The 130’ Bellissima was designed by Officina Italian Design

Riva’s 130’ Bellissima is best described as a modern superyacht with a classic soul. When hull one launched from the Ferretti Group’s La Spezia shipyard last year, the 40m superyacht became the new flagship of the Italian builder’s Flybridge series, which also includes the 82’ Diva, 90’ Argo, 102’ Corsaro Super and 110’ Dolcevita.

A star at the last two editions of the Monaco Yacht Show, Bellissima is Riva’s first planing Flybridge model to feature a tri-deck design, with Ferretti Group working closely with Officina Italiana Design – which has designed for Riva for almost three decades – to keep the model’s interior volume below 300GT.

The 130’ Bellissima is the largest model built at Riva’s La Spezia shipyard

The closest word the designers and shipyard found to fully define the newest Riva was ultimately bellissima, Italian for ‘very beautiful’. Alberto Galassi, Ferretti Group’s CEO, uses romantic language to talk about the boatbuilder’s new pride and joy. “When you see this yacht cruising on the water, everything stops. It’s an aesthetic experience that words can’t describe,” he philosophises.

When Yacht Style stepped aboard, the 130’ Bellissima was docked in Port Hercules next to the 110’ Dolcevita, formerly the largest yacht in the Flybridge series. The side-by-side comparison accentuated the uniqueness of the 300GT Bellissima, which is 6m longer than the 219GT Dolcevita and has an extra deck.

The optional jacuzzi offers a secluded area to relax

Sergio Beretta, co-founder and CEO of Officina Italiana Design, said: “In practice, Bellissima is like an older sister to Dolcevita, but with a style all of her own that makes her different from any other big yacht of the Riva family.”

Mauro Micheli, co-founder and Chief Designer of the studio, has used the epithets of “sporty”, “sleek” and “slender” to describe the overall look of the yacht’s profile. The exterior is contemporary, fashioned from a symphony of glass, steel and carbon-fibre, and featuring a counter-curvature windshield that sets her silhouette apart from the rest of the fleet.

Bird’s eye view of the aft end of the sun, upper, main and lower decks

Micheli has penned every Riva launched since 1994 and a hint of this long-standing collaboration is seen in the two simple lines running along the Bellissima profile. Micheli notes that this is a classic feature seen on all Riva models and “very much reflects Officina Italiana Design’s clean, rigorous styling philosophy”.

By combining the sloping windshield with vast glazed surfaces and a severely raked bow, the boat has an almost arrowhead-shaped outline. The design is not only eye-catching but enhances aerodynamics, allowing a top speed of 22.5 knots with twin 2,638mhp MTU engines, as well as a range of 360nm at 20 knots or 1,000nm at 11 knots.

Aft view of the stunning sun deck

A 20sqm garage – with room for a tender, jet-ski and Seabobs – is located on the port side of the vessel to make way for a new open-air beach club at the stern. Lower and closer to the water than on any previous Riva superyacht, the beach club includes a swim platform and room for an alfresco lounge to dry off after a dip in the sea.

An outdoor jacuzzi, meanwhile, is located at the bow of the upper deck to fully optimise onboard space and enhance privacy for guests enjoying a soak in the sun.

Forward view from the sun deck to the foredeck

UP AND DOWN

Inside the Bellissima, however, is where the historic Riva heritage is most clearly realised in direct contrast with the futuristic exterior.

Glossy rosewood has been used throughout the interiors – even in the galley – to complete the classic style for which Riva has become known. Yet the darker, more masculine shades of the panelling and leather chosen to adorn her stop Bellissima from looking “old fashioned” and bring her up-to-date and in line with interior trends.

Aft view of the main-deck saloon, which includes a formal dining area forward

The main deck starts aft with a generous cockpit that leads into a saloon with symmetrical L-shaped sofas on both sides and a forward dining area. Indoor spaces are generous, with ceilings as high as 2.05m, but Officina Italiana Design has combined Bellissima’s old-school rosewood finish with glass and mirror elements to make the interiors feel even more open and roomy.

The starboard hallway leads to the lower-deck staircase and day head, then onto the full-beam master suite, which benefits from the widebody design on the forward portion of the main deck. The owner’s area starts with an office that leads into the bedroom, which has a walk-in wardrobe aft on the port side, while forward are separate his-and-hers bathrooms either side of a central shower.

Starboard view of the master suite, with the bed arranged facing aft

The lower deck includes four 15sqm VIP en-suite cabins, two forward of the hallway and two aft, all with inward-facing beds and all accessed by a stunning staircase. Micheli notes that the “beautiful effect” of the staircase is meant to attract attention, “ennobling its function as a link between the decks” and reflecting the “maniacal attention to any detail” typical of Riva projects.

The upper deck has a skylounge with facing L-shaped sofas, although the area can be used or converted into a cinema, workout space or even a study. The room leads aft to a huge, covered deck that offers alfresco dining, while the uncovered end can be dressed with sun loungers or other loose furniture.

Forward view of the upper-deck skylounge or saloon

Forward on the upper deck is the bow lounge, which has two symmetrical L-shaped sofas facing a large quadruple sun pad, while forward is the jacuzzi. As it that wasn’t enough, the stunning sky deck has an open aft end suitable for sun beds, while the covered area can fit four sides of sofas and chairs for a gorgeous, protected hangout with stunning views.

RIVA STYLE LIVES ON

Even with 10 guests and seven crew on board, the design choices that created the Bellissima have ensured that this 40m superyacht will never feel crowded. This is in part due to the intelligent layout of the vessel and in part to the flexibility of spaces.

Stairs from the main deck to the lower-deck guest cabins

And ultimately, the Gemini nature of a modern profile paired with Riva’s trademark traditional wood features gives owners a sense of owning two types of yacht in one. As Beretta explains: “Bellissima has sporty lines but at the same time is elegant, perfect for any market including Asia. This is the result of the perfect balance we always strive for.”

At least five units of the Bellissima had been sold within a year of the model’s world premiere. “So far, the boat is particularly popular in the North American market, while in Asia we have several open negotiations,” Galassi notes. “The expected waiting time is about two years, which is due to the great sales success of this model.”

The elegant helm station

With many shipyards still struggling to offer new build slots, this is still a decent turnaround time for new owners keen to hit the water in grand style.

Beretta does note, however, that delivery time is dependent on the level of personalisation owners may want to implement. Having the option to infuse customisations into a serial model is key to ensuring the Bellissima is not just a luxury asset but also an expression of an owner’s personality.

“If owners choose a Riva, they don’t only select a boat,” he says. “They select a particular lifestyle, for true connoisseurs.”

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