Riva yachts, a style icon and symbol of unsurpassed Italian craftsmanship, celebrates its 170th anniversary and 50 years of the legendary Aquarama with the launch of the new Riva 63′ Virtus and a special anniversary website – www.riva170.com. The website pays homage to the history of the brand that remains synonymous with luxury and timeless elegance and features previously unseen images, sketches and videos; allowing viewers to navigate from the brand’s origins, to the ‘La Dolce Vita’ period, and the modern age.
Riva Yachts celebrates its 170th anniversary with the launch of the new Riva 63’Virtus(September 11th – 16th, 2012)
The launch of the website followed recent celebrations in Monaco on July 2012, where the new Riva 63’ Virtus launch was accompanied by a series of spectacular events including the Aquarama 50 year parade, the 2012 Riva Trophy award and gala dinner. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco was also present to celebrate Carlo Riva’s 90th birthday. The new Riva 63’ Virtus is the product of the unique relationship between Officina Italiana Design, founded by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, Officina Italiana Design is the renowned boat design studio that for over 20 years has been officially appointed as Riva’s exclusive designers, the studio that exclusively designs all yachts in the Riva range, the AYT – Advanced Yacht Technology, the Ferretti Group’s naval research and design centre, as well as the team of architects and designers at Centro Stile Ferretti Group. The new model has been designed as a sporty yacht, created for owners wishing to experience the sea first hand. Riva reinterprets the concept of an open yacht with a model featuring a typical Mediterranean style maintaining the unmistakable elegance of all the shipyard’s models: class, refinement and clean lines.
Riva will continue 170th anniversary celebrations throughout the year, including the next presentation of the new Riva 63’ Virtus presented at Festival de la Plaisance Cannes (September 11th – 16th, 2012).Created following the lines of the 63’ Vertigo, a classical highly successful Riva model, the new Riva 63’ Virtus is a flagship of the Riva opens. Virtus is designed to last, recapturing the strong character of the Rivale, another Riva open line, but incorporating larger spaces which guarantee excellent livability and total on-board comfort. Riva has been favoured by royals, celebrities and tycoons throughout the 20th century from Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor and George Clooney to Sean Connery who purchased the Riva made famous in his James Bond series, and King Hussein of Jordan, who anchored his Super Aquarama off Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera. Most recently Riva Aquarama was also featured in the Dior Homme ad-campaign with Jude Law.
“Riva is an extraordinary brand, and always manages to innovate, creating unique, cutting edge models, whilst still maintaining the charm and magic which have characterised it for over 160 years,” said Norberto Ferretti, Chairman of the Group. “The 63’ Virtus, with her strong, decisive character combined with the elegance and refined features which are typical to this brand, is the perfect addition to the Riva range.”
“Sporty, sociable and a pleasure to drive; these are the concepts which guided the design of the new Riva open”, asserted Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, founders of Officina Italiana Design. “With Riva 63’ Virtus, we wanted to create a long-lasting yacht, destined to become part of Riva’s history and its great classics.”
Riva, a brand of Ferretti Group, one of the world leaders in the design, construction and sale of motor yachts with a unique portfolio of some of the most exclusive, prestigious brands in the nautical world: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Mochi Craft, CRN and Ferretti Custom Line. The Group, led by Chairman and Founder Norberto Ferretti and by CEO Giancarlo Galeone, has always been at the very heights of the pleasure boating market due to constant product and process innovation, continuous research and development and cutting-edge technological solutions. The extensive range of yachts on offer is designed by highly specialized technicians and engineers at AYT – the Ferretti Group’s Advanced Yacht Technology, one of the most advanced naval research and design centres in the world, which liaises with the Centro Stile Ferrettigroup, an expert team of architects and designers who continuously research aesthetic, functional and innovative solutions, and are built at the Group’s modern production units in Italy and the USA. The Ferretti Group, founded in 1968, is also present in the United States through Ferretti Group America.Riva 63’Virtus is a yacht featuring contrasts of colour and materials: the alternation between the light shades of the oak and darker ones of the leather, and between the opaque and polished lacquering create a style which gives Riva 63’Virtus a further touch of modern style, in addition to the traditional legance of all Riva yachts. The harmonious profile of the yacht is further emphasised by the lage arrow-shaped side windows, which have made so many other Riva models successful and guarantee excellent natural lighting below deck. The unsual features of the hull and teak of the deck and part of the cockpit, together with the many details in stainless steel, contribute to making the 63’Virtus both modern and sporty.
“We are pleased to present the Riva 63’ Virtus, a sporty, racy yacht characterised by a style which has always distinguished the Riva brand”, stated Alberto Perrone da Zara, Riva Brand Manager Sales Manager. “Virtus is a model able to fully satisfy the needs of Owners who want to drive their yachts easily, with spaces suitable for sharing comfortably with whoever they choose.”
Launch of the new Riva 63’Virtus at Festival de la Plaisance Cannes,
September 11th – 16th, 2012
Editorial by ANDREA JANKE @AndreaJanke