In conversation with

Close your eyes and think about ‘La Dolce Vita’, Federico Fellini’s movie-famed lifestyle full of worldly pleasures. If you are still grasping onto summer, you can immediately picture yourself sunbathing on the stern of a boat between Capri’s Faraglioni, or diving into the sapphire-blue waters washing St. Tropez’s Pampelonne Beach or, if you prefer, slowly cruising on romantic Lake Como while heading to Villa d’Este for sunset drinks. In any of the aforementioned scenarios there is only one boat that perfectly fits the scene, blending with the context and taking it to the highest level of timeless, achievable style: a wooden Riva. The connection between la Dolce Vita and Riva is an axiomatic state of mind, filled with the joy of life and light-heartedness. It is a long-term relationship which made the Sarnico-born boats a legendary epitome of beauty, glamour and lavish lifestyle throughout the years.

2022 marked both Riva’s 180th anniversary and the Aquarama’s (the shipyard’s most sought after model) 60th birthday. Behind them, the story of a wonderful adventure infused with entrepreneurial skills, elegance and Italian pride that elevated boatbuilding to the level of art.

For these two special occasions, Riva first organised a star-studded celebratory gala at Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice last June. The Ferretti Group — which acquired Riva in 2000 — invited owners and international guests for the exclusive event, offering a highly atmospheric show, while a floating platform moored on the city’s Grand Canal provided a unique stage for the unveiling of the limited-edition Riva Anniversario boat.

Fast forward several weeks and the 14th edition of the Riva Trophy took place in Monaco, where several of the most prestigious Rivas reunited on the historic sea competition route to Saint-Tropez via Cannes. The French Riviera Riva-owners’ happening is the brainchild of Madame Lia Riva, with whom we had an interesting chat regarding her father Carlo, looking at the Riva brand’s history, as well as the world’s most famous mahogany run-about.

CM:_We know you spent your childhood right above the historic Riva Shipyard in Sarnico on Lake Iseo, Italy. What are the earliest memories related to the figure of your father Carlo and the boating world?

LR: I was a bit more than just a baby, four or five years old. I can recall the intense smell of the to-be-seasoned woods adopted in the hulls’ construction; it was spread everywhere. I was always happy to be at my great-grandfather’s shipyard, mostly because I used to take my favourite dolls with me and ask the woman in charge of the boats’ upholsteries to create tailor made dresses for them. Then as I grew up, witnessing the shipyard’s transition in the 60s, I fell in love with the boats which are true wonders of art.

CM: Carlo Riva transformed the artisanal Riva Shipyard from being an Italian one-boat-at-a-time reality to obtaining international fame and figures. In your opinion, which of your father’s character traits made this upgrade possible?

LR: My great-grandfather and grandfather were both well-known boat constructors, but the shipyard at that time was able to produce only a very limited amount of hulls per year; my father turned Riva into a proper factory working on small-sized series, answering customers demands with a completely different approach. He took advantage of his connections with some United States-based companies, which were providing their marine engines, and, thanks to his professional and personal vision, developed a different commercial strategy, offering after sales services, dedicated piers — e.g. in Monaco — winter storage and so on… Carlo had a dream: not only to build the most beautiful boats available on the market, but make them appreciated all over the world forever and ever. He was a perfectionist, and this personality trait rapidly set him aside from his competitors.

CM: Riva turned 180 years old: putting tradition on one side, innovation to the other, what are the ingredients required to maintain the perfect balance between the two parts, looking back at Riva’s history?

LR: Good question! Needless to say, the mix between tradition and innovation has always been successful at Riva. When my father imported the fibreglass hulls for a part of our production, nobody would have bet on him — he was a pioneer. Today history proves he had, also in that case, the right intuition. Innovation has always played a key role, because, next to the traditional design and radiant old-fashioned materials, Riva boats always featured the latest solutions in terms of efficiency, reliability and safety standards. If your car stops, somebody will pass by and help sooner or later, if your boat has a mechanical issue in the middle of the sea the situation is slightly different. 

CM: Launched in early September, El-Iseo is the first ever fully electric Riva craft, the ideal symbiosis between tradition and innovation. Can you tell us something more about this brand new model? What was the feedback from Riva customers and insiders? 

LR: El-Iseo is the first EV Riva boat and is still in its prototype format. It was unveiled during a private preview on September 5 at the Monaco Yacht Club, and represents one of the major highlights of the brand’s 180th anniversary. This brand new model is an adaption of the 8.2-metre Iseo runabout and houses a Parker GVM310 full electric engine. Thanks to its power output of 300 kW peak, the prototype sports cruising speeds of 25 knots and a self-limited top speed of 40 knots. El-Iseo is an ideal tender boat for larger motor yachts: fast, silent and aesthetically well balanced, like all of Riva’s products. Our customers are already waiting for it, as their attention to sustainability and environmental issues is constantly growing.

CM: 2022 is Aquarama’s 60th anniversary, and everybody knows it is the most iconic Riva of them all. Could you name a few very special customers?

LR: Classic water skiing was very trendy during 60s and 70s, stars such as Brigitte Bardot or Kirk Douglas were used to have fun behind Aquarama boats, even if — she admits — the back wave sourcing at the stern was not exactly so nautically ski-friendly. Ferruccio Lamborghini personally ordered an Aquarama fitted with two of his V12 sports car engines; the boat is still alive today, and represent a proper unicum. I met so many jet set celebrities, and amongst them I personally remember Sean Connery, our next-door neighbour in Marbella as well as a proper Aquarama enthusiast, and Princess Grace of Monaco. For those who want to know more about this iconic model, Assouline recently edited a superb volume where author Michael Verdon brings to life all the boat’s Dolce Vita charm.

CM: Do you have any curious, personal anecdotes for the Aquarama?

I remember vividly our family Aquarama, called Lipicar after my sister’s and my names — Lia, Pia and Carla — but also including both my parents’ names Licia and Carlo. Back in the days we spent summertime in the Aegean Sea with our motor yacht — also designed by Carlo Riva — pulling the wooden Lipicar as a tender for small-range boat trips; fishermen were often approaching us for a closer look at our Aquarama rather than being impressed by a 30-metre yacht in the early 70s. At some point we had to cross the Corinth Canal: while the crew took our yacht through the 6.4-kilometre water passage, my family and I sped with the Lipicar surrounded by sheer rocks on each side. It was so much fun.

CM: In 1972, a Riva Super Aquarama participated and won the London-Monte Carlo offshore race. What did that mean for your father and the Riva Shipyard, to accomplish such an epic challenge, where an inland waters-conceived boat showed everybody how to travel more than 2,600 nautical miles across the open sea? Is there any unpublished detail you could reveal to us?

LM: The London-Monte Carlo race was an incredible achievement for my father Carlo and for everyone who worked on it. The 8,28-metre long Super Aquarama from the Riva dealer in Monaco, was stripped of everything unnecessary, its keel and bulwarks reinforced, flaps were installed on the hull to improve trim in rough seas, the two engines were upgraded to 350 hp each and repositioned, and the tanks were increased to 1,050 liters. The long journey started from London and visited, in order: Cowes, Brest, La Rochelle, Bilbao, La Coruna, Porto, Cascais, Portimao, Marbella, Almeria, La Grande Motte and finally the Principality. Boats were facing all deep-sea dangers: poor visibility, strong currents, long waves and — after Gibraltar — also unmarked tuna traps. At one point, my father flew with a private plane to Marbella, delivering two new tanks to replace the ones on board, damaged by pitching and bad weather. The Super Aquarama finished in second place overall and first in class, a proper Italian-Monegasque miracle and triumph for Riva.

CM: What is the winning formula behind the Riva Trophy? Could you tell us something more about it?

LR: The Riva Trophy has always been a success: owners and collectors, their families and close friends all together for an authentic Riva celebration. The 2022 edition lasted three marvellous and memorable days. Boats were challenged in the traditional regularity race from Monaco to Saint-Tropez. We also had a water ski competition, the Elegance Contest, a James Bond-themed prize giving ceremony, and parties of course!

CM: What is your favourite Riva boat and why?

LR_We still have our Lipicar IV and so many unforgettable family memories with it. I had a crush for the Domino 88’ — now called Folgore — Riva’s flagship Sportfly offering great performances, habitability and a super smooth, elegant profile. I think it is the perfect paradigm for what a modern Riva is.

CM: Both yours and Riva's philanthropic commitment is well known. On which fronts and in what kind of initiatives are you involved, in parallel with your entrepreneurial roles?

LR: Following my father Carlo's footsteps, I also carried on in my philanthropic endeavours, supporting numerous associations, such as the Fondation Albert II de Monaco — which concentrates on environmental protection, sustainable development, climate change and the promotion of renewable energies as well as biodiversity. Robert Kennedy Human Rights — I am a member of the Italian board — and Fight AIDS amongst others. I am also a contemporary art lover and collector, with a recent soft spot for Ólafur Elíasson and Thomas Saraceno, and have an ongoing collaboration with the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco.