Presented to the region for the first time at an exclusive event organised by Riva's regional dealer, ART Marine, ahead of this year's Dubai International Boat Show, the 88 Florida may appear unassuming from afar, but up close she is a shocker. Her impeccable proportions mask just what a beast of an open-top powerboat she is. With a single deck stretching out almost 27 metres, and topsides that raise the exterior walkways to the equivalent height of a standard 30-metre trideck's, she is as unconventional as they come.
The Florida was designed by Mauro Micheli, who, since 1984, has been both the creative force behind Riva and the gatekeeper of its design continuity. The company hired Micheli when he was just a young design-contest winner, and from his very first project, the Riva Bahamas, recognised what a unique talent he was, sticking with him even after he left to establish his own firm, Officina Italiana Design. He has gone on to pen every new Riva to emerge over the last two decades, with a body of work that demonstrates an uncanny ability to remain fresh and surpass market expectations, all while respecting the brand's roots.
For those familiar with the Riva range, the Florida is in fact the same size as the Domino, because the two share a hull. Where they differ is in their superstructures: the Domino is a flybridge and the Florida a coupe. To distinguish them further, Micheli replaced the Domino's darker metallic 'London' grey with a lighter 'Moon' grey, elegantly enhanced by the yacht's black detailing, such as Riva's now-signature continuous glazing of the hull that permits impressively large windows below deck. At the very aft, rather than a tender crane or rollers, the entire central section of the teak-lined transom can be lowered up to a metre underwater, allowing easy ingress and egress for a 3.8-metre RIB and an adjacent jet ski, as well as a space to soak or play in shallow waters.
The most notable feature, however, is the patented convertible-top system, inspired by automotive design, which transforms the boat from a hardtop coupe to an open express, and back again, at the push of a button. "The 88 Florida is truly one of a kind in the entire yachting sector because of this innovative system, which harmonises two sporty souls in one single yacht," says Micheli. "It is an idea that came from Officina Italiana Design in close cooperation with Ferretti Group's Product Strategy Committee and the Group's Engineering Department." The system works by way of hydraulic, pantographically extendable arms that move the fibreglass hardtop out from its position between the windscreen and the radar hoop, and over the foredeck, where it can either shade a C-shaped lounge or clamp down to seal the space from wind and spray.
According to Micheli, such a high-tech electro-mechanical ballet originated from a desire to match the technical development of materials with a fluidity of movement. "Open-top boating is like driving a cabriolet," he says. "It gives you a particular sense of freedom, but it's also whimsical, of course, because you don't really need a cabriolet, do you?" It is probably for this reason that there are so few large open-top boats on the market. The best-known example is Overmarine's Mangusta 80, which pushed beyond the standards set by Cantiere Navale Arno's Leopard Sport 21.5; amazingly, neither shipyard makes open boats anymore, so the Florida not only picks up their baton but races off into the distance with its superior size and innovation.
Below deck, four en-suite staterooms each boast over two metres of ceiling height and a decor with elm-wood details, a throwback to the late 1980s and early 1990s. The wood is given a contemporary makeover thanks to a 'Manopesca' finish that lends it a peach-like texture akin to soft fabric, complemented by leather, stainless steel, LED ceiling lights and lacquered surfaces. The three guest cabins, two doubles and a twin, sit ahead of the main saloon, which comprises a C-shaped sofa facing a galley appointed with a built-in dishwasher and double-door fridge. To the rear is the master cabin, which takes full advantage of the yacht's beam, with large picture windows and a leather-headlined bed facing aft. Decorated with Loro Piana cushions and rugs, the suite conceals full-length wardrobes and a lift-top television set into the vanity, alongside an exclusive custom steel-and-leather chair by Officina Italiana Design.
Technically, the Florida is as uncompromising as she looks. She sits on a medium-V hull with 12 degrees of deadrise, and the twin 2,638hp MTU engine option can reach almost 75 km/h with a range of 325 nautical miles; the lesser 2,435hp MTUs sacrifice two knots of top speed for a longer 340-nautical-mile range. The long waterline flattens out short chop with ease, hitting the plane at 17 knots and keeping a firm, quiet ride into the mid-20s, the best zone for dinner cruising. For those who appreciate steadiness, two Seakeeper stabilisers, installed aft of the engine, make a big difference at anchor.
For Ferretti Group's chief executive, Alberto Galassi, the 88 Florida "turns a new way of enjoying the sea into reality." So while it adheres to Riva's hallmark of glamour and performance, it does so with a unique mix of technology, modernism and style, all of which you can only appreciate when you get up close and personal.
