After an extensive 12-month refit, the 37-metre (121-foot) sailing yacht Radiance is preparing to depart Rivergate Marina & Shipyard in Brisbane, Australia, and return to the vast cruising grounds of the Pacific Ocean.
Originally launched in 2011 by aluminium specialists Bayards in the Netherlands and designed by the renowned Dubois Naval Architects, Radiance is a striking, high-performance cruising monohull. She has explored many of the world’s iconic yachting destinations, including the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
After first crossing the Pacific in 2023, her owners received a strong recommendation to visit Rivergate. That same year, they met Rivergate’s Steve Fisher and Alex Binks at the Australia Tahiti Rendezvous—planting the seed for a refit in Australia.
Radiance arrived at Rivergate in late 2023 for scheduled maintenance and rigging work. It became apparent that several areas on board required attention. RMS General Manager Andrew Cannon presented the owners with the prospect of undergoing a significant refit. This included engineering, electrical, and a complete redesign of the engine spaces, as well as the replacement of the decks and full-exterior repaint, all of which began in early 2024.
Radiance before refit
New look Radiance
“They were due to undertake some maintenance works, which extended into fairly significant upgrades that the owners wanted to get done while they had the opportunity,” explained Andrew.
The refit included a complete engineering overhaul, with the entire engine room stripped back to bare aluminium and rebuilt from scratch. New electrical cabling was installed, and structural modifications were made to fit all piping below the floor plates in the engine room. The engine room was repainted, fire insulation was replaced, the generators and main engine were rebuilt back to zero hours, repainted, and relocated for better accessibility.
“Our biggest challenge on this project involved redesigning the engine spaces, which were completely inaccessible at the start,” said Andrew. “It required a complete reconfiguration and relocation of all the installations and equipment—a highly complex process demanding precise coordination.”
Six months into the engineering works, the exterior refit phase began. This included a full superstructure repaint and the replacement of traditional teak decking with Esthec—an eco-friendly, lightweight, UV-resistant, and low-maintenance alternative. After removing the old teak, the aluminium decks were sandblasted, and corroded sections of the bulwarks were stripped, re-faired, and repainted. Radiance also received a full hull repaint, transitioning from her original blue to a sleek, modern grey.
“Radiance looks amazing now,” Andrew said. “The owners are ecstatic with the transformation.”
“The role Rivergate plays in a project like this begins from the very first engagement,” said Andrew. “We manage everything from initial quoting and design consultations to detailed planning with the owners’ team to ensure the outcome aligns with their vision. Throughout the refit, Rivergate was responsible for the daily oversight and coordination of all contractors involved, ensuring each trade stayed on schedule, met quality standards, and communicated effectively.”
In addition to overseeing technical execution, Rivergate provided regular budget updates and weekly progress reports to keep the owners informed and aligned with the evolving scope of work. This included tracking variations, ensuring all work was performed to Bureau Veritas certification standards, managing timelines, and anticipating project challenges before they became issues.
As the project neared completion, Rivergate generated comprehensive closing reports for each area of the refit, detailing the scope completed, certifications achieved, and all warranties or service documentation required. These final reports not only serve as a record of the work completed but also support future maintenance and planning, providing peace of mind for the owners as Radiance returns to the water and embarks on her next chapter.
“We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver tailored results. Every superyacht project is unique, and understanding the owners’ priorities is critical,” Andrew said. “The feedback from the owners of Radiance has been overwhelmingly positive—they’re absolutely thrilled and eager to get back out on the water.”
With its reputation for high-quality project management and technical expertise, Rivergate continues to attract returning clients and new referrals.
“Many yachts in the Asia-Pacific region return to Brisbane just to work with us,” Andrew added. “That trust and confidence from our clients is something we work incredibly hard to maintain.”
Now, following her transformative refit, Radiance is set to depart Rivergate and head to Fiji, where she will enter the luxury charter market—refreshed, revitalised, and ready for her next adventure.
Rivergate Marina & Shipyard
For more information, visit rivergate.com.au
About Rivergate Marina and Shipyard – Australia:
Rivergate Marina and Shipyard is a family-owned business located on the Brisbane River on the east coast of Australia with deep water access and close to the superyacht cruising grounds of the Great Barrier Reef and Pacific Islands. Established in 2006, Rivergate is recognised in the industry as one of the top 3 superyacht refit facilities in the world. It features 300-tonne and 75-tonne travel lifts, 55-metre refit shed, hardstand, berthing for vessels up to 90 metres, 24-hour fuel wharf and more than 20 world-class marine trades. rivergate.com.au
