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The new Riva 76 Bahamas debuts at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

The New Riva Bahamas 76Ph: Guido Cantini / SeaSee.com

Breath-taking, jaw-dropping. That’s how we can describe the new Riva 76 Bahamas presented at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. A powerboat that brings together the performance of a genuine open boat with the elegance of a coupé thanks to the extraordinary C-Top, the innovative system invented by the brand which is part of Ferretti Group.

“Written into the 76 Bahamas is Riva’s current DNA: a perfect synthesis of history and tradition, of innovation and technology, of elegance ad performance”, said Alberto Galassi.

And we cannot but agree with the Chief Executive Officer of the Ferretti Group. This model, in fact, embodies all the qualities that have made the Sarnico-based brand one among the most iconic brands of prime yachting industry.

Contemporary lines merge with the charm of timeless elegance and the sophisticated pleasure of technological innovation that finds its highest expression in the already-mentioned C-Top that can transform the boat from a genuine Mediterranean open to a more sheltered sport coupé.

The aerodynamic roof is entirely made of carbon fiber and the same black fiber, with a polished finish, has been used to build the twin pairs of struts that move the apical element that, in coupe mode, covers the main deck and hooks onto carbon windscreen and roll bar. In open mode, on the contrary, the roof positions itself before the windshield and becomes a forward superstructure cover located above the fore dinette.

Every folding mechanism is automated, including the two struts that support the roof when it is positioned forward. The whole open-to-closed process takes just 90 seconds.

Ferretti said this model is a further step in the evolutionary path that led to the launch of the 88-foot Domino Super and the 88-foot Florida, the coupe and convertible yachts born of the same design tradition . Like the previous models, the new Riva 76 Bahamas is the outcome of the collaboration between Officina Italiana Design – the studio founded and headed by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta – and the Ferretti Group Naval Engineering Department.

The hull features aerodynamic, sporty lines enhanced by a particular Shark Grey livrey that contrasts bright-black details. Dark polygonal windows occupy most of the bulwarks, refined by the black profile of the windshield that extends to the roll bar dominated by the Riva logo.

In order to optimize engineering and industrial processing, the engine room is a carry-over from the coupé, as is the layout of the crew cabin, accessed from the cockpit through a compartment built into the sofa on the left. The hatch, the tender launching/landing systems, and the moving features of the beach platform, create a perfect area where both technical and enjoyment needs are fully satisfied. The layout of the cockpit and the helm station, the design of the master suite lower deck living spaces have been custom designed for the Riva 76 Bahamas.

The cockpit envelops the large sun pad the overlooks the transom while a chaise longue on the left and a sofa on the starboard side close the aft area. In the bow, an additional wide guest area offers enough room to enjoy open-air moments, with a sun pad located forward and a cockpit furnished with a large sofa that, as already mentioned, is closed by the C-Top when the 76 Bahamas travels in open mode.

The salon, sheltered behind the windscreen of double-curved laminated glass and polished stainless steel, is the dominant feature on the main deck and, maybe, the most attractive element of this yacht.

The dining area, situated on the starboard side, is furnished with a L-shaped sofa and a table that seats 8 guests comfortably. Opposite, there is a wet bar equipped with sink, grill, refrigerator and ice-maker, and a dormeuse deckchair looking out over the stern.

In the forward section, the helm station extends to starboard. It is equipped with two pilot seats, both flanked by a third seat positioned on the left of the sliding hatch leading to the lower deck.

These seats, custom designed for this Riva model by Officina Italiana Design, are fitted onto a fiberglass body and fixed to a stainless steeel “bridge”, whose particular shape ( it is more similar to a smoking table than to an armchair base) contributes to give a touch of lightness to the overall aesthetic design.

Most of the volume of the lower deck is dedicated to the full-beam master suite that features a forward-facing double bed and an en suite bathroom subdivided into three different areas ( toilet, washbasin and shower) on the left.

At the foot of the sliding hatch, the galley, situated on the starboard side, faces the initial part of the dining area, with a L-shaped sofa, a glass-topped table with stainless steel base that recalls the above-mentioned one used in the helm station and a tv screen positioned in a mirror-panelled bulkhead.

The interior décor of the Riva 76 Bahamas features a “strong Mediterranean, cheerful and summer character”, as Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design has claimed. Its essence is rift-cut white veneer, embellished with obsidian varnish, leather and stainless steel details. On request, the worktops of the galley and bathrooms are in Corian or marble.

Power comes from twin V-drive Man V12 engines, 1,550 hp each, with adjustable-pitch propellers, the same propulsion choice made for the Riva 76 Perseo. With these engines, the boat can reach a top speed of 32 knots and a cruising speed of 28 knots. However, owners can also opt for a more powerful pair of Man V12 engines, 1,800hp each, to enjoy a maximum speed of 37 knots and a cruising speed of 32 knots.

Mauro Micheli, the designer of Officina Italiana Design, has claimed: ” The Riva 76 Bahamas inherits her name from a boat I designed in the ’90s and, even if the length and roof are the same as other models’ ones, she is totally new and with a very distinctive identity”.

Noteworthy is the balanced combination between the shark-grey hull and bleached oak used extensively in the interiors which gives the overall design a touch of freshness. Boasting attractive lines, the 76 Bahamas is a sporty, stylish boat that full embodies the ongoing Riva tradition.