Sairu: icon of the future by Riva Yachts

Italian Riva best known for building small yachts and motor boats continues to conquer the superyacht segment 

The Riva 54Metri, which is currently the yard’s largest model, has inherited the title of flagship from the Riva 50Metri. However, only for some time, as the yard is set to expand its fleet in the near future with the even larger Riva 70Metri scheduled for launch in 2028. 

This kind of breakthrough would hardly have been possible if Riva had not joined the Ferretti Group, a leader not only in Italy but worldwide. This move provided Riva with access to cutting-edge technology and the opportunity to diversify its design approaches, fuelling the company's development and desire to expand its model range. 

In 2014, the Riva Superyacht Division was established, and just four years later the yard launched the first superyacht in its history spanning over a century and a half, the 50-metre Riva 50Metri Race, later renamed Kinship. 

The brand enthusiasts embraced the fact that this legendary brand managed to preserve the shipyard’s heritage while combining the luxury of a large vessel with the ease of handling and maneuverability characteristic of classic Riva runabouts. Three Riva 50Metri units have already been built, spurring the shipyard to further growth. So how is the new Riva 54Metri set to surprise the public?

Style scaling 

Just like her predecessors, the boat is the result of collaboration between the Product Strategy Committee, the Ferretti Group Engineering Department and Officina Italiana Design that has been the exclusive designer of the entire Riva range for 30 years.

The designers’ goal was to “reimagine the brand’s classic stylistic hallmarks on a monumental scale, without affecting the formal integrity that makes every Riva immediately recognisable".

The creative duo of Sergio Beretta, head of Officina Italiana Design, and the studio’s chief designer, Mauro Micheli, has once again risen to the challenge brilliantly. An elegant silhouette, balanced proportions and flawless grace in every line and curve create a stunningly harmonious look. The combination of Moon Grey, London Grey and Bright Black shades, enhanced by polished steel detailing and the unmistakable aquamarine waterline add sporty chic to the boat’s sculptural silhouette. The pattern of the glazing along with the black hardtop and radar masts reinforce the impression of rapid movement even when the vessel is at anchor. 

“Riva 54Metri is a sleek and elegant yacht: a balanced blend of sportiness and sophistication. She achieves a unique equilibrium between volumes, proportions and masses, becoming an almost sculptural object. A few distinctive features – such as the forward sweep of the deckhouse and windscreen, or the angled lines of the stern section echoed by the steel handrails on the upper decks – give this yacht a strong identity that is instantly recognisable as part of the Riva world,” commented Mauro Micheli, Chief Designer, and Sergio Beretta, CEO at Officina Italiana Design. 

Connection with the sea 

The Riva 54Metri’s design concept implies seamless connection with the environment, so there are a lot of panoramic settings: from the large floor-to-ceiling windows and multiple outdoor areas to the fold-out bulwarks that extend the beach area and cockpit. 

One of the most impressive spaces on board is the sundeck, which is truly huge with an area of 100 sq.m. It is divided into several functional areas. There is a bar counter with forward-facing chairs, and that is where the phrase "intoxicating sense of freedom" takes on its real meaning as the yacht slices through the waves at a speed of 18 knots! 

There is a dining area for ten shaded by the hard top, followed by two large L-shaped sofas and a 55-inch TV concealed inside the storage unit between them that can be rotated through 180 degrees. The aft part of the sun deck is home to generous custom-made (like all the furniture on board) sun loungers with hinge mechanisms and a square jacuzzi. 

One can relax in the sun and have al fresco meals on the upper deck, too. The innovative construction of the foredeck that is slightly lowered not to see the technical area, where there are mooring fittings and a built-in crane for launching the Williams 625 and two jet skis that are stored here.

It is not only the helmsman who can enjoy an excellent view from behind the sloping wheelhouse glass, but also guests relaxing in the upper saloon. The cutouts with railings have been incorporated into the bulwarks specifically for this purpose (mirroring the arrangement opposite the main saloon windows one deck below). The aft terrace, partially shaded by the sundeck overhangs and shielded at the sides by windbreaks, is equipped with a large table, a seating area with a sofa and a mini-galley. 

However, the focal point on board the Sairu is certainly the aft section of the main deck. The 45-square-meter cockpit with a seating area and an American bar features two staircases leading to the 42.5-square-meter beach club equipped with sun loungers and a second pool measuring 4 by 2 meters. One of the Riva 54Metri’s advantages is that there are fold-out bulwarks not only at the beach area level, but also the cockpit, and they add 20 and 13.2 sq.m to them respectively. 

In addition, there is a transformer swim platform with an extra-wide walkway. It can be both lowered into the water and raised above the deck serving as a convenient passenger gangway for access to piers of any height. 

Completing the beach area is a gym concealed behind a tinted glass and accessed through an upward-opening glass-clad panel. One can raise the panel to enjoy the fresh morning breeze or lower it and switch on air-conditioning on a hot day. 

Interior spaces 

With a length of 54.83 m (52.14 m LAW), a beam of 9.18 m and a draft of 2.23 m, the Sairu’s light displacement is 400 tons, and her internal volume is 499 GT.

Firstly, there is enough space for the owner to enjoy all the benefits of a large yacht. Secondly, a yacht under 500 GT requires lower costs for mooring, fuel and maintenance and simplifies registration, operation and crew certification. In other words, the Riva 54Metri strikes the perfect balance between creating luxurious conditions and operational costs.

Across the four decks of the vessel there are two saloons, five guest suites and six crew cabins (five double below and a captain’s next to the wheelhouse). All the decks are connected with a lift and a grand staircase, and there are separate pathways for the crew, so that service and guest flows would not cross.   

The upper saloon mentioned above and referred to as the ‘skylounge’ can also be used as a cinema (there is a 75-inch screen on the forward wall), an entertainment area and even an exhibition area, as there are two floor-to-ceiling cabinets with teak-clad niches designed to display works of art. 

A more formal saloon is divided into a dining area and a lounge. As you enter it from the cockpit, you can see a large L-shaped sofa, two white leather armchairs, plus a pouffe in the centre. 

The oak floor continues into the dining area, where there is a large table for ten, with a contrasting Sahara Noir top and Poliform chairs, standing on a Bianco Rhino marble platform. Reinforced by the ceiling pattern and the crystal chandelier, the space gets visually zoned without any partitions. The 65-inch TV drops down from a compartment hidden in the ceiling, blending seamlessly into the interior design.

Closer to the bow to port, there is a galley equipped at a decent restaurant level, with two Rational ovens, two refrigerators and two freezers. The work island in the centre of the kitchen has a sliding top, a structure with containers and an additional storage area, including a wine cabinet. 

To the right of the lift lobby there is an entrance to the owner’s area, occupying the entire forward section of the main deck. Just beyond the entrance there is a workspace featuring a large window, a black leather desk, and a bookcase. 

Automatic sliding doors lead into the master cabin, which is a “wonderful oasis of relaxation. The leather-upholstered king-size bed is pointed up by a headboard featuring a marble insert and black leather bedside tables, while a large mirror-covered section of the front wall conceals a built-in 65-inch TV.

By the vast window to port there is a sofa upholstered in light fabric and there are two white fabric armchairs to its right. In the forward section of the cabin, there are two large walk-in closets and a master bathroom, which features a spacious hydro-massage shower with chromotherapy clad in Bianco Rhino marble.

Below deck, there are four guest cabins: two VIP and two guest cabins in a mirror-image layout, one of which is fitted with a system that converts the double bed into two singles.

The furnishings feature the same palette of materials as the owner’s area: black leather beds, light-coloured carpeting, wardrobes with leather-clad doors and stainless-steel handles, and pale leather ceilings with natural teak frames. The desk under the 55-inch TV can be transformed into a vanity table. 

The crew cabins forward are completely separate from the guest area and feature a galley and a laundry station with two pairs of Miele professional washing and drying machines. 

Technical peculiarities

The all-aluminium yacht is powered by twin MTU 12V2000 M96L engines of 1,432 kW each and an optimised shaft line with six-blade fixed-pitch propellers. Her top speed is 8 knots, and she boasts a range of around 3,600 nautical miles at 11 knots. Four Naiad Dynamics electric stabilisers ensure comfort on board. 

The Sairu’s communication infrastructure integrates traditional TVSAT antennas with the latest Starlink satellite broadband systems and is also OneWeb ready, ensuring reliable global coverage. In addition, the superyacht is equipped with an integrated cybersecurity system that envisages the implementation of additional layers of security and redundancy based on the owner’s specific needs. 

New level

Stassi Anastassov, who was appointed Ferretti Group Global Chief Executive Officer in May 2026, has summarized the results of work on the boat and the model's prospects succinctly: 

“The Riva 54Metri is much more than the largest Riva ever built. It is the expression of over 180 years of craftsmanship, innovation and an uncompromising pursuit of beauty. What makes Riva unique is its ability to respect its extraordinary heritage without ever becoming captive to it. We are proud of the icons that have shaped our history, but our responsibility is to create the icons of the future. This yacht embodies that philosophy. It carries the timeless elegance that has defined Riva for generations, while setting new standards in design, technology, comfort and the onboard experience. Every great brand must honor its past. The very best brands use that past as a foundation to build an even greater future. The Riva 54Metri is a powerful reminder that the best chapters of this remarkable story are still being written.” 

To conclude, one can say that the elegant, innovative and well-thought-out Riva 54Metri raises the iconic shipyard’s bar even higher and is poised to become a bestseller, enabling it to establish a foothold in the superyacht segment.