In May 2000, Riva joined the Ferretti Group, one of the world leaders within the sphere of luxury boating. Thus commenced a new season of development. From a blend of technology, boating and design, Riva reinvented a contemporary and modern style, which remains undisputed and recognisable, unique and unmistakeable, both in Riva Iseo’s 23 feet, in Aquariva’s 33 feet and Athena’s 115.
With almost obsessive zeal, Riva’s engineering department began researching and studying new models, integrating Founder Norberto Ferretti’s product knowledge with the design of Mauro Micheli and Officina Italiana Design.
The RIVA Shipyard in Sarnico: a timeless workshop
The bridge from which Carlo Riva enjoyed a view of the lake in all its entirety, and watched the sea trials of his jewels, an ancient tradition which has been handed down from generation to generation, manual, artisan work which has continued ceaselessly for over 168 years.
The Riva shipyard in Sarnico, created in 1842 on the Bergamo shore of Lake d’Iseo gave life to the whole Riva story by building the historical models, and continues to shape all the hulls measuring 27 to 63 feet: Riva Iseo, Aquariva Super, Rivarama – heirs of the legendary wooden Aquarama (production of which ceased in 1996), Rivale, Sportriva 56’ and 63’ Vertigo, and the new Aquariva by Marc Newson and Aquariva Gucci.
Works of art are built in Sarnico: hulls and decks advance side by side on the production lines, naked hulls are transformed into floating marine suites.
Painstaking care is taken over detail and materials selection, further enhanced by a palette of colours produced exclusively for Riva. The choice of valuable woods, from mahogany to “rigatino”, the colour, the uniform design of the veining, the cut, the perfect seasoning, testify a history of motorboat production lasting over a hundred years.
The method of painting the wooden parts of a yacht has remained unchanged over the years: twenty-four hands are applied, one after another, according to Carlo Riva’s original formula in order to make the wood as highly-polished and resistant to the wear and tear of water and salt as possible. All the screws are still set in the same direction, too, and their heads painted exactly the same colour as the hull.
Sarnico is a symbol of the very best of Italian style, as the historical archives which run through the shipyard’s long, rich history testify.
Thanks to the work of a group coordinated by Riva’s Image and Communications Department, documents, films, photographic materials, objects and letters sent from illustrious owners, beginning with King Hussein of Jordan, have been brought to light, demonstrating the excellence of an undertaking which is over a hundred years old.
Artisan care, reliability, but also innovation make Riva yachts unique products. Anyone choosing Riva does not simply purchase a yacht, but a piece of the history of world boating, surfing the wave of the legend.
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The RIVA Shipyard in La Spezia: a leap into the future
The new Riva facility in La Spezia opened in November 2004 to produce yachts measuring over 65 feet in length. It is located on the Tyrrhenian Coast, in the extraordinary Golfo dei Poeti (Gulf of Poets) which has always been a favourite destination for intellectuals and artists, from Byron and Shelley to the present day. The new facility has enabled Riva to consolidate its growth prospects on a world market which, season after season, shows increasing appreciation for quality, design and the uniqueness of Riva yachts.
The production capacity of the La Spezia shipyard has boosted production, allowing Riva to extend its range of models, whilst still fully respecting the guidelines set down in the historical Sarnico shipyard on Lake d’Iseo. Even the larger yachts combine classical elegance, which ties in well with the shipyard’s tradition, with a strongly innovative spirit, their main characteristic. Riva yachts feature cutting-edge technology, with timeless style.
The La Spezia shipyard has witnessed the creation of yachts of rare beauty, from the 68' Ego Super, evolution of the 68’ Ego model, candidate for the Compasso d’Oro after having been included in the ADI Design Index 2006, to 75’ Venere, 85’ Opera Super to 86’ Domino, 92’ Duchessa to 115’ Athena, top of the range flagship of the Riva fleet.
In June 2007, the production surface area of the La Spezia shipyard was extended, marking yet another step forward for a company which is heedful of tradition, but strongly projected towards the future, too. The quality and artisan care which have characterised Riva production from the very beginning have been maintained over the years, and added to features such as innovation, elegance, style and design.
The yachts Riva produces today, in both facilities, are true products of top quality artisan work, extremely luxurious, with unique style and refinement. Classical examples of that Italian spirit and character envied the world over – Riva motoryachts can consider themselves true jewels.
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Riva and Ferrettigroup
Riva is a brand of the Ferretti Group, one of the world leaders in the design, construction and sale of motoryachts with a unique portfolio of some of the most exclusive, prestigious brands in the nautical world: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Mochi Craft, CRN and Ferretti Custom Line.
The Group, Established in 1968 by Norberto Ferretti - currently Honorary Chairman - and led by Chairman Tan Xuguang and Managing Director Ferruccio Rossi has always been at the height of the pleasure boating market due to constant product and process innovation, continuous research and development and cutting-edge technological solutions.
The extensive range of yachts on offer is designed by highly specialized technicians and engineers at the AYT - Advanced Yacht Technology, one of the most advanced naval research and design centers in the world - in collaboration with Centro Stile, a skilled team of architects and designers who constantly research aesthetic, functional and innovative solutions, and are built at the Group’s modern production units in Italy and the USA.
The Ferretti Group is also present in Asia, with a branch of representation and promotion in Shanghai, as well as in the United States with Allied Marine, one of the top companies operating in the North American market that specializes in the sale and marketing of these luxury yachts as well as other nautical services.
An exclusive network of around 60 carefully selected dealers guarantees the Group’s presence in over 80 countries, thereby ensuring valued clients receive the very best assistance at marinas all over the world.
