Sairu: First look inside Riva's largest superyacht to date

Italian yacht builder Riva, a brand of the Ferretti Group, has shared new details and a first look inside its first Riva 54Metri, Sairu, following her delivery. At 54.8 metres, she marks the yard's largest superyacht to date – though her volume has remained under 500GT for simpler regulatory compliance.

The Riva 54Metri is the result of collaboration between Officina Italiana Design, Ferretti Group's strategic product committee and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department. Her all-aluminium profile shares the same classic design DNA with other members of the Riva fleet, though on a "monumental" scale, seen via the counter-curvature of the windows, cut-out bulwarks and a metallic exterior of "Moon Grey" and "London Grey" paired with dark glazing, polished steel and an aquamarine bootstripe. 

“Riva 54Metri is a sleek and elegant yacht: a balanced blend of sportiness and sophistication," explained Mauro Micheli, chief designer, and Sergio Beretta, CEO at Officina Italiana Design. "She achieves a unique equilibrium between volumes, proportions and masses, becoming an almost sculptural object."

The team continued: "A few distinctive features – such as the forward sweep of the deckhouse and windscreen, or the angled lines of the stern section echoed by the steel handrails on the upper decks – give this yacht a strong identity that is instantly recognisable as part of the Riva world. The aft beach club boasts unrivalled surface area as a result of four side sections that swing out on two levels."

In a departure from the former 50Metri flagship, Sairu features softer yet still equally sporty lines and over 370 square metres of outdoor space. The yacht spans four decks (each connected by a central lift), with the driving concept behind the design being a seamless connection to the water, showcased through large floor-to-ceiling windows, multiple outdoor areas and fold-out bulwarks of the beach area and cockpits. Simultaneously, the layout has been designed to offer maximum privacy for the owner, designed with separate pathways for guests and crew. 

With its focus on indoor-outdoor living, the stern beach club is a key feature of the 54Metri, spanning more than 60 square metres when the fold-out terraces are extended. Here, the space centres around a four-by-two-metre freshwater pool – decorated in white ceramic tiles and fitted with a heating system – that can remain filled while underway. 

A tinted glass-enclosed gym is also incorporated into the space, complete with an exercise bike, treadmill and day head and offering direct access to the engine room forward. Up from the beach club, steps lead to the 45-square-metre main-deck cockpit, which itself offers chaise longues, armchairs and an American bar with a fridge, ice maker and sink. Two additional fold-out bulwarks that "seem to float above the water" can remain open when underway.

Heading inside on the main deck, guests are greeted with a bright and sophisticated setting, comprising a living area aft, with an L-shaped sofa and two white leather armchairs, and a dining area for 10 forward on a Bianco Rhino marble platform. Despite located in the same room, both spaces are distinguished by the use of different materials on the ceilings and floors - the dining table centred by an eye-catching crystal chandelier above. 

Moving forward on the same deck, the master suite takes pride of place, entered through a door clad entirely in white leather on one side and black marble on the other. Here, an office area can be found upon entry, with a desk and a wardrobe clad in brown leather, while further forward still is the cabin, a "wonderful oasis of relaxation". Natural teak and marble panels alternate across the walls, with a mirror concealing a 65-inch TV, though the leather-upholstered king-size bed demands attention with its marble-inset headboard. Ahead, two large walk-in closets lead to the master en suite, where lies a hydro-massage shower with chromotherapy clad entirely in Bianco Rhino marble.

Below deck, four guest cabins can be accessed via the lift or a teak-clad staircase with white leather-upholstered walls and brown leather handrails. Two VIP and two guest cabins (one of which can convert into a twin) can be found in a "mirror-image" layout, all with double beds and en suites. Like the master, each suite is also decorated with black leather beds, light-coloured carpeting and pale leather ceilings with teak frames and TVs concealed behind mirrored surfaces. Crew quarters are located forward.

Designed as the yacht's main social hub, the upper deck combines an enclosed skylounge with an aft lounge and open-air dining area. The interior lounge offers guests the chance to relax on an L-shaped sofa or a white leather armchair, watching either the 75-inch TV screen or the extensive views over the stern via the large automatic sliding door aft. To the left of the TV, a sliding door leads to the service pantry, where lies a second wine cabinet, fridge, ice maker and dishwasher.

On deck, the large outdoor area is divided with a sofa, armchairs and an al fresco dining table seating ten, which is sheltered by fixed side windscreens. From the aft deck, two side walkways lead to the upper deck lobby on one side, and the "state-of-the-art" lounge forward of the wheelhouse on the other, allowing for a continuous walkway along the entire length of the deck. 

According to the yard, one of the project’s most innovative solutions is the bow area on the upper deck, which not only offers a C-shaped sofa, but two large sofas on either side which can be raised to reveal a technical area beneath, for launching a Williams 625 tender and watertoys, including two jet skis, with a built-in crane-cum-navigation mast.

Finally, up top, more than 100 square metres of exterior space is available on the sundeck, which has been customised and configured with three areas: a Jacuzzi aft (which, like the beach club pool, can remain filled even when underway) with full-custom sunpads; a midships lounge arrangement with two bespoke L-shaped sofas; and forward, an American bar and a dining area for 10 sheltered beneath the hardtop. A rotating 55-inch TV concealed within the dining storage unit completes the deck's entertainment offering.

“The Riva 54Metri is much more than the largest Riva ever built. It is the expression of over 180 years of craftsmanship, innovation and an uncompromising pursuit of beauty," said Ferretti Group's global chief executive officer, Stassi Anastassov. "What makes Riva unique is its ability to respect its extraordinary heritage without ever becoming captive to it. We are proud of the icons that have shaped our history, but our responsibility is to create the icons of the future."

He continued: "This yacht embodies that philosophy. It carries the timeless elegance that has defined Riva for generations, while setting new standards in design, technology, comfort and the onboard experience. Every great brand must honour its past. The very best brands use that past as a foundation to build an even greater future. The Riva 54Metri is a powerful reminder that the best chapters of this remarkable story are still being written.” 

The yacht is fitted with twin MTU 12V2000 M96L engines and an optimised shaft line with six-blade fixed-pitch propellers. As a result, she delivers a top speed of 18 knots and a range of around 3,600 nautical miles at 11 knots. The wheelhouse is fitted with two electric rudders that can operate independently, while comfort is ensured both at anchor and underway via four Naiad Dynamics electric stabilisers. Key specifications include a maximum beam of 9.2 metres.

Sairu's original sale was concluded in partnership with Alain Maaraoui of Sea Pros Yachts, Riva’s exclusive dealer in Kuwait. 

According to BOATPro, Riva has 19 superyacht projects on order or under construction. Sairu (and the Riva 54 Metri series) will be the flagship of the Italian yard until 2028, when Riva launches a hybrid, 70-metre project by Officina Italiana Design.