Launched in La Spezia
the second unit of the incredible Riva sport-fly,
delivered to her owner.
La Spezia, 20th October 2020 – After the launch of the first unit in May, another fantastic Riva 88’ Folgore is ready to attract looks of wonder at sea, at ports and in marinas.
The second unit of the new Riva sport-fly, an exciting combination of innovative vision and legendary hallmarks, slipped into the water in La Spezia, the shipyard where models in the 76 to 110-foot range are built and which has recently also been used to hold private boat shows for numerous customers who want to visit the new models. Riva 88’ Folgore, heir to one of the brand’s top best sellers, introduces novelties in the exterior and interior design, in the ergonomics, and in the materials used, combining them with iconic details from Riva’s legendary history, like the mahogany inlays and steel decorations. 26.92 m (88.4 ft) long and 6.31 m (20.8 ft) wide, the yacht is a product of collaboration between Officina Italiana Design, the firm headed by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta that designs the entire Riva range, the Product Strategy Committee led by Mr. Piero Ferrari and Ferretti Group’s Engineering Department.
Riva and Ferretti Group
Riva is a brand of Ferretti Group. Thanks to Italy’s centuries-old yachting tradition, the Ferretti Group is a world leader in the design, construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of prestigious and exclusive brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally. The Ferretti Group owns and manages shipyards located across Italy, which combine the efficiency of industrial production with typical world-class Italian craftsmanship, reaching customers in more than 90 countries across the world thanks to a direct presence in Europe, the United States of America, the Middle East, and Asia, and its expanding network of carefully selected dealers.
Моторные яхты Ferretti Group, являющиеся высшим проявлением элегантности и креативного гения Made in Italy, всегда выделялись исключительным качеством, передовыми технологиями, рекордной безопасностью и оптимальными ходовыми характеристиками, а также эксклюзивным дизайном и непреходящей привлекательностью. Подробнее: www.riva-yacht.com
In 2025 and into 2026, the RIVA 88 Folgore has continued to draw strong demand from buyers in the Gulf region and Southeast Asia, reflecting the global expansion of the luxury yachting market beyond its traditional European base.
Design Philosophy: Where Tradition Meets Contemporary Vision
The RIVA 88 Folgore represents a precise architectural statement, one that refuses to treat heritage and innovation as opposing forces. Officina Italiana Design, under the direction of Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, approached the vessel as a living dialogue between Riva’s storied past and the demands of a modern, globally mobile ownership class. The result is a sport-fly that carries the DNA of the brand’s most celebrated models while introducing a contemporary spatial logic throughout.
The exterior lines are clean and purposeful, with a profile that sits low and assertive on the water. The flybridge configuration maximizes outdoor living space without compromising the yacht’s aerodynamic silhouette, a balance that is far more difficult to achieve than it appears. Below deck, the interior volumes are organized around natural light, with panoramic glazing that dissolves the boundary between the saloon and the sea beyond.
Materials have been selected with the same rigor applied to a couture garment. The signature mahogany inlays, polished to a warm depth, are placed in deliberate contrast against the cooler tones of brushed steel accents. Upholstery choices reflect a palette that is both timeless and current, drawing from the same sensibility that informs the finest Italian interior design studios. Every surface on the RIVA 88 Folgore communicates a clear authorial intention.
Performance, Engineering, and the Ferretti Group Standard
A yacht of this caliber is defined as much by what happens beneath the waterline as by what is visible above it. The RIVA 88 Folgore is powered by twin MAN V8-1000 engines delivering 1,000 horsepower each, producing a top speed of approximately 36 knots and a cruising speed of around 30 knots. These figures place the vessel firmly in the performance category without sacrificing the range and seakeeping qualities that owners operating in open-water environments require.
The engineering architecture was developed collaboratively by the Ferretti Group’s internal Engineering Department and the Product Strategy Committee chaired by Piero Ferrari, whose association with high-performance vehicle design is well established. That influence is perceptible in the way power delivery and hull dynamics have been tuned to reward confident, precise handling across varying sea states.
Stability systems have been integrated discreetly into the hull design, ensuring that the onboard experience remains composed even in less favorable conditions. This is a practical consideration for an ownership demographic that uses their vessels actively rather than keeping them at anchor. The mechanical reliability expected of a Ferretti Group product is reinforced by a global network of service centers, giving owners in the Gulf region, Southeast Asia, and the Americas access to consistent technical support wherever their itineraries take them.
The RIVA 88 Folgore as a Lifestyle Asset for the Global Ownership Class
Purchasing a RIVA 88 Folgore is, in the plainest terms, a declaration of taste. The vessel occupies a specific and highly competitive segment of the luxury market, one where the buyer is equally attentive to the cultural weight of a brand as to its technical specifications. Riva has held its position in that conversation for over 175 years, a continuity that very few luxury manufacturers in any category can claim.
The ownership profile for the RIVA 88 has expanded considerably in recent years. While the Mediterranean and the Adriatic remain the brand’s natural home waters, demand from the Gulf region, the South China Sea, and the Caribbean has grown significantly through 2025 and into 2026. This geographic diversification reflects broader shifts in the luxury lifestyle market, where high-net-worth individuals increasingly maintain residences and interests across multiple continents and expect their assets to travel with them.
From a New York perspective, the RIVA 88 Folgore fits naturally into a broader conversation about Italian craftsmanship as a global currency of refinement. The same values that define a bespoke suit from a Milanese atelier or a limited-edition piece from a Florentine jeweler are present in every element of this yacht’s construction. For the style-conscious buyer who approaches acquisitions with curatorial intent, the RIVA 88 Folgore is not simply a vessel; it is a precisely considered object that reflects a coherent worldview.
