Thursday, September 24, 2015

Monaco, 24th September 2015 - “I’d like to try and cruise on her…”, was the wish Eng. Carlo Riva expressed when the renderings of the first Riva 50-meter mega yacht were shown to him. Eng. Riva's wish worked as a good omen and marked the beginning of a new, wonderful adventure for the Riva brand.

Since September 2014, when in Monaco Ferretti Group’s Top Management announced the creation of the ‘Superyachts Division’, the ideas and projects revolving around brand's new light alloy fleet have developed rapidly, thanks to the efforts and dedication that the Riva brand traditionally channels into the most inspiring challenges - those that blend together unmatched tradition and prestige, on the one hand, and the 'sweet’ obligation to be Number One in the yachting sector in the future too, on the other.

The dream of building light alloy, displacement Riva superyachts, entirely customizable by the Owner in terms of interior outfitting and décor, takes forward the ambition and ingenuity that between the 1960s and ’70s pushed Carlo Riva to create the famous megayachts in the ‘Caravelle’ and 'Atlantic’ lines and to subsequently seal a historic partnership with CRN. Between 1970 and 1978 this cooperation led to the construction of six motor yachts above 20 metres in length in the Marco Polo series, and of two Vespucci yachts, 90 and 100 feet in length.

Today, in just one year, this dream has turned into an increasingly tangible and exciting reality. Indeed, a Riva engineering and design team entirely devoted to the ‘Superyachts Division’ settled down at the Group's Ancona shipyard, where it will be working side by side with designer Mauro Micheli and Officina Italiana Design, as well as with Riva’s Sales&Marketing team, to develop the numerous ongoing projects.

Riva’s ‘Superyachts Division’ will offer its Owners two different lines, using the same naval platforms. These new giants of the sea - outstanding masterpieces boasting unrivalled technology, the utmost care for details, and a strong brand identity - will differ in terms of style and design.

The first line, characterized by traditional and timeless shapes, will draw inspiration from the brand’s legendary history, and from the class and perfection of true yachting masterpieces like the famous ‘Caravelle’, conceived by Eng. Riva in 1964. The second sporty line will feature details reminding of the last generation of Riva coupé yachts, the one to which the recent 76' Perseo and 88' Domino Super belong. It will be just from these latter models’ slender and modern look that the second line’s more aggressive profile and lines will draw inspiration.

Each of the two lines - both built at Ferretti Group’s Ancona shipyard - will be available in four different sizes: 50 meters, 60 meters, 70 meters and 90 meters in length, thereby resulting in a wide, versatile range that will allow Riva's 'Superyachts Division’ to proudly operate in the large yachts market segment, through ideas, solutions and resources that are up to its undisputed fame.

“We enthusiastically took on the challenge of creating a new Riva superyacht line - comments Mauro Micheli, the founder, together with Sergio Beretta, of Officina Italian Design -, which will allow us to prove once more that Italian yacht design can compete on an equal standing with the large North-European shipyards, in terms of both quality and product exclusiveness. More specifically, the new range will include two different types of yachts: the first line will clearly draw inspiration from the yachts created by Eng. Carlo Riva in the early ’70s; the second will feature an unusual design, with stylistic features that will clearly convey Riva’s unmistakable style, together with a strong, distinctive character."

“At Riva there are values and design philosophies that go beyond commercial strategies” - stated Ferretti Group’s CEO, Mr. Alberto Galassi. “Among these is the inclination to ‘think bigger’, because we are accountable for the beauty and uniqueness of the most famous yachts in the world, which are heirs to a 173-year-long history.

The project of a fully custom Riva fleet, named ‘Superyachts Division’, is successfully heading in this direction, not only because it represents an extraordinary leap into the future, but also because, by offering two different lines, Riva will once more be able to meet the refined and sophisticated taste of its very demanding Owners.

For this I have to thank above all our shareholders, who have, truly far-sightedly, believed in this new ‘big-boat’ adventure. And my equally heartfelt gratitude also goes to the many working teams involved in this project."