Officially presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the Riva 76 Perseo has already charmed three buyers and impressed the jury of the Invictus Yachts Trophies. The winner of two awards is off to a dazzling start indeed
This fresh-looking coupe – or, officially, sportfly – is the result of a collaboration between the Officina Italiana Design studio, responsible for the design of the entire Riva range, and the Ferretti Group – owner of the Riva Yacht– itself. The Perseo is a 23 meters long, sleek, sporty little yacht whose aesthetic is based on its bold color scheme: metallic Moon Gray for the hull and the superstructure, Bright Black and gleaming stainless steel for equipment and other details.
Riva 76 Perseo design
This sporty design is primarily based on proportions, as it has a rather small superstructure with expansive glass areas (which promise and deliver brightness inside). The Perseo’s aft is well proportioned, featuring a generous swimming platform with two staircases that flank the garage.
An original, functional and modern Riva yacht
A retractable hydraulic gangway gives access to the teak-lined cockpit with lots of high-quality hardware, and impressively designed perforated stainless steel guards. The Riva 76 Perseo we reviewed had a cockpit furnished with a sofa and a lounge/dining area, and is a pleasant, friendly outdoor space. On the port side, the stairs lead to the flybridge or towards the bow, along with the stylish handrail incorporated into the design of the superstructure.
The front deck is a true relaxation area, with a bench seat facing forward and a large sunbathing area at the very bow. When observed from the dock, the Perseo’s flybridge is almost invisible to the eye and is masterfully integrated into the general profile of the superstructure.
Its layout is straightforward, with a U-shaped bench that surrounds the forward area, and a bench that becomes the captain’s seat when the optional retractable wheelhouse is in use.
The final touch on the flybridge is the sunpad behind the bench seat, using the space most often underutilized on sports coupes. The main deck is separated from the cockpit by an electric panel that folds away to create a continuity between the Perseo’s exterior and interior.
Riva 76 Perseo interior
This main deck itself is split onto three ‘open space’ areas, including the living room (complete with L-Shaped sofa) dining room (6-seats) and wheelhouse (with two seats) and as we mentioned earlier, the Perseo’s huge glass area bathes these special places with natural light.
Taking the stairs leading to the lower deck, we arrived into the lobby which gives access to the three cabins and closed kitchen. We head amidships to visit the master stateroom, which spans the entire width of the hull and is wonderfully lit, thanks to its gigantic hull ports. A walk-in wardrobe, luxurious marble bathroom and a sitting area complete this idyllic setting. A guest cabin with twin beds can be found starboard, with the VIP occupying its classic space in the bow.
The skipper of the Perseo we tested, Michele, was proud of his boat and bragged about its power the first chance he got: two MAN V12 engines producing 18.00hp each (1.550 hp in the standard version). During the test, we confirmed the figures given by the yard – with 500 liters of water and 3,000 liters of fuel on board, we achieved 37.3 knots at 2350rpm, with Perseo’s new hull well-behaved and balanced at all times. With this lovely new model, Riva has created a new classic sportfly.
Riva 76 Perseo specs
The Italian brand has perfectly preserved its roots, while designing an original, functional and modern yacht. The Perseo may be adventurous and pushes the boundaries in design, but it is without a doubt a full-blooded Riva.
Photos & video Riva Yacht
