DARK HORSE is a 29 metre Riva, an Italian motor yacht delivered in 2018 by a yard whose name has stood for speed and clean design for generations. The Riva look is unmistakable, a low profile, a long grey hull and a sharp, purposeful line, and she pairs that styling with a bright, contemporary interior and decks laid out for the sun. For a family or a group of friends who want pace, polish and real space across five cabins, she is a handsome and capable size in the popular thirty metre class.
Her point of difference is the way she blends speed with comfort. A deep planing hull lets her move quickly between anchorages when the day calls for it, yet she settles into a calm, easy boat the moment the anchor is down. That balance is the whole idea of her, a yacht that can cover ground in the morning and turn a long stretch of coast into a short one, then become a quiet platform for swimming and lunch by early afternoon.
Her decks give the party a choice through the day. The main aft cockpit sits level with the sea as a shaded lounge with soft sofas and low tables on warm teak, opening straight into the salon through sliding glass, while forward a private sun and dining area runs across the bow with the water close on three sides. Sun forward or shade aft, the two ends of the yacht suit the morning and the afternoon, and a full set of water toys launches off the stern.
Inside, the main deck is a bright, open living space. The salon carries a long pale sofa on light timber under wide glazing that holds the sea in view along both sides, with a formal dining area set within the same deck. The finish throughout is soft and current, warm wood and calm upholstery kept simple so the light and the water do the work, and the living room runs out to the aft cockpit the moment she settles.
Accommodation is for ten guests across five cabins, each with its own bathroom. The master is a full beam double set low in the hull with large hull windows, warm joinery and a seating area alongside, while a VIP double, two further doubles and a twin complete the layout below decks. The mix suits two couples travelling together as easily as a family with children, with the master and VIP giving the two lead cabins real space of their own.
Her cruising ground is the western Mediterranean, and she is well matched to it. With her turn of speed the crossings are easy, from the calas and clear water of the coast to the harbours that come alive after dark, and a crew of five look after ten guests aboard. Fast, good looking and comfortable in equal measure, DARK HORSE offers a stylish and easy way to cruise one of the finest grounds in the world from 95,000 euros a week.
