63’ Virtus- Riva, The largest open is born

by Andrea Biondi on 11 Jul 2012 Riva, iconic Ferretti Group brand, announces the birth of the new flagship of their open line, featuring racy exteriors with a strong personality: 63’ Virtus, is the largest open yacht produced by the shipyard, characterised by an unmistakable style and a distinctly Mediterranean character.

Celebrating the 170th anniversary of the Riva brand, Ferretti commemorated this milestone with a spectacular event at La Spezia and St Tropez, crowned with the announcement and launch of the new Virtus 63 and the Mythos 122. There is also a specially dedicated website for the anniversary - www.riva170.com

The new model is the product of a close working relationship between Officina Italiana Design, the studio that exclusively designs all yachts in the Riva range, the AYT – Advanced Yacht Technology, the Ferretti Group’s naval research and design centre, and the team of architects and designers at Centro Stile Ferrettigroup. 63’ Virtus has been designed as a sporty yacht, created for owners wishing to experience the sea first hand.

Riva reinterprets the concept of an open yacht with a model featuring a typical Mediterranean style which maintains the unmistakable elegance of all the shipyard’s models: class, refinement and clean lines. These are also found in and on the new 63’ Virtus, flagship of the Riva opens, a model designed to last. Created following the lines of the Vertigo, a classical, highly successful Riva model, 63’ Virtus recaptures the strong character of the Rivale, another Riva open boat which has marked the shipyard’s history, but uses larger spaces which guarantee excellent liveability and total on-board comfort.

The exteriors feature spacious areas which enable owners to enjoy the yacht in the company of their guests, also thanks to two large sundecks, one at bow and one astern, under which the garage for the tender is located. This sociable aspect of the yacht is also extended to the helm area, where the driving seat consists of a three seater sofa, enabling owners to share the pleasure of driving the yacht with their guests.

Moreover, it is protected by a large windshield with a double curve which ensures comfort while cruising. The cockpit is spacious, comfortable and equipped with a fridge, sink and – upon request – a grill. In the cockpit there are three sofas, one of which L-shaped, located on the port hand side, one astern and a third equipped with a system which slides and enables it to move closer to the varnished teak table which has a flip up section. Moreover, the cockpit is covered with a large, electro-hydraulically operated bimini which can also be kept open whilst running.

Typical of Riva, the class and attention to fine detail is evident in the cleats and in the electric winches skilfully concealed to ensure aesthetic fluidity. Painstaking attention has also been paid to creating the functional, well-designed instrument mast in line with the style of all Riva open models.

The interior fittings have been studied in such a way as to attain the very best availability in terms of space and comfort, with a large salon which makes it possible to place a wooden table, able to accommodate up to six in this area, without having to reduce the size of the galley. 63’ Virtus is a yacht featuring contrasts of colour and materials: the alternation between the light shades of the oak and darker ones of the leather, and between the opaque and polished lacquering create a style which gives the new model a further touch of modern style without forgetting the traditional elegance of all Riva yachts.

The master cabin is located portside astern and set slightly lower than the other two, and has been enriched with a bed with a leather stitching finish. The slightly lower position of the cabin makes it possible to use all the space available. The guest cabin, also located port-side midships, features bunk beds, set out in an L-shape which offers a pleasant panoramic view of the surface of the water. The master and VIP cabins, set at bow, both feature en-suite heads, whilst the day head is located opposite the guest cabin.

The harmonious profile and racy lines of the yacht are further emphasised by the large arrow-shaped side windows, which have made so many other Riva models successful and guarantee excellent natural lighting below deck. The unusual features of the hull and teak of the deck and part of the cockpit, together with the many details in stainless steel, contribute to making the 63’ Virtus both modern and sporty.

'Riva is an extraordinary brand, and always manages to innovate, creating unique, cutting-edge models, whilst still maintaining the charm and magic which have characterised it for over 170 years,' said Norberto Ferretti, Chairman of the Group bearing the same name. 'The new 63’ Virtus, with her strong, decisive character combined with the elegance and refined features which are typical of this brand, is the perfect addition to the Riva range.'

'Sporty, sociable and a pleasure to drive. These are the concepts which guided the design of the new Riva open', asserted Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, founders of Officina Italiana Design. 'With 63’ Virtus, we wanted to create a long-lasting yacht, destined to become part of Riva’s history and its great classics.'

'Once again Riva surprises with an open yacht that has a completely modern shape and effect. A boat that the market has long been asking for, the successor of Rivale that gained success and continues to do so, time after time,' says Paola Procopio, Brand Manager Riva. 'We are therefore sure to have the same success with Virtus, as the positive feedback in terms of sales have shown even before its presentation.'

The new Riva 63’ Virtus is also at the cutting-edge for her on-board technological equipment. Featuring twin 1360mhp MAN 12V engines, the new Riva 63’ Virtus delivers an excellent performance, with a top speed of 40.5 knots and a cruise speed of 35 thanks to the tried and tested hull equipped with direct shaft line tunnel propulsion. Her ease of handling and smoothness over the waves are also excellent for this category. The Ferretti Group, and especially the AYT, have specifically worked on matching high performance with comfort and low noise, using innovative silencing systems for the engines.

More at www.ferrettigroup.com