Riva 82 Diva Yacht Debuts With 800+ Square Feet of Open-Air Relaxation

European yacht-show attendees were the first to see the Riva 82 Diva yacht premiere this month. While Americans may need to wait a little longer, buyers should find it worth the wait. The new megayacht model in Riva’s flying-bridge range puts far more alfresco relaxation space at your disposal than you’d expect.

Having launched over the summer, the 83-footer (25.29-meter) bears the styling and luxury-forward creature comforts that have earned Riva renowned. Namely, the superstructure is low-slung and sporty, with lots of stainless steel, while inside rich leather and equally rich woods (a choice of wenge or Italian walnut) combine with black lacquered furnishings. But, the new model amplifies the relaxation experience with a few surprises.

For example—and in a first for Riva—the transom is an open-air beach club with fold-down bulwarks. They’re more than five feet long (1.6 meters) apiece. Use them as toy-boarding areas or simply places to soak your feet in the sea. Taking center stage, a similarly big sunpad awaits, more than 8 feet by 6’6” (2.5 by 2 meters). You can stow watertoys or a tender up to 13 feet (3.95 meters) long beneath it, too.

In a sense, you can consider the beach area aboard the Riva 82 Diva yacht a terraced zone, since the main aft deck has settees with views out over the sunbed and beyond. Overall, this upper chill-out zone encompasses nearly 377 square feet (35 square meters). It can be an adults-only area, or a good place to keep a watchful eye on the kids as they swim off the transom.

Of course, the foredeck is still a relaxation zone, too. A settee lets owners and guests take in the sights of approaching shorelines, connected to sunpads for stretching out. To make accessing the area safer, Riva and Officina Italiana Design, its longtime design partner, fashioned higher gunwales. (On a side note, the gunwales are painted composite mimicking stainless steel.)

The best views, though, come up top, from the 432-square-foot (40-square-meter) flying bridge. It’s a substantial size for an 83-footer. Buyers can arrange the flying bridge as they so wish, with a bar, for instance, and dining area. Space for sunning and lounging areas is available as well, but a second helm is standard. Also standard: glass panels within the carbon fiber hardtop, a nice touch.

From the four staterooms to the saloon, the interior is quintessentially Riva. Blacks, browns, and creams create contrasts, and each stateroom has a leather headboard. Additionally, the VIP stateroom (above) gains extra light from the glass inset in the foredeck, between the two sunpads. Back on the main deck, meanwhile, the saloon and dining area gain a sense of separation thanks to the dining area situated up a step. The build and design team wanted to lend families and friends better panoramic views. The views remain unobstructed even where the stairs lead to the flying bridge, since glass panels flank the treads. And, for less-formal meals, plus easier service, a window-like partition between the galley and dining area (below) can slide up.

Speaking of partitions, the captain has a sliding-glass window to starboard for better visibility when maneuvering. To keep the helm from being too warm or too bright, Riva will install blinds within the expansive windshield on request. Further on request, owners and crew can have Seakeepers an Sleipner stabilizer fins. Humphree dynamic trim interceptors are standard for roll control at anchor and when cruising at the reported 26-knot speed. The standard engine package permits that cruise, along with an anticipated 29-knot top end. The optional package pledges a cruise of 27 and max of 31 knots.