110 Dolcevita
The Riva 56 Rivale is a 56-foot open cruiser yacht that was launched by the Ferretti-owned yacht building brand Riva in 2016. Crafted in collaboration with naval stylists Officina Italiana Design, this yacht marries sporty performance to a jewel-like finish, proving that you can look great while outperforming the rest of the pack. While many Riva boats take direct inspiration from this brand’s illustrious heritage, the Riva 56 Rivale presents a more uncompromisingly modern look and feel, with a subtly assertive profile clad in silver metallic fiberglass, an ultra-sharp bow, a multi-tiered transom, knife-insert windows and minimalist, contemporary layout. Yet come up close and you will still find one or two nods to the past in the form of impeccable stainless steel brightwork, authentic teak decking, lacquered mahogany surrounds, cross-stitched leather furnishings and a gently sloping stern that looks made for Venice’s Grand Canal.
A pair of sunpads bookend the main deck on this model, with a double-width modular sunpad on the foredeck matched by a similar, leather-lined sunpad nestled up against the transom. At the very rear of the vessel there is a series of steps that lead down to an electro-hydraulic bathing platform that sits just below a spacious tender garage capable of hosting a Williams Turbojet 325.
A delicately angled tinted windscreen wraps around the main-deck cockpit to keep this area shielded from spray, while buyers can opt to keep this stylish area al-fresco or to cover with it with a fiberglass canopy. A pair of L-shaped sofas to port, one with a mahogany-lined cocktail table, sit directly across from a timber-topped wet-bar with an icemaker, a grill and plenty of refrigerated storage. A loveseat to aft sits directly underneath the radar arch, while a bevel-edged starboard helm station boasts a Boening monitoring screen, Side Power thruster controls, a pair of Simrad touch-screen panels, a stainless-steel foghorn, a leather and steel steering wheel, VHF radio and a docking joystick.
No mere dayboat, this cruiser has the sort of below-deck accommodation you may expect from a much larger yacht, including two en-suite staterooms, an optional side berth, a day-head, a lower galley and a dining lounge, all of which benefit from panoramic hull glazing and “Super Tropical” climate-control. The open galley is equipped with everything needed for longer voyages, including ample refrigerated storage, a ceramic hob, a combination oven, a sink and marble-effect counters. Furnishings on this level are subject to customization, but early hulls featured plush, bespoke additions from artisanal designers such as Ivano Redaelli and Van Besouw among others. You can expect glossy, grain-matched mahogany on this level, along with authentic leather, deluxe carpeting, Venetian blinds, mirrored wall panels and varnished accents. There is an L-shaped sofa, an oversized Ottoman and a table in the dinette lounge, while main cabins feature queen-sized beds, hanging lockers and Corian-lined bathrooms.
The Riva 56 Rivale is fitted with a pair of 1000MHP MAN V8 diesels as standard for top speeds of 35 knots, though you can upgrade to 1200MHP MAN engines for increased full-throttle speeds of 38 knots and a cruising pace of 33 knots. A 600-gallon fuel tank allows for a quick cruising range of around 200 nautical miles and more than 430 nautical miles at a leisurely 10 knots. An optional gyrostabilizer will reduce roll in choppy waters, while this yacht’s proprietary hull provides plenty of lift as you accelerate along the Italian Riviera.
