The Riva SportRiva 56 is a 57-foot luxury motor yacht with a flybridge that was launched by the iconic, Ferretti-owned boat-building brand Riva in 2008. You might only see this as a blur of glimmering Roman bronze or Racing green as this sporty model zips past you at high speeds, but at anchor you can fully appreciate this elegant yacht’s signature blend of classic Riva heritage and modern styling. Crafted in partnership with naval stylists Officina Italiana, the SportRiva 56 is one of the most innovative Riva launches to date, combining the look and feel of an open yacht with the capacity and climate-controlled comfort of a flybridge.
This yacht’s compact sportsbridge may not be the biggest on the market, but it astounds with heaps of character across its teak-lined deck. A pair of rear, leather-clad sunpads with adjustable headrests enjoy views stretching out across the stern, while a comfortable bench seat for two faces a fully-equipped modern upper helm that is protected from spray by a tinted Venturi windscreen.
One level down and you will find the obligatory double sunpad out on the foredeck, where guests will delight in the marina-facing views and unimpeded sunlight on offer down here. To the rear is one of the most unusual teak-lined cockpits on the market today. A counter-intuitive layout back here wowed the critics upon launch, exchanging a transom sunpad for a pair of transom sofas either side of a timber-topped dining table. Attached to this seating area is a wide wet-bar station with chilled storage, a Raritan icemaker, a sink and a Gaggenau grill, so that you can grill up your surf and turf while looking out across the stern. What’s more, the steps up to the flybridge are integrated into this seating area, opening up space on the cockpit sides for timber-lined bench-style seating. A transom gate and side steps lead down to a full-beam bathing platform and access to a capacious tender garage.
Sedate interiors on this vessel highlight an undeniable Italian flair for design, and you will find blonde oak, bone-pale leather and cream-toned paneling along with teak floors and bronze-effect structural supports for an elegant if restrained feel. There is a curved sofa in hand-piped leather and a breakfast table to port, along with plenty of cabinetry and a further wet-bar to starboard. Up front there is a modern helm station that sits below a glazed sunroof, featuring ZF SmartCommand electronic controls, BCS hydraulic steering, a Side Power thruster joystick, Raymarine display screens, a 48-mile radar, SportPilot autopilot, Simrad VHF radio, trim-tab switches, a Sanshin searchlight controller and more.
The Galley sits on a sunken level with atrium lighting overhead and access to a crew quarters for two and features a 4-zone Bosch or Miele hob, an Isotherm fridge-freezer unit, a Sharp microwave, Corian work surfaces, timber cabinets and a stainless-steel sink. The lower-deck boasts room for up to six overnight guests, with a pair of amidship twin berths sharing access to a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. Up by the bow there is an impressive owner’s stateroom with a skylight, a queen-sized bed, hanging lockers and a bathroom with Ritmonio steel fixtures and a shower cubicle with a teak-lined seat.
A pair of MAN V8 900MHP diesel V-drive engines provide top speeds touching the 32-knot mark, while at cruising speeds of around 10 knots you can expect an enviable range of more than 400 nautical miles.