RivaTrophy11_ArteNavale

Michael Schumacher, with Benetton,
world champion. In just over 18 months,
Tuppman was able to right the difficult
financial situation of the boatyard and
sell it quickly, on behalf of Rolls Royce
which owned it, to another entrepreneur
with whom things did not go so well.
It was, however, Mauro who met the
needs of the new owner who wanted a new
33 ft. model to perpetuate the Riva legend.
That was the area of the Aquarama
and Mauro and Sergio fully understood
the responsibility they were about to take
on, where everything was at risk. It could
be the end or their definitive consecration
at the top of world sailing. The boat was
designed: elegant, sporty, classic, innovative,
modern in appearance but classic
in shape, an extraordinary combination
capable of impressing absolutely anyone.
Only the name was missing and it was
found, after a night thinking about it,
by the Italian dealer Cesare Casarola.
Cesare was also amazed by the beauty
of the design but just as frightened by a
possible failure.
Since he was 14, he had grown up on
“bread and Riva” and knew very well
what the Aquarama represented for the
whole world, but he did not hesitate suggesting
to the Yard (in the early morning)
the new name: Aquariva – which
straightaway seemed perfect, almost obvious,
(but with hindsight!) to everyone.
Today, 11 years later, more than 200
Aquarivas have been produced, but the
extraordinary thing is that in this long
period of time (in sailing, models do not
last more than 4 or 5 years) it has kept all
its charm.
Norberto Ferretti, as soon as he bought
the company (April 2000), only temporarily
blocked production to take the
time necessary to set up industrialization
capable of putting Riva back at the level
of reliability that the brand imposed.
In the next 11 years, the very close and
fruitful collaboration between Norberto
Ferretti and Micheli led to over 12 models
which range from the 27’ to 115’. All
are in production and all are emblems of
the unmistakable Riva style. Today the
challenge continues and Iseo confirms
this: small, elegant with sterndrive (rarely
installed on Rivas) and technologically
at the cutting edge, it is the new “entry
level” of the Riva world.
Its limited dimensions, 23 by 8 feet width
make it unique in its range. Suitable as
a tender for Superyachts, it can also sail
in bad weather conditions thanks to a
top derived from convertible cars which
allows hermetically sealing the cockpit,
making it the ideal boat for both the Ven-
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