Riviera 5600 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition boat test

Summon the smoke machine, cue the spotlight, fade in some silky saxophone, then send fireworks high into the twinkling night sky – now that is how a grand new motor yacht like the Riviera 5600 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition should make an entrance at its own launch party.

As belle of the ball, it pirouetted effortlessly before easing alongside the Riviera Yacht Club at Coomera HQ, gazed upon rapturously by soon-to-be owners. Thirty off-the-plan orders had been placed well and truly pre-launch, and here was their present, on the eve of Christmas.

Riviera Australia owner Rodney Longhurst lavished praise on the new 5600 Sport Yacht: “New levels of space, comfort and liveability. New levels of engineering excellence, bluewater capability and fuel-efficient performance,” he told the throng.

The brief was simple, Rodney added – “Build the best mid-50ft sport yacht on the water”. That meant drawing on 46 years of manufacturing heritage and 21 years of evolutionary refinement since the 3600 announced the Sport Yacht era in 2005.

Of course, it also meant surpassing the outgoing 5400 Sport Yacht, a loyal and successful servant over its nine-year production run with 200+ launchings. 

At 16.9m, the 5600 is just the right size for the popular three stateroom/two-bathroom layout. Also, not too big to handle in a marina, nor too small for long-range ocean voyaging.

It affords an 11m² aft deck, a substantial foredeck and saloon, plus the convenience of a tender garage. The latter is linked to a large hydraulic boarding/swim platform that lowers to create a beach club. Folding steps deploy as it descends, while a rail system makes launching/retrieving a 3.3m RIB a one-person, one-finger operation. 

Long afternoons at anchor are really defined by the 5600’s aft entertainment area, with its three-seat transom lounge, portside wet bar/barbecue, and a dinette table with L-shaped settee to starboard.

Owners have a choice between a short hardtop with awning extension or a full-length fibreglass hardtop that allows for a rear sun/privacy shade and enclosure with clears or breezeway.

Sunbeds with raised backrests and a plush U-shape lounge with table invite you to go forward along wide side decks. There are walkways between everything, so no stepping on cushions or over people to move around.

The covered aft deck and open-plan saloon become a single-level, highly liveable extension of one another, such is the integration.

The galley is placed aft and to starboard, which means platters can be served straight to the dinette through the awning window, or to an adjoining twin-stool breakfast bar.

Next in line, portside, the designers have provided an ottoman-based coffee table for the main settee. A formal dinner table resides within the seat back and can be quickly and cleverly folded out.

The helm station is both beautiful and functional, carbon-look facias and stitched upholstery lending a chic, automotive-style aesthetic. 

A full-beam master is the headline act of the accommodation deck, boasting a queen-sized island bed, luxurious ensuite with teak-seated shower, cedar-lined lockers and a chaise lounge (alternatively, a timber drawer cabinet or a writing bureau).

The VIP stateroom in the bow feels more like a private retreat than a cabin, complete with ensuite access to the day head. The third cabin is also amply proportioned, offering side-by-side singles that can slide together at the press of a button.

Where many mid-50ft motor yachts simply tuck a combo washer/dryer in a cupboard, the laundry is given preferential treatment on the 5600 by occupying the atrium companionway leading to the master stateroom. Bathed in light from a topside window, it features a separate washer and dryer, along with a large bench, linen press and generous storage. 

Twin Volvo Penta D11 IPS 950s (725hp apiece) reside beneath the garage, with ample clearance for servicing. The motors seem an ideal power match for the 25.7-tonne hull, delivering exceptional fuel efficiency at displacement speeds and sharp hole-shot acceleration.

A commendable cruise speed of 26 knots (48km/h) is achieved at 2300rpm for a fuel burn of 225lt/hr, while top speed is just shy of 32 knots (59.3km/h). The skipper is rewarded with exceptional driving pleasure as Riviera has really perfected a keel-to-wheel formula.

At the same time, the 5600 is highly responsive to joystick manoeuvring via the grippy P3 props (3-blade front and 4-blade rear). 

Given Rodney Longhurst’s ambitious brief, we’re not merely talking about a new model here – more a 56ft statement of intent to outdo everything that has come before. The applause that echoed across the Coomera River on the launch evening suggests that 5600 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is right on the money.

Price correct as of April 2026

• Priced from: $A2.9m

LOA: 18.64m

Hull length: 16.87m

Beam: 5.11m

Draft: 1.54m

Displacement (dry): 25,660kg

Fuel capacity: 3300lt

Water capacity: 800lt

Holding tank: 400lt

Power: 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 950 diesels

A FULL REVIEW OF THE RIVIERA 5600 SPORT YACHT PLATINUM EDITION APPEARS IN THE APR-MAY (41.2) ISSUE OF CLUB MARINE MAGAZINE.

VISIT RIVIERA AUSTRALIA FOR MORE INFORMATION.