Elite Traveler September-October 2016

elite traveler SEPT/OCT 2016 97

IT’S A DILEMMA FACED BY MANY A HERITAGE BRAND – STAYING TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL WHILE ALLOWING FOR INNOVATION IN NEW MARKETS. CHRIS EVANS TAKES A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT RIVA TO SEE HOW THEY CREATE THE PERFECT YACHT FOR YOU

Speeding across stunning Lake Iseo in one of Riva’s iconic 1960s Aquarama powerboats, a symphony of mahogany and smooth lines, it’s easy to get swept up in the spirit of la dolce vita. The challenge for Riva’s team of designers, engineers and executives, overlooking the lake in their Sarnico shipyard in northern Italy, is maintaining that spirit and the brand’s unique legacy, while racing ahead into the 21st century. The man ultimately responsible for this transition is Alberto Galassi, CEO of the Ferretti Group, which bought Riva in 2000. His grandiose office, designed by its previous occupant, the legendary Carlo Riva, is appropriately shaped and styled like a captain’s deck with a view over the water. He appears to be coping extremely well with the weight of expectation on his shoulders. Since his

Left: The Riva 88 Florida, with its innovative retractable roof