Perseus, as both the son of Zeus and the slayer of the serpent-haired monster Medusa, was considered Greek mythology’s first true hero and is the namesake of the new Riva 76 Perseo. And although the 76-foot yacht is not the first hero from the storied Italian brand, the intrepid ship sports a fresh new design conceived by Officina Italiana Design.
“We tried to create a coupé that would be in line with Riva—a craft with a very balanced design for owners who want to experience life on the sea fully,” says Mauro Micheli, founder of Officina Italiana Design. “The elegant, soft lines that characterize all Riva yachts are a little bit more dynamic in Perseo. The general feeling is of a contemporary, courageous, and almost gritty look.”
The newest Riva is a stunner in profile, with a silver body and extended saloon distinguished by 430-square-foot glass panels that extend all the way to the cockpit, broken only by a few lateral supports. Micheli explains that so much undivided glass was technically difficult to manufacture, but that it allows for a significantly larger, brighter saloon area. “It also eliminated the conceptual barriers between inside and out,” he adds.
The expansive saloon’s all-glass surroundings give one the sense of entering an elegant conservatory, appointed with teak-and-white decor. Below, the full-beam aft master suite dominates more than half of the lower deck. Like the saloon, it has a light, open feel, thanks to the large hull-side windows, which flank a three-person lounge on one side and long desk on the other. Two other guest staterooms and a captain’s quarters with a separate entrance comprise the rest of the accommodations.
Beyond the expansive interior, Perseo also provides six outside social areas for guests, including a sunbed and lounge seating for six at the bow, another sunbed and a lounge on the bridge, an alfresco dining table and full-beam lounge in the cockpit, and, of course, an extended swim platform leading to the water.
By employing a minimalist design philosophy, Officina Italiana Design was able to make Perseo a blank canvas—ready to accommodate different owners’ tastes. “The goal was to design a yacht that would appeal to many types of people,” says Micheli. “But they all share a common desire to experience it fully, but in complete privacy.”
If Medusa could turn a man to stone with one look, Perseo could melt that same man’s heart by just cruising past him. (riva-yacht.com)
