Australia is a tough country, facing four seas with a coastline that offers few protections. Yachts arriving Stateside from Down Under tend to be just as tough as the conditions. The Riviera 6800 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is certainly tough, but it also has a luxurious side that surprised me, if only because it’s hard to say tough and luxurious in the same sentence.
Luxury is not just about posh seating; it’s also about subtle touches of class. All the high-gloss walnut woodwork is book-matched, so the grain flows seamlessly across locker doors and drawers. All the towel racks are heated, like in five-star hotels. The bolstered helm seats are from Italy, clearly nicked from a Lamborghini. A niche is inset into the bulkhead of the owner’s suite for a coffee maker, so the boss can reach for morning espresso without having to move.
The 6800 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is available with three or four staterooms. The hull that I got aboard had four, along with three heads. I prefer the four-stateroom layout because you get the extra stateroom instead of a couch in the lower foyer, and why would you not enjoy the spectacular view from the salon? A fourth stateroom also gives everyone extra stowage if it’s not being used.
In layout, this yacht is clearly set up for entertaining. The cockpit has the traditional bench-seat arrangement aft, but a surprise is an L-shaped settee tucked in the port corner with a dining table for alfresco meals. Opposite are an oversize grill, two fridges, a sink and an ice maker.
Open the salon door, push a button to raise the window by the galley, and you are still as open as the Australian Outback. The U-shaped galley is to port, with Miele appliances and acres of counter space. Chef’s touches include a three-element induction cooktop, a dishwasher and instant hot water. I’m clumsy in the kitchen, so I appreciated the splash rail forward (to protect the dinette upholstery) and the canal surrounding each counter (to contain my spills from dribbling to the sole).
Opposite the galley is a full-height fridge backed up with two fridge drawers, plus a bar area with a wine chiller for a dozen Australian Penfolds chardonnays. Just forward is a wraparound settee with a beautifully built teak dining table, and opposite is a smaller couch facing the 65-inch pop-up TV for end-of-day relaxation.
The “pilothouse” is clever, since the usual companion bench seat opposite the helm is reimagined as an L-shaped settee, allowing guests to face the helm or look through the twin windshields. The helm is black carbon fiber (no windshield reflections) with triple 19-inch Garmin multifunction displays for navigation and systems. Just abaft the helm seat is a pantograph door to the side deck, and overhead is an electric moonroof with shades. The skipper has the Volvo Penta joystick controls for docking and position holding, with a Side-Power bow thruster and Humphree Interceptor trim tabs.
The companionway to the lower level has sturdy handrails, and the owner’s suite spans the full beam aft with a king-size walk-around berth. This is truly a serene getaway with oversize windows on each side and high-gloss walnut all around. A couch is to port, while the bureau to starboard is topped by a fold-up vanity with a mirror. Riviera gets points for the full-height cedar-lined lockers, so dresses and slacks won’t get rumpled. The en suite head has dual sinks with Euro faucets, and an oversize shower with shelves for toiletries.
Forward, the VIP stateroom has sizable windows and a walk-around queen berth. The en suite head sports a shower and doubles as the day head with access from the hallway. Two staterooms are off the companionway, with the one to port having direct entry to the day head. That stateroom has twin berths that slide together into a double, while the starboard stateroom has crossover singles.
A bonus cabin off the engine room can be fitted out for crew (or a teenager) with a single berth, a head and a mini galley. Alternatively, it can be used as a utility and laundry space with a workbench and separate washer/dryer.
Speaking of the engine room, it has more than 6-foot-6-inch headroom. Walk-around space is good on each side of the 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13 IPS1350 pod-drive diesels. The 6800 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition that I got aboard also had twin Onan gensets: the primary at 29 kilowatts and a 13.5-kilowatt secondary unit, with full access to each. A mix of lithium (house) and low-maintenance (cranking) batteries are fed by a 3,000-watt inverter/charger. Humphree zero-speed stabilizer fins are optional.
As you’d expect from a boat that faces the Coral Sea en route to the Great Barrier Reef, construction is, as the Aussies say, “bonzer.” The entire yacht—hull and house—is infused isophthalic resin with independent compartments, including a foam-filled bow section with a watertight collision bulkhead.
Underway, this sport yacht exudes sturdiness. Even with a lumpy mishmash in the Gulf Stream, the 6800 jumped on plane flat and fast, and then didn’t seem to notice the leftover swells from a recent nor’easter. Nothing seemed to intrude on the implacable ride. We topped out at around 33 knots with full tanks. A 25-knot cruise is a delight with 40-plus tons of yacht.
For entertaining on open water or in any port of call, this yacht impresses. Whether an owner wants rugged thunder from Down Under or a luxuriously appointed Sheila (that’s Aussie for a beautiful woman), the Riviera 6800 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition should be on the short list.
Anchored Delight
The foredeck is an entertainment space with L-shaped seating, twin tables, and double-hinged sun pads that morph into fore- or aft-facing chaises, all covered by a removable awning.
Water Toys
The transom opens to reveal a garage for a 12-foot-7-inch tender with a dedicated launch system, plus space for underwater scooters and dive tanks.
No Tripping
A thoughtful touch is the teak insert in the nonslip whenever there is a step on the deck, so guests can’t overlook the height change and stumble.
Safety First
The 18- to 20-inch side decks are protected by 39-inch rail-topped coamings for secure passage fore and aft.
Take the next step: rivieraaustralia.com
