This year a new transport Park ‘n’ Ride option will make it even easier and more convenient to visit the Show. As in past years, visitors coming south of Sanctuary Cove can take Exit 66 from the M1 Motorway to Parklands in the Gold Coast and then take the upgraded luxury coach transfers to and from the Show. Visitors coming north of Sanctuary Cove can now take Exit 54 from the M1 Motorway to the Foxwell Road Exit and then travel to the Riviera factory car park via Shipper Drive and Waterway Drive. A regular half-hour ferry service will operate across to the Boat Show precinct. The Park ‘n’ Ride parking and transfers are included within the ticket price.
Other transport options include helicopter transfers, water ferries and taxis and a complementary shuttle transfer for train ticket holders from Helensvale station (transport options here additional to Show ticket).
As in past years, an International Business Lounge will operate to assist international buyers and businesses to network and make valuable contacts with Australian companies. This facility is provided through a partnership between the Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Austrade, the Gold Coast City Council (Business GC), the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX), Superyacht Australia, Superior Jetties and Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
Club Marine is a sponsor of Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Media partners include BoatPoint.com.au, Channel Seven, 4KQ, Trade-a-Boat and 92.5 Gold FM.
For full details of all programs and tickets, view www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au
Photos & renderings: Riviera’s new 53 Enclosed Flybridge; The 53 is powered by triple Volvo Penta IPS pod drives; The I Luv Riv team with red balloons at the 53 lanch; Bill Barry-Cotter (left) with his company’s new interior designer David Stewart; Belize 52 Flybridge; Lee Dillon (left) and Wes Moxey; Belize 52 Flybridge floorplans; Ralfy V at
Trade-a-Boat's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show display.