Elite Traveler September-October 2016

INSPIRE RIVA YACHTS

Within Riva itself, the decision-making process for the design and development of each yacht is made in collaboration between Beretta and Micheli with the designers, engineers, executive committee and marketing team at the Riva yards, as well as Ferretti’s product strategy team, headed by Piero Ferrari – son of Enzo, founder of Ferrari – who owns 13.2 percent of Ferretti Group. “We start with a rough hull then design in collaboration with all these departments,” Beretta explains. “The marketing team gives good insight into what’s selling well and what competitors are doing, although we don’t always follow their lead. For example our Rivarama 44, with just one cabin, was not considered viable for the market, but we are now selling hull number 120 of that model.” The designers point out that technology is also playing an increasingly important role in the design and build process at Riva. “When we designed the first Aquariva (the successor to the Aquarama) five years ago, we didn’t even have 3D models,” says Beretta. “Now we spend about a month creating the visual renderings using sophisticated 3D technology. This allows us to go through every detail of the vessel, which makes us less apprehensive when the model hits the water for the first time.” They’re also experimenting with virtual reality. “We use good quality virtual renderings to show to our customers and they don’t even realize they’re renderings, they think they’re photographs,” Beretta enthuses. “You can see around the entire yacht. We are considering having a virtual reality room in the shipyard, but that’s a huge investment, about $1.7m.” Once the build phase is reached, the workers at the Sarnico yard – many of whom have followed in the footsteps of parents and grandparents who worked there – meticulously prepare each component part of the yachts. “We apply 27 coats of gloss to each piece of mahogany,” says one worker proudly. Around the shipyard it’s possible to see each process of the build in action. There’s a production line of yachts in varying stages of completion on display, with the end one nearly ready to drop into the lake. “Every yacht has its own character and personality, which is reflected in the fact they have names, not just numbers,” says Beretta. “We are always looking to innovate. Our new Rivamare is driven using a joystick. This is the future of boating."

arrival two years ago, the Ferretti Group has continued to turn a profit, announced an ambitious $55m three-year plan last year to build 27 new yachts across its seven brands, which as well as Riva include Ferretti Yachts, Custom Line, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft and CRN, and is making forays into the competitive, customized world of superyachts. “Carlo Riva created a myth out of the wooden boats built here in the Sarnico shipyard, which have been graced by the likes of Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and more recently George Clooney and Brad Pitt,” Galassi says with pride. “But we cannot just live off the past. We have to evolve the business and modify the yachts, without changing the spirit and the unique Riva style.” Six new Ferretti Group models were launched last year as part of the three-year plan, including the Riva 88 Florida, with its innovative retractable hard top that transforms the yacht from an open to a coupé at the touch of a button. This year sees the arrival of eight new models, including two Rivas. There is great excitement about the new Riva 100 Corsaro, a wide-bodied boat with panoramic views through the large glazed windows, which will be launched at either the Cannes Yachting Festival in September or late fall in East Asia. “We’ve already sold four of these, one in Europe and three in the Far East,” says Galassi. “It’s a nice looking flybridge boat, built using our trademark materials, wood, leather and stainless steel, with the owner’s cabin taking up the entire width of the vessel.” Interestingly, as a sign of changing markets and tastes, one of the buyers of the Corsaro in China chose to replace the main cabin with a karaoke room. “They have a different way of boating in Asia. They take to a boat more for celebrations, parties and business than relaxing holidays on water,” says Sergio Beretta, CEO and co-founder with Mauro Micheli of Officina Italiana Design, who have been exclusively designing Riva yachts for the past 22 years. Beretta and Micheli are increasingly accustomed to bespoke requests for their Riva designs. Little tweaks here and there, such as different colors, are accepted, in the most part, for the smaller vessels. But it will be on the superyachts where the customized requirements will prove most challenging. “There is not one square foot of a superyacht that’s not customized,” says Beretta. “We’ve only just started designing them and have had an excellent relationship with the owner of the first one. He has chosen Riva interiors and technical spec for the DNA of the 164ft yacht, which will be launched at the end of 2017 or early 2018.” Galassi insists on a concerted effort to keep each Ferretti brand separate, ensuring they maintain their own identities. “The group was divided by regions before, but it’s hard to sell different brands at the same time,” he says. “It would be like a Ferrari dealer within the Fiat Chrysler Group trying to sell Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Fiat together. Giving the brands their own identity makes things clearer in terms of visibility, focus and attention.”

“Carlo Riva created a myth out of the wooden boats built here in the Sarnico shipyard, but we cannot just live off the past”

Right, from top: Alberto Galassi, CEO of the Ferretti Group; comfort meets chic in the Riva 88 Domino Super