September 23rd, 2020
Only Riva has the history, inventiveness, appeal, and inspiration to create a yacht that anticipates the future but is permeated by the evocative mood of tradition. The Riva 88’ Folgore is a sport-fly of dazzling beauty, a groundbreaking mixture of style, technology and innovative materials. She made her dazzling debut in September at the 2020 Ferretti Group Private Preview.
The Folgore makes strides with interior and exterior designs, ergonomics, and materials used, then combines them with the classic hallmarks of Riva’s legendary history. It was all brought together through a 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 Piero Ferrari), and Ferretti Group’s Engineering Department.
Project Philosophy
The Riva 88’ Folgore is entirely focused on efficiency, using composite materials and carbon-fiber reinforcements in the superstructure, but she was also designed to embrace materials like marble, crystal glass, and stainless steel without affecting performance.
The iconic mahogany and steel detailing combined with carbon-fiber elements epitomize the perfect balance between past and present that has typified Riva boats in recent years. Sophisticated functional design is seen in various elements, including the navigation lights framed in polished stainless steel, and the continuous aquamarine waterline.
Exteriors
The Folgore has a comprehensively redesigned stern concept, with a rear door that swings open into two different positions: parallel to the waterline for use as a 6 square-meter beach club, and submerged for launching and recovering the tender. The garage can house a Williams SportJet 395 and a jet ski.
Two sets of teak side steps lead down to the 22 square-meter multifunctional cockpit area. In the bow, the first unit has a huge dining area with a sofa that can be transformed into a sunpad by operating the up-down mechanism that raises and lowers the polished mahogany tabletop. On the port side is a service unit with a storage compartment, an ice-maker, and either a fridge or the third command station for stern mooring operations. On the starboard side, the mobile bar next to the stairs to the sport-fly has two stools and a Stone by Florim marble top that opens electrically.
In the bow, the layout features a huge C-shaped sofa with a coffee table that swings open to reveal a big storage area and, further forward, a sunpad on the deckhouse that can accommodate at least four people. Integrated in the sunpad is a small sun hood that is opened by an electro hydraulic mechanism. The entire 23 square-meter area can be covered with awnings.
The 20 square-meter sport-fly offers even more ideas for ways to relax in comfort, with a big sunpad plus sofa in the stern, another sofa with a coffee table and pouf on the port side, and yet another sofa on the starboard side. The helm station with its stainless-steel inserts is centrally positioned in the bow, with a pivoting backrest shared by the sofa, and features two 16-inch touchscreen displays. This area too can be completely covered with awnings.
Interiors
The interiors on the main deck are divided into lounge, dining, and helm-station areas. The open-space lounge has an unimpeded view of the sea and is a perfect example of the unmistakable Riva style. The height of all the interior areas touches 2m and is even higher on the lower deck, contributing to unparalleled comfort.
A carefully chosen mix of wood, leather and steel characterize the onboard decor of both the main and lower decks. The dominant wood on this first unit is polished rosewood, combined with pale or dark colored leather inserts and white parquet. These pairings and the contrasting white and black lacquered sections of ceiling create surprising contrasts that infuse the boat with a refined, classical elegance, enhanced by the natural light that floods in through the continuous side widows and front windscreen.
The lower deck offers four cabins: the full beam owner’s suite in the center of the yacht; a VIP cabin in the bow with a double bed and two wardrobes; a VIP cabin on the port side with a wardrobe and convertible twin beds; and a double cabin with a wardrobe and twin beds. They all have their own bathrooms. The starboard cabin’s bathroom also acts as a day head.
Mirrored surfaces dominate all the cabins: walls clad with tinted mirrors and widescreen TVs are cleverly paired with wood, leather, fabric, and colors that match those on the main deck.
The 20 square-meter owner’s suite is proposed with three different layouts: the first unit is fitted with optional version A, which has one big owner’s bathroom, a walk-in closet and a vanity table with leather and aluminum Living Divani chair. The furnishings are rounded out by several pieces of freestanding furniture chosen by the owner. The cabin is entered via three white marble steps, while the floor, shower, and basin top in the owner’s bathroom are finished in white and gold polished Calacatta marble.
The standard version has a smaller bathroom and two walk-in closets, while optional version B offers the possibility of two bathrooms with separate services and a single central shower, in addition to the walk-in wardrobe.
The galley and crew quarters on Folgore are on the lower deck for maximum privacy. A door separates the galley from the main deck, with access via a stairway, while another door on the opposite side divides it from the crew quarters.
Propulsion and Technology
This first Riva 88′ Folgore unit is fitted with a pair of MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines rated 2,638 mhp, for a top speed of 39 knots and a cruising speed of 33 knots. The standard propulsion solution is a pair of MTU 16V 2000 M96 engines rated 2,435 mhp, which drive the yacht to a top speed of 36 knots and a cruising speed of 30 knots.
See more photos of the Riva 88′ Folgore.