You’d like to be cruising the waves, but you’d like more than a little luxury too - so it’s time to consider the ideal Italian yacht to meet your exacting needs. Luckily, Riva, yacht providers to everyone from Liz Taylor to Sean Connery and Brigit Bardot, have that covered with the sleek 56’ Riva Rivale, designed inside and out to resemble nothing less than a perfectly appointed apartment that just happens to have the convenience of the sea all around it.
With a heritage in Italian yachts dating back to the 1840s, Riva’s pre-eminence among high-end watercraft came into its own in the 1950s with exquisitely made Italian yachts that effortlessly melded fashion and function. One glance inside the passenger quarters of the Riva Rivale, created in conjunction with Officina Italiana Design, is enough to confirm that Riva have carried forward that storied history into their latest Italian yacht.
Fabrics to interiors are by Ivano Redaelli, with wall-to-wall carpets by Van Besouw. Varnished mahogany to surfaces and cupboards contrasts with lacquered wood and more than ample leather seating. Teak to exterior decking is in the Italian yacht tradition. Two guest suites are luxuriously appointed. Long, large windows contrast with flush portholes to complement the sleek lines, with design and construction by Ferretti Group. And there’s more.
Exterior deck lounge to the rear of Riva’s latest Italian yacht features teak dining table and leather seating, with steps down to a swimming platform for that cooling dip before dinner. Cockpit area to the front houses the main controls - power is provided by a choice of 1000 bhp or 1200 bhp MAN engines so progress is just about adequate - and more seating areas. Aerodynamic screens mean you’ll be protected from spray as the Riva Rivale Italian yacht speeds to your next destination.
So, you’ve booked your mooring at your favoured marina in the south of France. Now all you need is your next Italian yacht and perhaps the right wardrobe to grace the deck of your Riva Rivale. We’ll leave the essential selection of yachting pieces to you, but you may be wanting to alert your bank manager on just how much you’ll be spending on this essential ocean transport. Prices depend on specification, but put aside around £1.5m or so and you’ll be the envy of St Tropez. We’ll join you for a sunset vodka martini, please.
