60 years of MBS

“Vous êtes le premier à tirer des ficelles dans la mer” (“You are the first to pull strings in the sea”). Thus, wrote Prince Rainier III of Monaco to Carlo Riva when he saw the first two floating pontoons in the beautiful bay of Port Hercules. It was 1959 and the "nautical pioneer" chose Monte-Carlo as a showcase for his shining mahogany motorboats, creating the second Riva station, the Monaco Boat Service, now lead by his daughter Lia. "I always get excited when I think of those years and the trust and respect that Monseigneur placed in me, giving me blank paper to build the pontoons", said the nautical entrepreneur of Sarnico, much loved by the Monegasques and the Grimaldi family. In 2005 Prince Albert II of Monaco, president of the Yacht Club, awarded him with the prestigious title of “Personnalité de la Mer”, plaque placed next to the legendary navigator Tabarly and to King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Carlo Riva will not attend the inauguration of the new headquarter of the historic Yacht Club of Monaco of which he is a historic partner. Not to be a snob, but simply for age reasons: at 92, the fatigues begin to be felt. But it will be the lounge dedicated to the Aquarama to talk about him, of his rêve d’acajoux, the dreams in mahogany that agitate the desires of the shipowners of the whole planet. Speechless is the feeling that usually people have when it comes to enter the gallery of Quai Antoine 1er built in 1962 and dug under the fortress of Grimaldi Palace to accommodate 100 boats. The hands of the clock moved forward, new yachts and new designs were born, but for Riva’s mahoganies time stopped. "The greatness of a nautical brand, capable of keeping up with times and meeting the challenges imposed by the market, lies in continuous research and innovation, never getting tired of experimenting to get the best, always and in any case", concludes Carlo Riva that has always loved this work philosophy.

18 April 2019

1950

Fifty photographs to immortalize the first fifty years of history of Riva Monaco Boat Service. They are dedicated to all our clients, staff and friends who took part of the birth, growth and success of Monaco Boat Service
18 April 2019

1959

The first time Riva landed in the waters of the Principality: the adventure began. Monaco Boat Service is created, Carlo Riva’s idea became reality. It will produce a myth.
18 April 2019

1960

The successful combination of speed, thrill and elegance is popular in Monaco. Riva has been able to fascinate men and women and to be immediately welcomed
18 April 2019

1961

April 1961: Monaco Boat Service grows, it needs space and in Monaco this is a rare and precious commodity. Riva created it by digging a tunnel, putting its roots – very deep ones – in Monte-Carlo
18 April 2019

1962

October 1962: the Riva gems of Monaco clients spent the winter in the warm and cozy atmosphere of the iconic tunnel, deep in the heart of Monaco
18 April 2019

1963

The new “joie de vivre” that was in the air in those years emerges from the first Monaco Boat Service catalogue. Breathed on board of a Riva it was particularly exciting
18 April 2019

1964

A typical perspective effect of Monte-Carlo in the swinging 60s: bows of Riva Tritones
18 April 2019

1965

H.R.H. Prince Rainier of Monaco on his Riva Tritone n 62
18 April 2019

1966

They are “young years” and young people in those years are “fast”. Riva creates the Junior for them: the bomb of the young people
18 April 2019

1967

Kirk Douglas comes more often in Monaco. Usually Hollywood stars go on board of a Riva
18 April 2019

1968

H.R.H. Prince Rainier of Monaco visits the Monaco Boat Service tunnel. He is accompanied by Carlo Rossi and Franco Vaini
18 April 2019

1969

Brigitte Bardot and Riva: one myth on top of the other
English
Monaco Boat Service