Italian shipyard Riva Yacht has a habit on doing things on its own schedule. New boats appear from Sarnico only when someone decides the moment feels right, not when the calendar demands it.
That’s exactly how the new Riva Cento showed up a few days before Christmas: calm, measured, already comfortable in its skin, and ready to make a big impression.
Only twelve of these beauties will ever exist. A fixed number. Enough to feel intentional, but also few enough to feel very personal. This is an open yacht built for people who care about scarcity but care more about movement.
The first impression comes fast. Low profile. Long lines. A posture that suggests speed even before the engines come alive. At 11.88 meters with a 3.5-meter beam, the proportions sit right. Athletic without strain. Balanced without softness. The hull looks ready to lean forward.
The yacht’s sleek design lines have been imagined by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta. The same people who’ve shaped Riva yachts for decades, working closely with the Strategic Product Committee led by Piero Ferrari and Ferretti’s brilliant engineering team to create magic on waves once again.
Each Cento hull leaves the shipyard from Sarnico in one of two finishes.
You either have a gorgeous Fireworks Black look that’s all depth and drama, or light grey aluminum that’s a bit more cool and modern, the kind of color that holds its own under hard sun. Inside the cockpit, Riva’s all new Cento has a leather upholstery with a ribbed texture, like those luxurious mid-century automotive interiors. Biscuit shades warm the space, while aquamarine and white elements sharpen it. Both feel honest.
The stern sets the tone. An electro-hydraulic transom opens and the boat shifts its stance. Mahogany steps descend toward the water. Two chaises longues settle at sea level. Cushions detach, sunbeds take shape, and the boundary between boat and water softens. The scene invites pause.
Storage stays invisible until needed. Fenders live to port. A Seabob rests to starboard. A retractable gangway slides out cleanly from the transom. Underwater lights glow with restraint, offering guidance and atmosphere when the day winds down.
Midship carries the rhythm forward. A broad sunpad waits ahead of the cockpit, cup holders built in because reality matters. The cockpit wraps around a stainless-steel table finished in lacquered mahogany. The table lowers flush and the space transforms, shifting easily from gathering to lounging. Shade arrives through a retractable bimini integrated into the structure, then disappears again when the light softens.
Practical details stay quietly competent. Life jackets sit where hands expect them. A dedicated shoe drawer saves ankles and patience. Between cockpit and helm, the furniture earns its place. A compact hosting station hides a refrigerator, sink, worktop, and insulated cooler. Drinks stay cold. Preparation stays contained.
The helm sharpens the focus. Two pilot seats to port. A single co-pilot seat to starboard. Large displays present information cleanly and without noise. Navigation, engines, stabilization, sound—everything sits where instinct reaches. Maneuvering flows through a Volvo Penta joystick, supported by an electric bow thruster. Close quarters feel composed. The searchlight mounted on the windscreen carries a quiet nod to Riva’s lineage, familiar to anyone who’s spent time around an Aquarama.
Along the hull, a polished mahogany insert framed in steel replaces the traditional air-intake grille. The Riva name appears alongside a trail of stars, subtle and precise. A detail for those who slow down long enough to notice.
Below deck, the atmosphere opens up. Natural light finds its way inside through expanded windows and a redesigned skylight. A galley sits to starboard near the entrance. To port, a bathroom with a separate shower adds real comfort. Forward, a large sofa follows the curve of the hull and converts into a double bed with a stored panel. Overnight stays feel planned rather than improvised.
Power comes from twin Volvo Penta D6 440 Aquamatic Duoprop DPI engines. Top speed reaches 40 knots. Cruising settles around 31. The drives manage trim automatically, keeping the ride smooth and responsive. A Seakeeper NG6 stabilizer also comes in as standard, steadying the boat both at anchor and underway.
The Cento made its public debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2025. The setting fit. Refined. Salt in the air. Conversations drifting between elegance and excess.
This yacht lives somewhere quieter than that. It lives in early departures. Long afternoons. Evenings when the engines cool and the water goes flat.
Twelve hulls. No revisions.
That’s the introduction. Everything else happens once the lines come off.
