L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 24 L'Italo-Americano S ophia Loren had one. So did Anita Eckberg and Sean Connery…as did v i o l e t - e y e d L i z . Brigitte Bardot's had zebra print seats, and even George Bush was often spotted in his, breaking waves in the Hamp- tons. They've always been the nautical epitome of cool — and we're not talking about the owners, but of the craft… the 100% Italian built Riva yacht. Sleek, sexy, oh-so Italian… these streamlined vessels are known throughout the nauti- cal world for their extraordi- nary quality, unforgettable design, and well…for having a suave factor that would be off the charts if suave charts existed. Even if you're not familiar with the name, Riva yachts might hold a spot in your subconscious. Just for a second, visualize a bevy of the rich and famous motor-boa- ting across an Italian lake, Prosecco in hand, or maybe a pulse pounding James Bond clip, our hero soaring over breaking waves as he escapes the ire of his latest nemesis. Odds are your imagination included a Riva built boat. The Riva name is synony- m o u s w i t h l u x u r y a n d glamour in the boat world, a brand that defies being classi- fied as "just" a watercraft. It might even be more of a zeit- geist of ideology, of concept, of beauty, a melding of style and function that make Riva one of the most desirable yacht names around. It's a remarkable story of serendipity and talent that led to the birth of Riva boats. While Carlo Riva (1922- 2017) is considered the father of classic contemporary Riva watercraft, had it not been for a run of bad weather on the banks of Lake Iseo in 1842, Sophia would've had to settle for a much less classy ride over her Italian lakes. Heavy rains pummeled the s m a l l l a k e s i d e t o w n o f Sarnico, forcing the River O g l i o f r o m i t s b a n k s . A s flooding torrents scoured the v i l l a g e , t h e y c a r r i e d w i t h them the small fleet of fishing vessels, tumbled about like children's toys. The humble b o a t s e x p e r i e n c e d s e v e r e damage; immediate help was needed and found through t h e e x p e r t i s e o f a y o u n g boatwright by the name of Pietro Riva. Newly arrived from Laglio, Riva quickly set to work repairing and refit- ting the vessels with skill and quality. His craftsmanship earned the village's admira- tion and trust, and eventually Riva opened his own ship- yard on the Sarnico shoreline. Pietro's early production fea- tured quality battel da pesca (fishing boats) and canotto da passeggio (pleasure craft) to suit the needs of the locals, but as his young family grew, so did his vision for his small company. Pietro's mastery of boat- building was the beginning of a l e g e n d a r y l i n e o f s h i p - wrights. His son Ernesto introduced power combus- tion engines, a forward-think- ing step that brought the lat- est mechanical innovations to t h e b u s i n e s s . H i s i n s i g h t introduced not only speedier transportation of goods over the lakes, but the launch of nautical tourism, as well. Ernesto's own motorboat prototype was a success…and a lot of fun; why not offer tourists the chance to experi- ence the wind, waves, and sights that he was enjoying? Riva's visionary heritage continued when Ernesto's son Serafino took the helm, bringing a major shift to the boatyard. It was after World War I and Italy was ready for distraction. Capitalizing on this, Serafino built and pro- moted high speed pleasure boats. Equipped for speed and agility, Riva power boats became the hot rod of the I t a l i a n l a k e s . S e r a f i n o ' s designs quickly set the stan- dard for the popular sport of speedboat racing in the 1920s and 1930s. Riva's successful incorporation of efficient design and high-powered engines earned fame through multiple wins and titles in Italy and around the world. "I want to build boats m y o w n w a y I t o l d m y father…I started produc- t i o n i n 1 9 5 0 w i t h s i x months of testing…It was the happiest day of my life." ~ Carlo Riva It wasn't until Carlo Riva, son of Serafino, took the helm of Riva, however, that the seismic shift in production — and notoriety — began. With the skill, training, DNA, and drive of the Riva dynasty under his skin, Carlo revolu- tionized Riva design. After some serious head-butting with his father Serafino — who saw no need to change the line's traditional success — Carlo succeeded in forging ahead with his vision for a sleek, immaculately built boat featuring flawless functionali- t y a n d g l a m o r o u s v i s u a l appeal: the nautical version of Italian flair and desirabili- t y . A n e w m a n u f a c t u r i n g facility was constructed in 1954 on the shores of Lake Iseo fusing state-of-the art innovation with Riva's famed tradition for minute attention to detail and quality. Carlo's vision set into motion Riva's golden age of luxury water- craft; Riva yachts quickly became the coveted status symbol for those with an eye for ultimate fashion and func- tion. The breakthrough, howev- er, that imbedded the iconic Riva style in modern aware- ness came about in 1962 with t h e l a u n c h o f t h e A c q u a r a m a . U s i n g t h e design protocol of his highly p o p u l a r T r i t o n e , C a r l o reimagined the boat to fea- ture roomier passenger space, a sun deck that seemed to beg for bathing beauties, and other innovations that set precedents in the boating world. His signature feature of turquoise blue upholstery with a matching wheel was the cherry on top. Named #1 of the Top 100 Best Boats E v e r b y " M o t o r b o a t & Y a c h t i n g M a g a z i n e " a n d "Most beautiful boat in the World" by the International Press, this "Ferrari of the boat world" still quickens the pulse in many whenever she shows up in movies or commercials — or lakeside if you're lucky enough to witness one slicing through the blue. Carlo sold his company to an American firm in 1969 yet remained active for several more years. A succession of non-Italian owners finally came full circle in 2000 when the Italian Ferretti Group p u r c h a s e d R i v a Y a c h t s . Active in production today, C a r l o ' s i m p r i n t r e m a i n s strong within the company, evident through the breath- taking style, consummate quality, and suave elegance permeating every Riva boat from cruiser to mega-yacht. Riva Yachts, a name syn- onymous with Italian flair and elegance, remains one of t h e m o s t c o v e t e d b r a n d s today. Even if owning one is out of reach, it's possible to get up close and personal with a visit to the Riva Yacht factory in Sarnico. Standing next to Ernesto's first motor- boat, or perhaps feeling your pulse quicken as you admire the Aquarama #784, the last classic model off the produc- tion line in 1996, can quicken the pulse of any fan of the beauty of Italian design and innovation. Carlo's spirit is alive and well on the shores of his beloved Sarnico. "…Designed with love, pure and strong like a p e d i g r e e h o r s e . Unforgettable!" ~ Carlo Riva PAULA REYNOLDS Riva produces iconic yachts and motorboats (Photo: Giovanni Cardillo/Shutterstock) LIFESTYLE PLACES FOOD ARTS ADVICE Riva Yachts: how one Italian family created a nautical legend

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