An upgrade of the model that had its world premiere in Hong Kong to launch Riva’s current Flybridge series, the 102’ Corsaro Super is having a similarly strong impact in Asia.
Words: Risa Merl; photos: Riva

An upgrade of the original 100’ Corsaro, the 102’ Corsaro Super

Classic Riva iconography conjures up images of Hollywood legends like Brigitte Bardot lounging on a gleaming runaboat moored off the south of France. But it’s Asia where the new-era Riva yachts are making waves today. By this time next year, there will be three new 102’ Corsaro Super yachts plying these waters.

From the shaded flybridge and spacious beach club to its sophisticated interior, every aspect of the 30m flybridge motor yacht reflects the Italian brand’s commitment to blending traditional Riva elegance with cutting-edge design.

The original 100’ Corsaro – the first model in Riva’s current Flybridge series – made its debut in Hong Kong in 2017, with two more units later arriving in Asia. Now, the new 102’ Corsaro Super is taking the region by storm.

The first 102’ Corsaro Super in Asia arrived in Taiwan last year, with delivery facilitated by Amal Yachting. Two more hulls in this series will be heading to Hong Kong, with the first arriving this year and the second coming next year. Both have been sold by Starship Yachts, which also sold the original 100’ Corsaro and has been the Ferretti Group’s Hong Kong dealer for decades. 

FLYBRIDGE PIONEER

Crafted from fibreglass with carbon-fibre elements, the 102’ Corsaro Super builds upon its predecessor with refined features and extended dimensions. Stefano de Vivo, Ferretti Group’s CCO, notes the new model’s focus on enhancing proximity to the sea, achieved through enlarged windows and low-slung bulwarks.

“With the 102’ Corsaro Super, we aimed to further improve the yacht and the experience on board, meeting the needs of our owners, who increasingly desire greater contact with the sea,” De Vivo says.

Officina Italiana Design, which has designed for Riva for three decades, took a holistic approach to modernising the exterior to create a cleaner and more fluid appearance. By incorporating subtle changes such as painting the flybridge hard top entirely black, lowering the stern and extending the aft living areas, the design team achieved a sense of forward movement and enhanced visual appeal.

Mauro Micheli, Officina Italiana Design’s co-founder and Chief Designer, says: “We started by keeping the severity, sportiness and elegance of the 100’ Corsaro’s original lines but also refined their signature styling cues, giving them a cleaner look.”

Cleaner lines are a signature of the new Corsaro

However, according to Sergio Beretta, the studio’s co-founder and CEO, the updates went beyond aesthetics, with the yacht still satisfying the sub-24m load line length.

However, according to Sergio Beretta, the studio’s co-founder and CEO, the updates went beyond aesthetics, with the yacht still satisfying the sub-24m load line length.

“The yard wanted a restyling of a much-loved model, but the fact that RINA set new parameters for boats under 24m led us to do more important thinking than just refreshing the lines of a model,” Beretta says. “These subtle modifications have produced an entirely new craft.”

The spacious cockpit has a fitted sofa and loose furniture

The design studio sought new design solutions to update a popular model, especially in the aft area. “We flattened the shape of the stern and lowered it,” Michelli says. “The result was a sort of terrace, creating an additional aft space the 100’ Corsaro didn’t have.”

The 102’ Corsaro Super introduces an outdoor beach club, paying homage to the ample sunpads found on classic Riva day boats. Just a few steps below the main-deck cockpit, the beach club boasts a large settee on the transom.

The 35sqm beach club features a 15sqm high-low swim platform. There’s a seamless flow between the beach club and main deck, so guests can feel connected and interact easily whether lounging at water level or enjoying the views from the dining area on the aft main deck

Plenty of entertainment space punctuates the flybridge

Despite the addition of the beach club, the 102’ Corsaro Super retains a garage, accommodating a Williams DieselJet 445 tender. Launching the tender is facilitated by lifting the transom and sliding the aft swim platform below the waterline, flooding the garage. The redesign of the stern not only enhances the yacht’s amenities but also reshapes its exterior, creating a sleek and graceful profile.  

RICH INTERIOR

The interior of the 102’ Corsaro Super, also created by Officina Italiana Design, is a study in refined luxury, for which Riva is renowned. The indoor living areas showcase premium materials and exquisite craftsmanship.

Forward view of the interior, which starts with the dining area and leads to the lounge and the large TV on the bulkhead

Gleaming wood, supple leather and sleek, stainless-steel accents create an atmosphere of understated elegance, while marble accents add a touch of opulence. Carefully curated furnishings from top Italian brands further elevate the interior, ensuring both comfort and style for discerning owners and guests.

Exuding glamour synonymous with a classic Riva, the interior also has a touch of masculine appeal due to chrome metal finishes, matte Canaletto walnut joinery, black and white leather panels, and tinted glass. The richness of the interior stems from the thoughtful use of wood, stainless steel and leather. Notably, the rising cost of stainless steel, which increased by 300 per cent in the past few years, underscores the exclusivity of these materials.

The saloon offers two layout options, as well as the choice to add fold-down bulwark balconies on either side. The main-deck master suite boasts redesigned and extended 2m-long windows, providing breathtaking views. Below deck, four en-suite guest cabins ensure comfort and privacy for all aboard.

The full-beam owner’s cabin first appeared on the 100’ Corsaro. “In the 102’ Corsaro Super, we wanted to maintain this layout, improving it even further by enlarging the glazing,” De Vivo says.

Efforts to maximise natural light throughout the yacht led to the redesign of hull windows and the incorporation of larger windows in the owner’s cabin. This presented technical challenges for the naval architects, who worked to ensure structural integrity while enhancing the connection to the sea.

Starboard view of the full-beam owner’s suite, with a forward-facing bed, accessed from the saloon by a hallway

Rivas are known for their thrilling performance as well as their good looks. In the standard version, the yacht is equipped with a pair of MTU 16V 2000 M96 engines, with a power output of 2,435hp each, for an expected maximum speed of 26 knots and 23 knots cruising.

Alternatively, a pair of MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines with a power output of 2,638hp each can be installed to give a cruising speed of 24 knots and a top speed of 28 knots.

The 102’ Corsaro Super has proven to be another fruitful collaboration between Riva, Officina Italiana Design and Ferretti Group’s Strategic Product Committee led by Piero Ferrari. But more than this, the design team were able to take a much-loved yacht in the 100’ Corsaro and create something that stands out on its own.

“The 102’ Corsaro Super is a yacht undoubtedly created in the Riva tradition – you can feel it immediately,” Beretta aptly states. “We’re delighted with the result because we succeeded in retaining the Corsaro’s elegance while crafting redesigned lines that have turned it into a completely new boat.”
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