110 Dolcevita
The Riva Aquariva Super is a 33-foot luxury speedboat that was launched by the Ferretti-owned boat-building brand Riva back in the year 2000. One of the most beautiful boats ever built, this stylish, mahogany-lined vessel remains in production, with well over 100 of these nautical works of art sold to discerning buyers around the globe. A contemporary re-interpretation of the sort of classic yachts that ferried the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly to Monte Carlo or across Lake Como, where the Riva factory remains to this day, the Aquariva Super astounds with the sort of grace, elegance and unimpeachable class that will wow even the most hard-to-please aesthete.
A sleek fiberglass and Kevlar body with a sharp entry, a rounded transom and a curved wrap-around windscreen catches the eye from profile, but it is up close where one can really see and feel the painstakingly hand-crafted detail that goes into the production of each Aquariva Super. Impeccable stainless steel brightwork, cleats and grab-rails are fitted onto a rich, sustainably-sourced mahogany foredeck with maple inlay that has been lovingly coated with 20 layers of waterproofed, gleaming Stoppani varnish. To the rear the deck gently slopes away to provide room for a double-width sunpad made from authentic piped leather that is surrounded by a pair of timber handrails. At the stern there is a curved transom seat carved out of yet more deep mahogany, and a bathing platform from where you can dip into the sparkling waters of the Cote D’Azur.
Enjoy ice-cold martinis in the compact, teak-lined cockpit, where a U-shaped leather sofa with backrests takes up most of the space and surrounds a wood-topped pulpit table adorned with a pair of cup-holders. At the front of the cockpit sits a wet-bar station to starboard that is covered with a hinged wooden prep counter and comes with a molded sink, a drinks chiller and a grill. Also to be found here is a beautifully sculpted helm station with a metal-and-leather steering wheel, chrome-lined analogue instrumentation, a two-speed gearbox and a Simrad touch-screen panel with depth-sounder, chart-plotter, GPS and more.
Though visually stunning, the Aquariva Super manages to pair substance with style, and includes on the lower-deck a discreet day-head and a V-lounge to the bow that can be conveniently turned into a double bed should the urge to take a nap overwhelm you. This speedboat also comes with a pair of powerful Yanmar 8LV-370 shaft-drive engines for top speeds touching 42 knots and cruising speeds of 36 knots. At the slower pace you can expect a range of 155 nautical miles, more than enough mileage to traverse Garda or explore the inland waterways of Florida.
Though originally launched in 2000, this prized vessel has proved so popular that Riva periodically releases limited edition versions of the boat. A collaboration with luxury car-makers Bentley saw the “Bentley Blue” released in 2016, while other releases saw brands and creatives such as Elton John, Gucci and Marc Newson add their personal touch to this sought-after model.
