Rihanna brings some colour to the Med in a loud cut-out swimsuit as she sets sail on £200,000-a-week luxury yacht

By Sarah Fitzmaurice and Emily Sheridan

Last updated at 11:44 PM on 22nd August 2011

She named her last album Loud after her flamboyant personality and dress sense.

So even when Rihanna is off-duty on a holiday with friends, she can be relied on wear the most eye-catching swimwear available.

As she set sail off the coast of the French Riviera in a £200,000-a-week luxury yacht, the 23-year-old singer showed off her famous figure in a multi-coloured swimsuit with large cut-out panels.

Making a statement: Rihanna shows off figure in a multi-coloured cut-out swimsuit as she relaxes onboard the Italian luxury yacht Latitude off the coast of the French Riviera

With her newly-brunette hair down and wild, the singer looked in high spirits as she laughed and joked on board the rented, 34ft Latitude Benetti yacht.

When she began to feel a little cool in the shade, she chucked on a black Bob Marley T-shirt.

Having sent a speedboat out to collect friends from nearby St Tropez, Rihanna looked thrilled when she saw her pals approaching the boat and was spotted waving wildly at them.

This is the life: Rihanna checks out the view from one of the yacht's five decks

Following two energetic performances at the V Festival in England over the weekend, no doubt the Barbadian star was looking forward to some rest and relaxation.

Having arrived in France last night, Rihanna has chartered the exclusive vessel, which includes accommodation for up to 12 people, two dressing rooms, massage and beauty salons, five decks for sunbathing and dining.

Earlier today, she was seen climbing into a speedboat to take her Latitude from the Saint Laurent Du Var port near Nice.

Deck life: Rihanna shares a joke with her friends in the alfresco lounge

Yo! Rihanna waves to some friends as they approach her yacht

Ahead of her swimsuit show, she opted for a loose-fitting tribal print maxi skirt with a small strip bandeau top.

The singer dressed up her outfit with a statement tasselled necklace, a gold cuff and oversized rings, and carried a pair of high Louboutin heels in her hand as she climbed into the taxi boat.

Other stars currently holidaying on yachts in the area include Sir Elton John and Lord Sugar.

While Rihanna is all set for a trip of blazing sun, beautiful sea water and opulence in abundance she probably feels she deserves it after her hard work on stage at V Festival.

Luxury: Rihanna has chartered the Italian Benetti yacht Latitude, which includes six cabins and an in-house beauty salon, for £200,000-a-week

The Umbrella singer showed off her incredible figure in different outfits for the Chelmsford and Staffordshire legs of the festival but kept a theme with super short ensembles that displayed her perfect legs.

On Saturday performing at the north site Rihanna took to the stage in eye-wateringly tiny denim shorts which she teamed with a cropped top with a Union Flag print.

And while she donned a different outfit for her performance at the Essex venue on Sunday it was much of the same with the star showing off plenty of leg in a pair of high waisted black shorts and a tied denim cut off shirt.

Holiday time: The 23-year-old singer arrived at Saint Lauren Du Var port waiting for a tender to start a holiday in the South of France

The Barbadian beauty has amassed more than 7million Twitter followers and she thanked her fans yesterday.

She gushed: ‘#7millifollowers I love you! And welcome to all my new followers...’

Following her performance on Sunday she tweeted: ‘#VFESTDay2 FAWESOME! Love u #uKnavy

The day before she had posted: ‘#VFESTDay1 I LOVE YOU!!! 80'000 screaming rockstars!!! I can't wait to see Eminem!!!!’

Helping hands: There were plenty of men available to help the Barbadian beauty into the tender to head out to her yacht

Snap happy: Once safely in the small boat Rihanna and her two female friends couldn't wait to document the moment with the help of a male member of staff

Sharing the love: The singer pouted at photographers as the boat was getting ready to leave for the yacht in the port in Nice

Rihanna will now have a break from her long-running tour promoting her album Loud, before playing another festival in Brazil next month.
She's been making the most of her time in the UK so far however, and spent Friday at the official UK launch of her perfume Reb'l Fleur.
As part of the promotion, she also personally met 400 of her fans at London's House Of Fraser flagship Oxford Street branch.