The 110’ Dolcevita’s world premiere certainly lived up to the yacht’s name. A boat show, regardless of how prestigious, simply would not have cut it.
Instead the first example of the new 34-metre from the Ferretti Group-owned Sarnico yard was presented to the world at very special event organised at the Yacht Club de Monaco during last May’s Gran Prix Historique.
Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi explains: “We chose Monte Carlo for the debut because it is one of the world’s great Dolcevita locations and Dolcevita conjures up a dream world that the 110’, in all its splendour, personifies to perfection. It pays tribute to a wonderfully carefree period in history brought back to life in a magnificent vessel that is the perfect synthesis of tradition and modernity”.
And who could disagree? Penned by Officina Italiana Design in consultation with the Ferretti Group’s strategic product committee and engineering division, the Dolcevita is a completely revised yacht with an ultrasporty yet elegant profile characterised by extensive side glazing.
“We started with the idea of creating a very stylish yacht of peerless quality with a strong personality,” explains Officina Italiana CEO Sergio Beretta. “A yacht that aimed to strike the best possible balance between function and aesthetics with generous interior and exterior spaces. An elegant craft that reflected the iconic Riva style”.
Mission accomplished. At least to judge from the incredible success the craft has enjoyed, thanks in great part to one detail.
Aboard the 110’ Dolcevita, exterior areas and forward areas of the flybridge are connected by two wide walkways.
This means that it is more infinity deck than fly at over 34 square metres, a huge plus by any standards. Spread over two decks in addition to said fly, the Riva 110’ Dolcevita has a large aft cockpit complete with sofas and a dining area.
The latter is also sheltered by the fly overhang which is supported by two carbon-fibre struts that have been left bare as a design feature.
The interiors of the main deck have abeachhouse/loft-like airiness – the lounge and dining area comprise a single open-plan space with magnificent 270-degree views thanks to a robust stainless steel chassis supporting the superstructure and framing the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“The saloon is the yacht’s strong point together with the master suite,” explains Officina Italiana’s chief designer Mauro Micheli. “Essentially it is entirely encircled in glass which affords genuinely breath-taking views.
We also used a special glass on the Dolcevita that guarantees exceptional privacy as no one on the outside can see inside but those inside can see out”.
The master suite is amidships on the main deck, while the four guest VIP staterooms are amidships on the deck below it with the crew quarters forward.
As this is a craft that had achieved legendary status even before its launch, the interiors had to be impressive.
“The lines are clean and elegant,” explains Micheli. “We used a lot of wood, as per Riva tradition, but in this case we went with rosewood. It is a gorgeous vivid red that we decided to lighten by using pale grey details and leather as well as steel which is our leitmotif in both the interiors and exteriors”.
His Officina Italiana Design co-founder Sergio Beretta chips in: “We designed all the furnishings which were then made to a superb standard by the yard. We flanked them with a few carefully selected designer pieces such as the Judde table by Acerbis.
We normally don’t use brands aside from accessories because we don’t want to turn our boats into showrooms for big names. We use iconic pieces only where they are needed,” he concludes. In the case of the 110’ Dolcevita that means the chairs in the indoor dining area which are Cassina’s Tulu LGs, Minotti Yang sofas and Litt occasional tables also by Acerbis.
The designers did opt for freestanding furnishings by Roda and Poala Lenti for the exteriors, however. All absolutely in line with Riva’s legendary, nay iconic, style.
