What We’re Watching
Riva Goes Hollywood … Sort Of
Riva’s story began in humble, hardworking fashion. In 1842 a violent storm on Italy’s Lake Iseo nearly destroyed the local fishing fleet, and a young shipwright named Pietro Riva stepped in to repair the damaged vessels. His skill and dedication earned him the respect of the community and led him to open a boatyard in Sarnico, where the foundation of Riva Yachts was laid. By the mid‑20th century the shipyard had evolved into a symbol of Italian style, producing varnished mahogany and teak runabouts in the 1950s and ’60s that combined elegant lines with superb craftsmanship.
Those classic Riva runabouts—glossy, wood‑finished, and unmistakably chic—became cinematic icons, appearing in films and helping to define a glamorous image of coastal living. Now Riva has commissioned a short film to celebrate that long relationship with moviemaking. Shot entirely amid Venice’s canals, the film Riva in the Movies opens at first light, with actor Pierfrancesco Favino crossing Piazza San Marco in the soft glow of moonlight and mist, then boarding an Aquariva runabout. The narrative follows his journey through narrow waterways as he ferries a mysterious mahogany object to an equally enigmatic recipient. The short premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September and is expected to appear on streaming platforms in the coming months, offering viewers a stylish, cinematic glimpse of Riva’s heritage and the timeless appeal of wooden boats.
A Family at Full Throttle
Brooke and Braden Palmer have turned a long‑held dream into everyday life aboard their Nordhavn 55, Mermaid Monster. Living and cruising full time with their children—son Penn and daughter Rooney—and two dogs, the Palmers embraced life at sea after years of conventional careers and family life. Wanting something different, they sold most of their possessions in 2018, bought the Nordhavn 55 and began cruising the East Coast and making extended trips to the Bahamas.
Their lifestyle blends practical passagemaking, family routines and the kind of adventurous planning required for long‑range cruising. The couple documents their experiences on their YouTube channel, Aboard Mermaid Monster, where they share maintenance tips, voyage footage and family life on board. Their future goals include circumnavigating the globe—an ambition that reflects their commitment to exploration and to raising their children with a deep familiarity for the sea. For readers and viewers interested in family cruising, the Palmers’ story provides an inspiring example of how careful planning and a bold decision can transform a life.
Salty Reads
Refresher Course
Even experienced boaters benefit from regular refreshers on seamanship, navigation and the rules of the water. Whether you need a reminder about right‑of‑way in tight channels, anchoring scope and procedures, or basic passage planning, structured practice helps keep knowledge sharp. Day Skipper Exercises for Sail and Power by Roger Seymour and Alison Noice is organized as a workbook with clear lessons and practical exercises that cover seamanship topics, chart work, passage planning and line handling. It’s designed to reinforce day‑skipper level skills through scenario‑based practice and self‑tests, making it a useful resource for both new and returning boaters. (Adlard Coles, $35)
Mayday!
The history of the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue operation spans wartime heroics and decades of maritime rescue work, and its story is captured in The Official Illustrated History of RAF Search and Rescue. With archival photography, firsthand interviews and a foreword by HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge—who flew medical transports as a helicopter rescue pilot—the book chronicles the people, machines and dramatic sea rescues that shaped the service. The collection provides a visual and narrative celebration of search and rescue teams and their crucial role in maritime safety. (Adlard Coles, $35)