The Splendor of Tradition: The Motorboat Rally on Lake Garda
at Nautica Casarola, June 11–14, 2026
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Lake Garda, Cesare Casarola’s estate has become the setting for an exceptional motorboat gathering. An event that stands out on the international scene for the extraordinary presence of Chris-Craft boats of inestimable historical value—true gems capable of renewing the bond between man, water, and design. The genius loci of this event is the host himself, the guardian of a tradition that exudes mahogany and passion.
Ali Baba: A Century of History and Engineering (100 Years!)
The highlight of the gathering is the Ali Babà, a Chris-Craft brimming with charm and noble origins. It was 1926 when the renowned aeronautical engineer Alessandro Marchetti, at the age of 42, purchased this marvel, as evidenced by the historic deed of transfer from that era.
Today, Cesare Casarola cares for the Ali Babà with the same devotion, love, and attention he has always shown for his legendary Riva boats. This approach reflects the philosophy of the pater familias, a devoted guardian of a cultural and technological legacy that spans generations.
Asdec and the Museo Barca Lariana are also speaking American
The gathering also featured two other extraordinary boats that caught the attention of enthusiasts:
- “L’Intelligenza”: An exceptional Chris-Craft boat on loan directly from the prestigious Museo della Barca Lariana, accompanied for the occasion by its president, Ferdinando Zanoletti.
- “Given In”: A small but elegant tender that once belonged to the British Royal Family. This vessel was originally designed and built as an auxiliary boat for the famous royal yacht Britannia, now owned by ASDEC President Marco Biondi
ASDEC – The Barca Lariana Museum – Nautica Casarola
- The Birth of ASDEC: A “Win-Win” Partnership
ASDEC (the Association of Vintage and Classic Boats) was formally established on December 10, 1987, at 1:40 p.m., around a table at a Milanese restaurant on Via San Fermo della Battaglia. There, ten enthusiasts, along with publisher Carlo Gandini and notary Mezzanotte, signed the articles of incorporation between courses.
The real driving force behind the foundation was a strategic and editorial need on the part of Riccardo Villarosa, who needed to link his magazine *Yacht Digest* (YD) to an association broader in scope than the AIVE (which focused solely on vintage sailboats). To expand his subscriber base, Villarosa needed motorboat rallies. So he knocked on GianAlberto Zanoletti’s door (known as “GAZ”), finding fertile ground: Zanoletti had long dreamed of launching a magazine in the sector. It was a perfect “win-win” arrangement: Villarosa multiplied the stories to tell and the initiatives, while GianAlberto, holed up in his office in Milan, devised gatherings and projects for the boating world while his dachshunds, Basso and Otti, sharpened their teeth by chewing on ropes.
The mission, in Villarosa’s words: “ASDEC has brought together 150 members, works to ensure that vintage and classic boats are restored and preserved to the highest standards, and promotes a love of wood.”
The Museo della Barca Lariana in Pianello del Lario, which houses and preserves over 700 years of European boating history across its 9,000 square meters of exhibition space, features a stunning hall entirely dedicated to the iconic Riva boats. This section is a real treat and a real feast for the eyes for experts and enthusiasts of Cesare’s caliber.
However, just like the famous dynasty and the historic Casarola boat dealership, the museum does not limit itself to celebrating the legend of Sarnico. Among its highlights is “Intelligenza,” a highly significant vintage runabout by Chris-Craft (the prestigious American shipyard considered the overseas counterpart to Riva). The boat features a perfectly preserved 6.50-meter hull, offering visitors a tangible and priceless testament to the golden age of wooden motorboats on Lake Como, frequented not only by the British but also by well-known Americans.
Getting back to the topic of America
- The ongoing restoration of the Chris Craft Cobra (1955)
In the early 1950s, the Cobra was the experimental and innovative hull from the American company Chris Craft, in a market where the Italian firm Riva was competing with the Sebino and the Florida. Designed by Dom Mortrude, it was a two-tone “speedster” (mahogany and gold/bronze-colored fiberglass on the fish-shaped rear fin). Only 56 units were produced over six months due to its limited commercial success, which was attributed to high costs and the boat’s delicate lines.
In the early 1990s, specimen number 34 was found in a state of complete neglect. The philological restoration followed strict criteria:
- Structure: After removing the roof deck, reinforcements were added to the beams and the solid wood slotted ribs, without removing the original components.
- Assembly: The deck was reassembled using resorcinol glue (to allow for future disassembly without damaging the wood) and screws with cross-recessed heads.
- Finishing touches: The upholstery and the engine (a powerplant capable of reaching 45–50 mph) have been completely rebuilt and overhauled based on the original components.
The Ernesto Riva shipyard is currently restoring a 1955 Cobra BAL AMI 21ft.
- The Restoration of the Tender “Given-In” (1952)
A story by Marco Biondi.
On January 20, 1999, I was at a workshop near Verbania on Lake Maggiore to oversee the restoration of a 1966 Jaguar E-Type when I noticed an unusual overturned hull in the dark. The workshop owner, Elido Vitaliani, explained to me that it belonged to a British politician who, upon leaving his lakeside villa to return home, had given it to him, even suggesting he use it as firewood in the workshop’s large stove.
After taking some photos, I stopped the demolition of the hull and contacted GianAlberto Zanoletti. The president immediately recognized it as a superbly crafted American runabout, characterized by the hull lines that Ray Hunt was developing at the time. To examine the hardware, I went to the home of Alex Mazzoni (curator of the Baglietto shipyard archive in Varazze).
On GianAlberto’s advice (“Talk to Joseph Wettacker—he can help you out”), I got in touch with Joseph, who turned out to be a former partner at the Riva shipyards. The trip to Newport with my wife took me near the old Chris Craft shipyards, where an 80-year-old shipwright, looking at the photos, recognized the hull and explained that the curved bow was designed to avoid cutting through the waves and keep the deck dry—a feature typical of approach tenders. He also suggested a connection to Egidio Feltrinelli, who had worked in America in the 1950s.
Years later, the same elderly craftsman confirmed to Joseph the boat’s true identity: it was one of the two tenders built for the British imperial ship Britannia. Research at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth eventually uncovered a letter from Captain Martin dated 1952 and American equipment documents with serial numbers: these were the tenders ordered by the U.S. government as a gesture of goodwill toward the British Royal Family, christened Given-In I and Given-In II.
The current status of the restoration
The restoration was carried out by the Ernesto Riva shipyard in Maslianico, under the direction of Daniele Riva and his colleague Claudio. The shipyard oversaw the reconstruction of the hull bottom and the restoration of the bow and stern. The work received the explicit appreciation and esteem of Cesare Casarola, who called Daniele to commend the shipyard’s perseverance and daily efforts. The master compliments the apprentice…
- L’Ali Baba (1926): From Alessandro Marchetti to Cesare Casarola
The historical connection and Alessandro Marchetti
The Ali Baba is a 1926 Chris Craft that, as mentioned in the introduction, originally belonged to aeronautical engineer Alessandro Marchetti, founder of SIAI-Marchetti (later Savoia-Marchetti). After graduating from La Sapienza University in 1908, Marchetti pioneered the use of wood (“Spruce,” knot-free American spruce) and lightweight alloys in boatbuilding and aviation, designing historic aircraft such as the S.55—the star of Italo Balbo’s transatlantic flights—and patenting the first cyclic pitch systems for helicopters.
The boat’s technical specifications reveal just how rare it is:
- Material: High-quality Philippine mahogany.
- Dimensions: 6.70 meters long and 1.82 meters wide.
- Propulsion: A six-cylinder Gray Marine engine, which is still in perfect working order today.
- Electrical system: Original 6-volt system.
Today, the boat belongs to Cesare Casarola, bringing things full circle between two visionary entrepreneurs who have, in a sense, united Italy and America.
The Story of Cesare Casarola: The “Little Mechanic” Who Conquered America and Russia
Cesare Casarola’s childhood was marked by immense hardship: the early loss of his parents and his admission to an orphanage at just 5 years old. There he received a visit from Pope Roncalli (the future Saint John XXIII), who asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up; little Cesare, who already resented injustice, replied with a memorable retort: “I’ll be a lawyer, not a cardinal.” After running away from the orphanage, he was adopted by his uncle, who took him into his own auto repair shop, where the same uncle saved him from a near-drowning in the Mella River after his Sandolino boat capsized due to a relentless north wind.
At the age of nine, Cesare was already considered the best mechanic around, sought after by everyone and nicknamed “the little mechanic.”
His winning traits? Ironclad determination, innate talent, very little sleep (about three hours a night), and extraordinary human empathy. Also nicknamed “The Sea Cat” for his daring behind the wheel of speedboats, he became a legend in the 1962 speedboat race on Lake Garda: determined not to lose, Cesare literally sat on the throttle of a 500-horsepower Mercury engine, driving the boat to victory as it literally fell apart (broken fuel tank, warped frames, and parts flying off), crossing the finish line “à la Nuvolari,” almost with the tiller in his hand. There, major teams like Canali took notice of him, but it was Carlo Riva who realized that his boundless energy needed to be channeled toward a mutually beneficial direction. Riva pulled him away from racing and wanted him in sales, putting him to the test with a blunt question: “Do you feel up to going there?”
Casarola thus became the key figure in Riva’s international expansion, bringing the brand to America and even to Russian markets. There is a famous anecdote from Carlo Riva’s arrival at Rockefeller Center in New York: no cranes were available, and the exhibition was set to open the next day, but Riva insisted that an Acquarama be moved forward by 10 centimeters. Cesare didn’t lose heart; under cover of darkness, together with Luigi Bottura, he climbed to the third floor of a skyscraper under construction, stole four steel pipes, and used them to roll the boat into the exact position Riva desired.
Upon returning from America, Carlo Riva handed him the keys to the Bardolino shipyard, saying, “I have great confidence in you and hold you in high regard because you’re the best service technician I know. But remember, selling is a whole different story, and if you don’t measure up, you’ll go hungry.” Cesare accepted the challenge, turned down several offers to go into partnership in Salò or Lazise, and took things one step at a time. He bought a plot of land in Lazise that had been destroyed by fire to turn it into a boat inspection center (satisfying his passion for mechanics), and then opened a facility in Peschiera del Garda to handle, restore, and sell boats.
In 1969, when Carlo Riva sold his shares first to the Wettacher family and then to a British management team that plunged the group into crisis, it was Cesare who stepped in to offer financial assistance. His credibility and the personal rapport that the Chinese manager Mr. Xu developed with him later facilitated the partnership with Norberto Ferretti and the new Asian investors. Today, having been in operation since 1964, Nautica Casarola is the longest-standing Riva sales and service facility in Italy, with locations throughout the peninsula (Peschiera, La Spezia, Porto Cervo, Olbia).
- The Philosophy of Memory: A Comparison of Zanoletti and Casarola
If the history of classic yachting still holds its treasures today, it is thanks to men who have applied the very same devotion to the hull, even though they came from different backgrounds.
GianAlberto Zanoletti’s famous maxim:
“It isn’t necessarily true that things were better made in the past. It is certainly true that the items from the past that have survived to this day are undoubtedly well-made. It is up to us to appreciate them!” — July 16, 1998
This finds a perfect and mirror-image parallel in the life and work of Cesare Casarola: While Zanoletti applied the cultural foresight of a collector and guardian of historical memory (by founding ASDEC, archiving data, and even introducing a rating system to ensure fair competition among boats), Casarola safeguarded that same integrity through practical wisdom and technical genius.
Casarola embodied the idea that “preservation” begins first and foremost with the hands, with respect for the wooden frames, and with impeccable technical expertise that brooks no compromise. If the “GAZ” gave classic yachting a cultural and community-driven soul, the “Meccanichino” gave it the legs and the engine to race across the world, saving the Riva shipyard in its darkest hours and ensuring that those “well-made” hulls reached us intact, seaworthy, and proud. Two sides of the same coin: a restoration culture that marries mechanical perfection with boundless empathy.
Thank you Cesare!
