Let's go to Capri!
Open boats! Delightfully elegant and shamelessly impractical, luxurious or minimalist, yet always among the most thrilling objects of desire and a true adornment of the Italian Riviera. The French Riviera too, for that matter—and any other place where развитая яхтенная инфраструктура makes it possible to indulge in unapologetic hedonism.
Comfortable marinas, cosy bays, fashionable restaurants, and, of course, a прекрасный климат naturally inspire the creation of “marine convertibles” for the dolce vita. Let the Dutch and Scandinavians worry about bad weather and autonomy—they were simply not blessed with such conditions.
It would be wrong to assume that Italian yacht builders care about nothing but design. At least not Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, founders of Officina Italiana Design and the creators of the new Riva 58’ Capri – as well as every Riva model over the past three decades. Beyond elegance, the legendary status of their boats is built on ergonomics, performance, and meticulous attention to detail.
Despite an extensive model range that includes very large yachts, relatively small open models have always been Riva’s signature, a shipyard with a history dating back to 1842. Ever since the 1950s, when Carlo Riva made millionaires, movie stars, and celebrities of all kinds covet his open “gentlemen’s boats", this type of vessel has become a recognised symbol of the good life. That cinematic image does come at a price—namely, certain compromises in comfort dictated by size and open architecture. But with unparalleled experience in building such boats, Riva masterfully addresses these challenges, and the new model proves it.
The Riva 58’ Capri, officially presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2025, embodies all the brand’s hallmarks: stunning looks, impressive performance, and onboard comfort. For a boat in this class, that combination may even sound overly ambitious… Let’s take a closer look.
The shipyard openly describes Capri as an evolution of the 56-foot Rivale, one of Riva’s most iconic yachts. Don’t be misled by the different numbers in their names: both share the same length of 17.27 metres (56 feet). This suggests they are built on the same hull. The “58” designation may simply exist to avoid confusion within the lineup—though, in truth, the two are impossible to mix up. While the Rivale is a classic open boat, where the cockpit can only be optionally protected by a light canopy (or left completely open), the Capri is a coupe-style boat, open only at the stern. Its windscreen flows seamlessly into a hard top covering the entire cockpit. In this respect, the Capri’s style—finished in “shark grey” with charcoal-black accents—draws inspiration from the larger 68-foot Riva Diable, another major market success. To preserve a sense of openness, however, the hardtop’s sides echo the Rivale’s lines, remaining unglazed at the top.
Beyond its more modern and aggressive styling, sculpted lines, and enhanced comfort, this superstructure design also offers aerodynamic advantages. With twin MAN V8 diesel engines producing 1,000 hp each, the Riva 58’ Capri easily reaches a cruising speed of 27 knots and a top speed of 33 knots. Optional 1,200 hp engines can push it up to 37 knots, with cruising speeds of 31–32 knots. While similar figures are achieved by the Rivale, it’s worth noting that the Capri is heavier due to its more substantial superstructure and sits deeper in the water—yet it loses none of its lively character.
Where the Capri clearly excels is comfort—both below deck and in the cockpit, which, as expected on an open boat, serves as the social heart of life onboard.
Under the shade of the hardtop, there is ample space to move around without losing the connection to the sea. In addition to the open stern and the side cutouts mentioned earlier, the cockpit also features a large electrically operated sunroof.
Along the starboard side stretches a bar counter with a sink, ice maker, and, optionally, a refrigerator. Opposite is a dining area with a transformable table and sofas.
Forward, also on the starboard side, is a luxurious helm station equipped with two Simrad touchscreen displays, 12 and 15 inches. If that’s not enough, an additional 12-inch screen can be added, providing comprehensive control over the yacht and all its onboard systems.
There are two spacious sunbathing areas: one on the foredeck (which can be shaded with a canopy) and another at the stern of the cockpit, complemented by a forward-facing seat. Beneath it lies a tender garage capable of housing a 3.3-metre Williams 325 TurboJet, designed for five people.
The Riva Capri itself accommodates the same number for overnight stays, thanks to three cabins on the lower deck.
The master cabin, with a transverse bed, is located aft; a spacious VIP double cabin sits in the bow; and along the port side there is an additional cabin with its own bathroom. In the standard layout, it is a single cabin intended for the captain—ideal for owners who prefer not to handle the yacht themselves. Optionally, it can be converted into a double cabin with bunk beds, allowing space for two more guests. This alternative suits those who prefer privacy onboard but enjoy taking the helm themselves.
For the Riva 58’ Capri, the latter option seems optimal. The boat is not so large as to make handling difficult.
Yet, like an open sports car, it delivers immense pleasure at the helm—something you might well want to keep entirely to yourself.
