Interview with Stassi Anastassov: “Riva is a long love story”

BOOTE EXCLUSIV: Do you also take the helm, or are you a sailor yourself?

Stassi Anastassov: Yes and no. I’m a really dedicated sailor who coaches my children. I’ve been supporting my two daughters for many years: Olivia, who’s now 26, and Amanda, who’s 24. They started sailing Optimists back in 2006 and 2007 and have competed in European and World Championships. And in fact, my daughter Amanda Anastassov became the Swiss Youth World Champion in 2017 in the Nacra 15 class.

Right, so your training session was a great success.

Yes, I know the world of sailing very well, but I wouldn’t personally describe myself as a sailor. I’ve always been close to the water and have always had a connection to the sea, lakes and boats. Water has always been a part of my life, and that of my children and my wife Maria.

But you don’t have a yacht yourself?

No. Here in Geneva, we have a large RIB. From Geneva, we can quickly cross over to France and so on. But Lake Geneva isn’t necessarily a lake for large yachts. But things can change. And they will change.

Let’s talk about Riva. Did you always think it was an interesting brand and that you’d work there one day? Or did the Ferretti Group approach you?

Yes, they approached me. For me, Riva is a sort of long-standing love affair, because Riva’s beauty has always been iconic and unchanged. I’m in love with brands. I’ve now reached the point where I design my own watches too. This, for example, is my own design (shows his sporty, nautical-style wristwatch).

That’s very nice.

I love design and brands. And I think Riva is one of the greatest success stories. What makes people want to buy, say, a Fiat 500 in the Riva Edition? It’s that image of a classic Riva, the Sophia Loren Riva. It’s all that beauty, the history and the design. I love brands that have managed to preserve and nurture their heritage over time, such as Hermès.

If the Riva 54METRI If your yacht were down there, where on board would you spend the day? What would be your favourite spot?

I’d head to the dining table first. I believe that in my culture and that of my parents, social activities have always been – and still are – linked to a good dinner or lunch. So I’d make sure I had a lovely dining table where I could entertain my family and friends. And then, once you’ve created that sense of harmony, you naturally take the plunge.