The Riva 100′ Corsaro makes its international debut in Hong Kong

Two yachts made a splash at the recent edition of the Ferretti Group Open Days at Aberdeen Marina Club. The new Ferretti 850 made its Asian premiere, while the highly anticipated Riva 100’ Corsaro made its international debut in Hong Kong.

The rare decision to debut the new Riva 100’ in Asian waters rather than in Europe was likely fuelled by the recently rife opportunities in the east. Following an acquisition by China’s major automobile and engine manufacturer Weichai Group in 2012, Ferretti Group has reportedly reported profits for the first time in eight years since the recession.

The Riva brand in particular is enjoying plenty of success in the region: seven Riva 100’ Corsaros have already been sold worldwide (three in Asia), and the entire production for 2017 is already sold out. At the launch event, we stepped onboard for a tour of this grand yacht, configured for an Asian buyer who purchased the model last year.

Just shy of 100 ft. long (98 ft. precisely), and wide for its length, the new 100′ Corsaro is reportedly the largest 100’ boat currently on the market, and unsurprisingly, very stable on the water. It has stabilising fins to reduce drag, which increases efficiency on the water to help it cruise at a maximum speed of 28 knots. The fins can be replaced by gyroscopes on request, which helps to remove even more of the boat roll.

The 100’ Corsaro is the only flybridge model in the Riva’s fleet at the moment, sporting a fibreglass hull with sleek metallic paint. We loved the uninterrupted hull window, wrapping around the open plan main deck, so you never lose the feeling that you are on top of the water, blending the inside and outside.

The debut of the Corsaro in Hong Kong also demonstrated interesting quirks that cater to Asian boating habits. Downstairs on the main deck, perhaps the most standout feature (and apparently a highly requested design option by Asian buyers) is the private lounge, or karaoke room, placed where the master suite would usually be located. Here guests can watch movies, play video games and mahjong, sing karaoke and more. Next to the door is a cabinet room with a wine cellar, fridge and ice maker, fully equipped to serve cocktails.

In this configuration the master suite is placed one deck below, where it features a vanity area and a sofa on both sides, with a king-sized bed facing a hidden flat screen TV.

There’s plenty of storage space in the wardrobe and cabinets, all upholstered with natural leather and white lacquering. In the bathroom, the surprisingly spacious shower stall is accessible on both sides. Separately, there’s also a “VIP” cabin with a double bed, and a double cabin with two twins — all rooms are accompanied by ensuite bathrooms and showers. Crew quarters below deck include the captain’s cabin as well as two cabins with bunk beds, for a total crew size of five.

Dreamed up by the Italian design office, the decor of the 100’ Corsaro reflects plenty of details that adhere to modern European tastes, with Italian furniture brands and materials everywhere you look. The main deck is highlighted by a spacious living and dining area with an L-shape Minotti sofa, two Knoll armchairs, and a Le Corbusier-designed dining table paired with eight Fendi Casa chairs. Shelves and cabinets, upholstered with luxurious leather, offer ample storage, making this a very liveable yacht, and not just a shiny showroom for day trips (but of course, it can be).

Left of the dining table is a set of sliding doors, opening up onto a walkway — perhaps my favourite feature here — where the bulwark can be lowered into a panoramic terrace for you to dip your feet into the water. On the top deck flybridge, you’ll find an al fresco dining area and bar, making this a pretty sweet spot for sunset cocktails.

In the back, a new operating system, patented by Ferretti Group, allows the garage door to be tilted down diagonally to create a ‘beach club’ of sorts at water level. As this happens, the garage is flooded so you can launch the tender and jet-ski. In addition to water activities, it makes for a nice area for guests to relax in the water as well.

As is the case with brand new yachts, the decoration and design is completely customisable, and takes around under a year from order to delivery. For the standard configuration with five cabins and crew, it will set you back a cool €8,370,000 (approx. HK$72.4 million), excluding delivery. If you’ve got deep pockets, days out in the sun on the Corsaro will no doubt wow friends and colleagues: it’s family-friendly, incredibly versatile, luxurious and liveable at the same time — perhaps your only pain would be to choose from which of the excellent vantage points you’d want to indulge during cocktail hour.

For more information, head to the Riva Yachts website.