Dozens of Puerto Rico’s Riviera owners have celebrated in a sun-and-rum-inspired party of epic proportions at this year’s Xmas in July. The annual party is hosted east of Puerto Rico in the British Virgin Islands. From young singles to grandparents, the event attracts thousands of fun-lovers who cruise to the island aboard hundreds of boats.
Riviera owners, their families and friends joined a massive Xmas in July party hosted by Puerto Rico Riviera representative Wally Castro on the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.
Dozens of Puerto Rico’s Riviera owners have celebrated in a sun-and-rum-inspired party of epic proportions at this year’s Xmas in July. The annual party is hosted east of Puerto Rico on the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). From young singles to grandparents and children, the event attracts thousands of fun-lovers who cruise to the island aboard hundreds of boats. It’s a sight to behold, says Cesar Rivera. Having not missed a party in years, Cesar joined the Riviera flotilla from Puerto Rico aboard his brand new 54 Enclosed Flybridge, Escondite.
“This is the sixth time I’ve been to Xmas in July,” says Cesar. “For me, the most important reason is to have fun with our children – we have a 15 and a 21-year-old. The adults make the most of it too, of course!
'This year we had a Riviera VIP raft up
and it was so nice to have the Riviera
motor yacht owners all together."
CESAR RIVERA
“It’s all organised by Wally Castro, who is the Riviera dealer in Puerto Rico, and it’s all about having fun together, hanging out from one Riviera to another, and having a really nice family time. This year we had a Riviera VIP raft-up and it was so nice to have the Riviera motor yacht owners all together. I was so happy because my sister-in-law has the same Riviera as me, with hull 99, mine’s 102. We have twin Rivieras and she’s the twin sister of my wife!”
Cesar says an important part of the event is its support of the island’s economy and environment. “Wally is always helping people. We celebrate on the BVIs because they’re small islands that really benefit from the thousands of visitors who come and stay for days before and after the party. This year, Wally also introduced something really important by making re-usable drinkware for a more sustainable event. The food and drinks are complimentary, and this year 50 per cent of the benefits from the drinkware was donated back to the islands to support the conservation of the marine life and coral systems. It was so well organised; the event area was left spotless afterwards.”
Cesar Rivera joined the Riviera flotilla from Puerto Rico aboard his 54 Enclosed Flybridge, Escondite. Enjoy this video of the iconic boating event.
"I love our Riviera for two reasons: I love the enclosed flybridge so that I can navigate with air conditioning in the Puerto Rican heat and the second thing is the beauty of a Riviera, inside and out."
CESAR RIVERA
Xmas in July coincides with two public holidays in Puerto Rico so it’s not uncommon for families to take a week or two to cruise around the islands. Fleets of boats start to fill the bay at Virgin Gorda a couple of days before the big event. The party day sets off at 9am with a Catholic mass before the band and drinks kick off in earnest.
“This year we celebrated the last year of high school for my daughter before she goes to university in the US next year. It was a real family party for us and our Riviera is perfect for this,” says Cesar, who previously had a Riviera 45 Open Flybridge.
“I love our Riviera for two reasons. I love the enclosed flybridge so that I can navigate with air conditioning in the Puerto Rican heat and the second thing is the beauty of a Riviera, inside and out. How Riviera works with interior spaces is so important for me; no one else does it like Riviera. It’s so modern and stylish; has all the modern appliances with still so much room for storage. This is the second time I’ve built a motor yacht with Riviera and I find the team so accessible and willing to work with me and accommodate our wishes.”
Will Cesar be back on board for next year’s Xmas in July? “Of course!”
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