Pace & Panache
Riva’s fiberglass flagship, the 110 Dolcevita, brings both in spades.
Riva’s fiberglass flagship, the 110 Dolcevita, brings both in spades.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what the beholder is supposedly looking for is facial symmetry. So says science, or at least the kind of science that tabloid news editors like to quote. A glance at the latest crop of yachts from the European yards suggests that their designers wholly subscribe to this view.
The Riva 110 Dolcevita is different. It is a notably handsome creature, with beautifully considered proportions and a profile carefully sculpted to disguise its substantial height. Inside, the yacht feels much bigger than it is, and outside, it looks much smaller. With its lustrous paint, subtle curves and clever window geometry, it appears pleasing from every angle.
And yet, there is an attractive asymmetry to the deck layout. Cunningly disguised, this asymmetry is an ingenious exercise in visual sleight of hand. It is best appreciated from the foredeck seating area, which, of course, isn’t on the foredeck at all, but instead on the coach roof atop the master stateroom. With just one step up, the side deck that trails aft from this space along the port side attains the level of the flybridge, where a side door provides access to the sundeck. Voilà— easy access along the full length of this upper level for guests and crew alike.
On the starboard side, meanwhile, normal service is resumed as the sidedeck runs aft to steps that lead down to the main deck. Here, a door leads inside toward the galley, wheelhouse or salon, or guests can keep walking until they are in the cockpit. The asymmetrical layout provides great practicality, especially for the crew, but unless you’re on board the yacht, it is virtually invisible.