Carlo Riva, one of the yachting world’s most renowned entrepreneurs, has died at the age of 95. Alberto Galassi, CEO of Riva’s parent company Ferretti Group, and a self-confessed fan of the brand, led an outpouring of tributes. “The world has lost a brilliant creator of boats, a master of style, [and] a giant in Italy’s industrial and business history,” he said.
Born in Sarnico, Italy, on February 24, 1922, Carlo built his first boat when he was just 17. In 1949, following in the footsteps of his father Serafino, grandfather Ernesto and great-grandfather Pietro, he took over the family business. He went on to lead an already successful company into a golden era. One of the earliest examples of a Carlo Riva-era speedboat was the Riva Ariston, which he…