ontheWATER
ontheWATER
The Style and Elegance
of Lia Riva
By Alastair Carthew
Lia Riva is clearly a doyen of the Monaco waterfront, with a lineage going
back 171 years to when a young boat builder named Pietris Riva started
making his boats in Sarnico, Italy, where Rivas are still made today (also
at La Spezia). Outgoing, slightly outrageous and out there, she is stopped
at every turn by the tanned, white shoed people of privilege and wealth
who inhabit the tiny monarchy or come there to give their Riva’s a spin
two or three times a year.
Carlos Riva still lives in Sarnico. These days boats are also being used by
Ferretti Group, which acquired Riva in 2000 after Riva had been through
a series of ownership changes, as the showcase yachts for showrooms in
places like Hong Kong.
The most famous Riva was the Riva Aquarama in the launched in 1962,
which quickly became the favourite for movies stars and royalty. But today, Riva is producing large luxury yachts like the Riva 86’Domino, on display at Cannes International Boat Show this year. Other Rivas on display
included the Iseo, Aquariva Super, Rivarama Super and 63’ Virtus.
Be the captain of the sea in the Riva 86’ Domino
Officina Italiana Design, a Monaco based design house, is responsible for
the exterior and interior design of the Rivas. They have been collaborating with Riva for more than 20 years. Their work was on display in a sea
trial of the Riva 86’ Domino at the Cannes show.
Riva Aquarama
Holding court at Monaco’s famous Monaco Yacht Club (Prince Albert of
Monaco is the chairman) during the nearby Cannes International Boat
Show and stylishly adorned with her own jewellery brand, the blonde,
effervescent Lia lives and breathes Riva, which started life in the 1842 under Pietro Riva but became a global entity in the 1950s when her father,
Carlo, produced the distinctive wood paneled Riva runabout boats that
have epitomised Italian 6