VESSEL REVIEW | Sairu – 55-metre custom yacht blends sophistication, privacy and advanced technology

Riva, the vessel manufacturing division of Italy’s Ferretti Group, has handed over a new custom superyacht.

Sairu is the first in a new class of yacht built by Riva to a design developed by Officina Italiana Design.

The all-aluminium newbuild has an LOA of 54.83 metres (179.9 feet), a beam of 9.18 metres (30.1 feet), and a gross tonnage of just under 500. Stassi Anastassov, CEO of the Ferretti Group, said the new yacht was developed to possess “a balanced blend of sportiness and sophistication.”

The yacht spans four decks with large floor-to-ceiling windows and can house up to 10 guests in four cabins and a master suite at the bow on the main deck. The crew’s quarters meanwhile consist of five double cabins and a captain’s cabin located next to the helm station. The main, upper, and lower decks are connected by a central lift.

The onboard layout has been carefully planned to ensure maximum privacy and discreet service, with completely separate pathways for guests and crew. The interiors feature a blend of natural teak, fine marble, leather-clad surfaces, and polished steel detailing. Italiana Design said the result is a sophisticated, harmonious ambiance characterised by elegant contrasts of colour and texture that are integrated into the style featured on every deck.

Full range of amenities plus dedicated walkways and electric sliding doors

Italiana Design said the concept behind Sairu’s design is seamless connection with the water, expressed through a sequence of generous, panoramic settings that establish a natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The aft beach area has a pool measuring four by two metres (13 by 6.6 feet) in the centre. The pool features white ceramic tiles, two freshwater tanks and a heating system, and is designed to remain full even when the yacht is underway, eliminating the need to empty and refill it for short transfers, thus simplifying management and ensuring maximum availability for use.

On either side of the beach area, two fold-out bulwarks extend the available deck space by an additional 20 square metres (200 square feet), bringing the total in the beach area to over 60 square metres (600 square feet). This area can also be shaded when necessary by deploying an awning with a semi-automatic tensioning system, also featured at the stern and bow of the upper and sun decks.

Completing the area is a gym enclosed by tinted glass and accessed through an upward-opening glass-clad panel. This space features an exercise bike and a treadmill, plus a generous storage area and a day head, as well as providing direct access to the engine room forward on the starboard side.

Six steps lead up to the cockpit on the main deck, which extends across 45 square metres (480 square feet) and is furnished with a large forward-facing sofa complete with chaise longues, freestanding armchairs, a storage unit on the port side colour-coordinated with the hull, and a bar opposite fitted with a fridge, ice maker and sink.

The external staircase leading to the upper deck is on the port side of the cockpit, while the second vertical access point to the engine room is located at the start of the port walkway. The cockpit also features two fold-out bulwarks of about 6.6 square metres (71 square feet) each. These terraces that seem to float above the water can also be left open when underway.

A large electrically operated sliding door leads from the cockpit to the main salon, a bright and sophisticated setting split between the living area aft and a dining space forward. The two areas are also distinguished by the use of different materials for both the ceilings and the floors. Two full-height storage units, featuring identical marble niches with marble-clad bases, flank the entrance to the main salon.

Immediately after the salon is the living area, which is furnished with a large L-shaped sofa upholstered in light-coloured fabric and two white leather armchairs, plus a pouffe in the centre. Its oak floor continues into the dining area, where the large table seating ten stands on a Bianco Rhino marble platform. The table is lit by a crystal chandelier, while behind it a TV drops down from a compartment hidden in the ceiling, blending seamlessly into the interior design.

The forward bulkhead, made up of two vertical storage units clad in Sahara Noir marble, with a natural teak panel in the centre designed to display a work of art, separates the salon from the rest of the main deck.

On the starboard side, an automatic sliding door leads to the lobby on the main deck, which acts as the central hub for the entire vessel. This area can also be entered from the quay when the yacht is moored alongside. There is also a day head with a black marble sink and wood-clad walls.

The corridor on the starboard side leads forward to the master suite, which is entered through a door clad entirely in white leather on the lobby side and black marble on the cabin side. Inside the entrance to the suite is an office area featuring a black leather vanity desk under the large starboard window and a wardrobe covering the entire wall clad in brown leather, plus recessed marble niches on the port side.

An automatic sliding double door leads into the master cabin, which spans the yacht’s entire beam. On the walls are natural teak and marble panels while a large mirror-covered section of the front wall conceals a built-in 65-inch TV framed between two marble panels.

The master cabin boasts two large windows in the hull that open electrically to provide natural ventilation.

In the forward section of the cabin, two large walk-in closets lead to the master bathroom, which features a spacious hydro-massage shower with chromotherapy clad entirely in Bianco Rhino marble, double Sahara Noir basins and natural teak furnishings, complemented by a large mirror with storage that also conceals a small TV.

An electric sliding door in the main salon leads to the pantry, which contains all the necessary appliances, including a full-height wine cabinet. From here, independent staircases provide access to all the service areas on the various decks, while continuing forward leads to the galley, which is illuminated by a large window and, in the configuration chosen by the owner, comprehensively equipped with professional equipment, including two Rational ovens, two refrigerators and two freezers. The work island in the centre of the kitchen has a sliding top and over it is a structure with containers and infrared lamps, designed for quick, efficient plating by the chef and service by the crew.

Alongside the induction hob is a teppanyaki grill and an additional storage area.

A central corridor forward leads to the crew quarters on the lower deck, while a swing door connects the service corridor to the main lobby for direct, discreet access to the owner’s area.

The lower deck can be accessed from the main deck via the central lift or an elegant teak-clad staircase with carpeted steps, white leather-upholstered walls and brown leather handrails. The staircase leads to the lobby on the lower deck and the four guest cabins.

The four cabins for guests – two VIP and two guest cabins in a mirror-image layout, all with double beds and en suite bathrooms – are designed for comfort and privacy. The starboard guest cabin forward is fitted with a system that converts the double bed into two singles for flexibility. The furnishings reprise the palette of materials featured in the master suite: black leather beds, light-coloured carpeting, wardrobes with leather-clad doors and stainless-steel handles, and pale leather ceilings with natural teak frames. All the cabins are also furnished with a desk under the TV that converts into a vanity table.

The crew quarters are situated forward of the guest areas. Completely separate, they include a crew mess with dinette and small galley, a laundry station with two pairs of Miele professional washing and drying machines, and five double cabins with en suite bathrooms.

Reached from the main deck lobby, the upper deck is designed as a space for socialising and entertainment, coordinated seamlessly with the other settings and prioritising close connection with the water. A small lobby provides access to the various areas on the deck, with the sky lounge aft – entered through an automatic sliding door – and the service day head forward. An automatic glass door also opens onto the external walkway on the starboard side, providing an alternative route to the upper deck cockpit without needing to cross the sky lounge, thus ensuring its complete privacy.

The sky lounge is configured as an elegant setting featuring a large L-shaped sofa upholstered in light-coloured fabric and a white leather armchair arranged around a generously sized pouffe. A large 75-inch screen on the forward wall is framed on either side by two storage units with black marble doors, and below by another storage unit, also decorated with leather detailing that reprises the main deck.

The aft section of the sky lounge features two floor-to-ceiling cabinets with teak-clad niches designed to display works of art. From here, the large automatic sliding door opens onto the outdoor area. To the left of the TV, an automatic sliding door leads to the service pantry on the upper deck. Here there is a second wine cabinet, a refrigerator, an ice maker and a dishwasher, while further forward past the audio-video rack is the wheelhouse.

The helm station features two black leather pilot seats and finished with sophisticated materials such as leather and steel, paired with matte black technical surfaces made from Fenix laminate.

The wheelhouse on the starboard side communicates directly with the captain’s cabin, which is furnished with a queen-size bed, ample storage space, a desk and an en suite bathroom with a marble basin.

The large outdoor area aft of the sky lounge is divided into a lounge area furnished with a sofa and armchairs and an al fresco dining area with a large table seating ten people, sheltered by fixed side windscreens masterfully integrated into the hull’s stern extensions.

From the aft cockpit on the upper deck, two side walkways lead respectively to the upper deck lobby on the starboard side and, on the port side, to the spacious, state-of-the-art lounge area located forward of the wheelhouse. This layout makes it possible to create a continuous walkway along the entire length of the deck, resulting in smooth flow around the perimeter and making it easier for the crew to do their work without interfering with guests’ movements.

Italiana Design said one of the entire project’s most innovative solutions is the bow area on the upper deck. In addition to the large central C-shaped sofa, the area features two large sun sofas on either side, which are fitted with a hinge mechanism and can be raised to reveal the semi covered technical area beneath, used to launch and haul up the water toys (a Williams 625 tender, two personal watercraft and any other equipment) and equipped with a built-in crane that also serves as a navigation mast.

With a surface area of over 100 square metres (1,000 square feet), the sun deck is completely customised with a layout split into three large functional areas. The stern area features two full-custom sun loungers and a whirlpool equipped with the same system used for the pool in the beach area, allowing it to remain filled with water even when the yacht is underway.

The central lounge area is furnished with two large L-shaped sofas – also custom-built – plus two coffee tables and armchairs. The dining area forward, shaded by the hard top and with a large table seating ten people, is framed between storage units aft and a large bar forward. Equipped with refrigerators, an ice maker and a sink, the bar can be reached directly by the crew via a service staircase connecting the sun deck with the pantry on the upper deck. The staircase reserved for guests leading to the sun deck is aft, keeping crew and guest flows separate here as is the case with other areas of the vessel.

All the furnishings on the sun deck were custom-designed by Italiana Design, featuring sofas and sun loungers that are colour-coordinated with the hull. Completing the space is a 55-inch TV that can be rotated through 180 degrees and is concealed inside the storage unit on the port side of the dining area.

The wheelhouse is equipped with two electric rudders that can operate independently for improved manoeuvrability, energy efficiency, and integration with the yacht’s digital systems.

Comfort when underway and at anchor is ensured by a sophisticated system made up of four Naiad Dynamics electric stabiliser fins, designed to significantly reduce rolling and improve comfort in all operating conditions. The configuration chosen over a two-fin solution also helps keep the yacht’s draught low, up to a maximum of just 2.25 metres (7.38 feet).

Comprehensive electronics suite coupled with propulsion delivering high performance

The yacht is fitted with two MTU 12V2000 M96L engines, each rated at 1,432 kW (1,920 hp), and an optimised shaft line with six-blade, fixed-pitch propellers. Through this configuration, the yacht can achieve a top speed of 18 knots and a range of about 3,600 nautical miles at 11 knots.

The yacht’s power supply is provided by two Zenoro generators, each rated at 118 kW, integrated with a shore power source connected to a 150kVA frequency converter with a harmonic filter. The designer said this solution ensures that the power available on board is of the highest quality and stability in any port worldwide.

The generously sized engine room is also on the lower deck, designed with a focus on ergonomics and easy access to the engines and onboard systems.

The entire system is managed and supervised by a sophisticated automation system that monitors and controls most of the onboard systems in real time. As part of this architecture, the power management system automatically optimises the generation and distribution of electric power, ensuring operational continuity, energy efficiency and full availability of the power needed in all cruising and usage conditions.

Sairu is equipped with an advanced communication infrastructure that integrates traditional TVSAT antennas with the latest Starlink satellite broadband systems and is also OneWeb ready, ensuring high transmission speeds, improved signal stability and extremely reliable global coverage.

Supporting this digital infrastructure, the superyacht is equipped with an integrated cybersecurity system, which is based on a professional firewall platform and is designed to protect onboard networks, data and systems from unauthorised access. The architecture also envisages the implementation of additional layers of security and redundancy based on the owner’s specific needs.

The yacht features a home automation and entertainment system developed by VideoWorks. Using dedicated mobile devices, guests can control the lighting, personal mood settings, audio-visual systems and a wide range of on-board functions through a hi-tech user interface that is intuitive and closely aligned with the comfort and elegance of the settings. The TV screens can also display real-time images from the outdoor cameras and nautical charts.

The helm station is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation systems and a fully integrated console featuring navcom equipment, steering, communication and safety systems, and a full ECDIS system with integrated digital charts for efficient, safe navigation. The layout is dominated by a central 44-inch stretch display flanked by two 27-inch monitors. The console also features three 24-inch touchscreens, with two panels on either side covering the analogue instruments, followed by two support surfaces with pull-out desks.

Sairu is registered to the British Virgin Islands and is classed by Lloyd’s Register with the annotation LR ✠100 A1 SSC Yacht Mono G6 [✠] LMC and Statement of Compliance REG Yacht Code Part A.