Riva 66’ Ribelle: The new high-tech sport flybridge
Photos Courtesy of: ferrettigroup
Born where legend and technology intersect, 66’ Ribelle is the new sport flybridge by Riva, ready to write a new chapter in the history of boating, design and luxury. The art of sailing gains a new masterpiece with this extraordinary vessel, that combines the allure of a timeless style with the pleasure and comfort of countless innovative on-board features.
66’ Ribelle, the flagship of the Sarnico shipyard, continues the evolutionary path that began with 56’ Rivale: conceived as an entry level model in Riva’s sport fly range, it aims to become the new benchmark in its market segment. Born through a collaboration between Officina Italiana Design, the atelier founded and headed by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, the Product Strategy Committee led by Mr. Piero Ferrari and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department, 66’ Ribelle sets a new standard of excellence in combining style with functionality and beauty with technology.
EXTERIOR
The hull’s streamlined profile – in the exclusive Blue Sapphire colouration, introduced here for the first time – features large glass windows on the hull and on the superstructure. The exterior lines draw inspiration from those of the 76’ Perseo, with the addition of new style elements in mahogany and polished stainless steel (which also serve technical purposes), that pay homage to both the history of the Sarnico shipyard and to the storied Riva tradition. Noteworthy elements include the aft wings, the garage door – fitted with a mahogany band with a stainless steel perimeter, above which is a mahogany and steel lifeline –, and the side lifelines of the superstructure, in mahogany with steel ends.
The stern features an innovative style detail: the platform is connected to the vessel’s sideways, thus forming a single continuous element that rises all the way to the cockpit. Stainless steel fairleads for the main and secondary mooring lines provide a further element of uniqueness in this area.
Like on the 56’ Rivale, the port side cockpit steps become partially submerged when moving the swimming platform, revealing other steps built in to the hull and thus creating a single, extremely practical stairway for boarding and deboarding. The garage can accommodate a Williams 345 tender and a Seabob.
The cockpit features a stern-side sun pad protected by the flybridge and a starboard dinette with a couch and mahogany table; the crew cabin, accessible from the main deck, is located below the sun pad and includes a single bed and a bathroom. The lounge’s glass door with tilting window ensures a perfect continuity between the inner and outer spaces, creating a single seamless deck with no steps or obstacles. The space in the forward area has been exploited to its fullest potential, thanks to a large 7m² sun pad with a built-in backrest that ensures maximum comfort. The sun pad also offers generously-sized lockers.
Within a framework of stylistic and functional optimisation, all deck equipment was conceived to preserve the beauty of the vessel’s lines while at the same time facilitating technical manoeuvres. Elements in high-gloss stainless steel protect parts of the hull and deck and can also be found aft, where the gate is seamlessly connected to the fairlead, to the point of being nearly invisible.
On the sport flybridge, accessible from the cockpit via a teak and steel stairway, is an aft sun pad with two chaise-longues fitted to the side of the fixed monkey bridge, which is enriched by elements in steel and mahogany. This entire area can be shielded from the sun through the awnings stored in their dedicated compartments.
INTERIOR
The materials used for the interiors of the first 66’ Ribelle unit are fully consistent with the Riva style, such as the opaque mahogany, the steel and lacquer in various shades of blue and white, as well as leather elements. Luxury brands that contributed to the interior design of this first unit include Penelopeoggi and Mastrotto for the leathers in the main deck and the owner’s cabin, Mariaflora for the upholstery in the lounge and cabins and Redaelli for beddings and pillows.
The main deck stands out for the impressive 2.05 m height and the massive windows that let in loads of natural light. The present configuration features a large L-shaped couch on the starboard side, with a convertible coffee-dining table in opaque mahogany. Next to the couch is a storage cabinet, while along the whole left side is a large custom piece which also houses the drop-down TV. The two-person bridge towards the bow - with a helm station boasting carbon knobs and an exclusive frame in high-gloss stainless steel - is equipped with control, monitoring and navigation systems that feature touchscreen displays, including an innovative MAN-Boening wide engine panel. Above the steering system, a sky light, that does not compromise the linearity of the design, reveals a dynamic air vent created on request.
Below deck, the standard layout features three cabins, including the owner’s cabin, a VIP and a double. On the left-hand side, the cabin with two single beds has an en-suite bathroom with dual access, which allows it to double as a day toilet. The midship owner’s cabin has a height of 2.05 metres, and offers a separate bathroom and three floor-to-ceiling wardrobes (on the port and starboard sides and in the centre). Stylish low furnishings, a longitudinal bed and a port-side sofa complete the cabin’s interiors. The VIP cabin, located forward, reveals a similar design philosophy as the rest of the yacht. Below the stairway, to the starboard side, is a large open galley that faces a storage area which, on request, can be fitted with a washer and dryer.
