110 Dolcevita
The Riva Duchessa 92 is a 92-foot luxury motor yacht with a flybridge that was launched by the iconic, Ferretti-owned Italian boat-building brand Riva back in 2008. One of the largest vessels ever built at Riva’s La Spezia shipyard, the Duchessa 92 bears a distinguished, almost regal profile with sedate curves, traditional lines and the sort of glossy paintwork you would expect from a Cunard cruise-liner. Yet despite the elegant retro exterior, this is very much a yacht made for modern cruising, hosting masses of indoor and al-fresco space designed by Officina Italiana, and the sort of hi-tech wizardry and robust engines that make long-distance voyages a breeze.
A fiberglass canopy with an electronic sunroof sits elegantly above the teak-lined flybridge, where you will discover plentiful space to the rear for tender storage with a hydraulic davit. Across the center of the bridge there is room for a triple-width white leather sunpad or a jacuzzi spa-pool that can be surrounded by a diadem of cushioned seating. Running along the sides of the bridge are four wet-bar stations, specializing in chilled storage, food prep, barbecuing or ice-chipping, so that you will never run out of mixed drinks or grilled shrimp as you entertain up here. A pair of white leather sofas face an extending dining table, while a centrally positioned helm station is shielded from spray by a Venturi-style tinted windscreen.
Down on the foredeck you will find a raised, triple-width sunpad and a pair of cocoon-style L-shaped sofas, both in that ubiquitous white leather, that surrounds a timber-topped breakfast table. In the aft-cockpit there is a transom dining sofa and a table capable of hosting up to nine diners, while side steps lead down to a hydraulic swimming platform and a tender garage that turns into a padded beach-club when fully opened.
Palatial interiors present a sophisticated and neutral tone, with whitened wenge-wood floors and pale leather furnishings contrasting beautifully against the darker walnut used across wall surfaces, while in the dining room a sparkling pressed marble floor exudes the sort of luxury you would expect from a Greek villa. A trio of sofas, ottomans and armchairs surround a bespoke coffee table in the salon, while nine guests will enjoy dining at a custom-made, teak-edged dining table with views out of retro-styled mullioned windows.
An enclosed, slightly raised forward pilothouse near the front of the main deck includes a pair of artfully positioned sofas and a Besenzoni helm chair so that up to five can enjoy superb views out of sloped windscreen windows. The dashboard features Naviop systems, Simrad display panels, autopilot, VHF, ZF thruster controls, and Furuno radar, as well as power-steering and an iPad docking station that is linked to the yacht’s Bose surround sound system. At the front of the main-deck there is a Euro-style enclosed galley that connects to a private crew quarters, and the kitchen comes complete with a Gaggenau fridge-freezer, a Miele oven and hob, a dishwasher and handsome Corian work surfaces.
Four en-suite staterooms across the lower deck seduce guests with Canaletto walnut surrounds, plush carpeting, lacquered surfaces, leather paneling and widescreen hull glazing. A VIP cabin to the bow features a queen-sized bed, a chaise-longue and full-height closets, while a twin and a double amidship abound with masses of space and plenty of natural light. A full-beam owner’s suite boasts enough space for a work-desk, a side sofa, a king-sized island bed, a walk-in closet and two separate ceramic and timber-lined bathrooms that share a waterfall shower cubicle with a non-slip teak floor.
Top speeds of around 30 knots are achieved thanks to twin MTU 16V 2218MHP diesel engines, while at cruising speeds of approximately 10 knots you can enjoy a nautical range well in excess of 1,000 nautical miles. A robust hull performs superbly well across a variety of conditions, while a pair of Mitsubishi ARG gyrostabilizers offer that extra touch of balance.
