An exceptionally long, aquamarine carpet extended along the waterfront, as hundreds of Riva’sguests waited for a peek at the new Riva 90 Argo flybridge yacht, approaching the marina in front of the Kimpton Epic Resort and Residences in Miami sometime after sunset. European yachtbuilders don’t usually premiere their new yachts in the States. The partying usually take place at the company’s yard in Italy or the Netherlands or the UK. This was a special occasion, and Riva made quite a high-brow hoopla to note it.

“America is a very important market for us,” says Alberto Galassi, Ferretti Group CEO, Riva’s parent company. “It’s a good idea to present our boats in the best places in the world, and differently so. One is presented in the Mediterranean, which is the 110 Dolce Vita in Monte Carlo, the Corsaro in Hong Kong, and for the 90-foot sister Argo, we decided Miami was the right location. For us, this is the most important part of our American market.”

The rhythm of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” built the anticipation—thump, thump, clap. Thump, thump, clap. Amid spotlights and music, and then fireworks and fanfare, the sleek dark figure of the first Argo glided into view, the captain performing essentially a slow pirouette with the 93.5-foot yacht, underwater lights ablaze, so we could all see each and every angle of the Riva 90 Argo, the plans for which were announced in October at the Fort Lauderdale boat show and then teased in January at boot Düsseldorf.

“Riva is a global brand that has 107 years of history. It’s the only brand, I think, where you don’t have to say that you have a boat. You actually say that I have a Riva. Everybody understands what you own,” says Galassi. “So, I think the US deserves a world premiere of this class.”