Rivergate Marina & Shipyard attended the 2026 Australia Tahiti Rendezvous which achieved new heights this year, in record attendance, number of vessels and positive outcomes. Held 25 and 26 June at Marina Taina, this edition attracted more than 150 representatives from the Australian superyacht industry and crew, as well as local suppliers and agents.
The Australian delegation included Rivergate, Australian Superyachts, Carter Marine Agencies, Chapman, d’Albora, Integ Marine Group, Pacific Provisions, Main Beach Superyacht Marina, Melanesian Yachts, Superyacht Group Great Barrier Reef, The Yard Brisbane and Yachtsmiths.
The VIP Captains’ Lunch
Celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2026, Rivergate was proud to once again host and sponsor the VIP Captains’ Lunch, held at idyllically situated Yellowfin restaurant with a frontline view of the spectacular yachts at the marina. The lunch brought together more than 40 superyacht captains, Tahiti industry representatives and the Australian Deputy Consul General for French Polynesia, which affirms the government’s recognition of the superyacht sector as a meaningful driver of bilateral trade and tourism in the Pacific.
“It was one of our largest events to date, since we started sponsoring the event in the mid-2000s. We were pleased to see so many captains and crew who we’d welcomed at Rivergate, many of them planning to return to Australia in 2026. In our business, relationships, trust and consistency are the foundations. It’s vitally important to nurture these bonds among industry to ensure every step of the experience is a pleasure for crew and cost-effective for owners.”
– Steve Bay, Director of International Business, Rivergate
During lunch, discussions ranged from crew training to port logistics and provisioning. The hot topic in everybody’s mind is the array of opportunities in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, highlighting the sector’s increasing role in supporting trade and tourism across the Pacific.
Cooking Competition and Dockside Celebrations
Two of the most colourful parts of the program were the Crew Cooking Competition, sponsored by Pacific Provisions, and the dockside party. This year, crew were briefed on creating delicacies that used a fusion of Australian and local French Polynesian ingredients. All entrants concocted delectable dishes, and the winner was the chef and crew of 100-metre M/Y Pi.
Next up was the much-anticipated social event, the dockside BBQ and party for over 120 crew, with live entertainment featuring traditional Polynesian dancers and a DJ. The festivities continued well into the night for an evening that combined Australian-style hospitality with the soul of French Polynesia.
David Good, CEO at Superyacht Australia, commented on the event, saying “After working collaboratively with South Pacific destinations in the Northern Hemisphere at events such as Monaco Yacht Show it was pleasing to see the size and number of new yachts visiting Tahiti. The Australian Tahiti Rendezvous is the next important step in encouraging visitation to Australia where we can service and maintain these vessels, which allows them to spend longer in the region.”
“The Rivergate Captains Lunch brings the Australian delegation together with the visiting captains and local agents and builds relationships and trust. As the founding partner of this event, Rivergate remains the backbone of this event, arguably the most influential event in the annual marketing calendar.”
– David Good, CEO, Superyacht Australia
Sarah Toxward, General Manager at Charter Marine, described the 2026 Australia Tahiti Rendezvous as an “excellent experience. It had a really good feel this year. There was a great mix of captains, crew, and Australian colleagues who had not been present in the past. It was a nice chance to catch up with familiar faces while also meeting a few new ones.” The Rivergate VIP Captains’ Lunch was a highlight, according to Sarah.
For more information on the Australia Tahiti Rendezvous go to www.superyacht-australia.com