CDM is thrilled to announce that the Flexplorer 146 Lt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell has been awarded the WSA  in the Displacement Motor Yachts category for yachts 499GT and below, ranging from 40m to 45.9m, and  the RJ115 Pazienza was honored in the Displacement Motor Yachts category 499GT and below, ranging  from 30m to 39.9m.

Vasco Buonpensiere, Ennio Cecchini, and the two Owners comment on the Awards;

“I don’t know how not to sound rhetorical, but the fact that a ‘small’ Italian shipyard founded in 2010 has earned such prestigious recognition is a truly remarkable achievement. It’s a profound source of pride and a great honor for the entire CDM Tribe,” says Vasco Buonpensiere, co-founder and CEO of CDM. “This year, four of our yachts were finalists at the World Superyacht Awards, with two recognized as the best in their categories by a distinguished panel of highly respected judges. This is a rare accomplishment that makes  CDM one of the few shipyards to be honored twice in a single edition of the World Superyacht Awards. For us these awards are not the final goal of our commitment, they are a further confirmation that the route we set was the right one. We did it by pushing forward, mile after mile, holding the course and keeping the rudder steady, especially when it was hardest. Thanks to everyone who believed in the journey.”

“For CDM, the awards to Pazienza and Maverick represent a testament to our relentless pursuit of  excellence. They reflect who we are: visionary, trusted, and proudly leading the future of explorer yacht building,” adds Ennio Cecchini, co founder of CDM and the company’s President. “We take immense pride in crafting explorer yachts that not only sail the world’s most remote waters but also command global recognition. Receiving the Neptune, the coveted statuette awarded at the World Superyacht Awards, holds the same prestige in our industry as the Oscar does in the film industry. These awards are a powerful affirmation of who we are and what we stand for. Winning at the World Superyacht Awards solidifies CDM’s standing as a premier builder of durable, high-quality, and seaworthy explorer yachts. It positions our brand among the best (and top) yacht builders globally.”

“My family, the crew, and I are incredibly proud of the Neptune Award. Together with CdM, I believe we’ve redefined what explorer yachting under 499 GT can be. Maverick matches the quality and functionality of the best Northern European mega yachts, but at 45 meters, she can still slip into small harbors. We’ve
now been on our round-the-world journey for almost five months, currently sailing the Baltic Sea before heading into the Arctic via Scandinavia. Sadly, this meant we couldn’t attend the ceremony in Venice—but rest assured, we celebrated the Neptune Award in true Maverick style!” proudly states Tom Schröder, Owner of Maverick and CDM’s majority shareholder. “Since her delivery just 13 months ago, we’ve spent around 300 days aboard. It’s not just a yacht: it’s our home. And we’re looking forward to the next 6.5 years as we continue exploring the world aboard the Winner Maverick.”

The Australian Owner of Pazienza says: “Over the course of more than 5,500 nautical miles, Pazienza has carried us through everything—from tranquil glassy seas to the raw intensity of sea state 6 and sudden storms, with waves up to 6 meters and winds reaching 55 knots. While calm days are always welcome, life
at sea for months demands a vessel that can handle nature at her most unforgiving. That’s why we’re deeply grateful for choosing Cantiere Delle Marche. Pazienza delivers both comfort and uncompromising safety in every condition—an explorer yacht that envelops its guests in true luxury. This rare blend of elegance, resilience, and craftsmanship has now been recognized with the industry’s highest honor: the World Superyacht Award for Displacement Motor Yachts 30–34.9m. A well-earned tribute to the outstanding team at CDM.”

Jury’s motivation – RJ 115 Pazienza

Length: 34.8m
Builder: Cantiere delle Marche
Naval architect: Hydro Tec
Exterior designer: Francesco Paszkowski Design
Interior designer: Francesco Paszkowski Design
in collaboration with Margherita Casprini

The winner in this category of the smallest displacement yachts pulled ahead by a good margin, impressing the judges with her excellent build quality and ability to blur the lines between superyacht and explorer. As the third hull in Cantiere delle Marche’s RJ class, Pazienza combines sporty lines and an
aluminium superstructure with a rugged and highly capable steel hull. This is what drew the owner, who was seeking adventure and comfort in equal measure, to Pazienza. The yacht has an impressive range of more than 7,000 nautical miles when cruising at 10 knots.

The judges were fans of the yacht’s dynamic profile and fluidity between indoor and outdoor living. Glass is employed extensively to flood the interior with natural light, even in the bulwarks to further open up views from inside, while the open stern design gives a sense of visual continuity with the seascapes beyond. Per the owner’s request, the interior has an elegant yet soothing ambience adorned in a purposefully limited number of materials in a neutral palette. The floor is covered in bleached oak in a satin finish while custom furniture is in a stained oak juxtaposed by dark gloss finishes and detailing.

Pazienza’s tender storage has been customised to her owner’s needs. Setting her apart from fellow RJ115 model Stellamar, Pazienza has space for two tenders – one that can be stowed on the upper deck aft during long journeys and another that takes refuge in a dedicated tender garage at the stern, accessed
with a hatch on the starboard side. This garage is also home to a wide array of water toys.

Jury’s motivation – Lt. Pete Maverick Mitchell

Length: 44.3m
Builder: Cantiere delle Marche
Naval architect: Hydro Tec
Exterior designer: Hydro Tec
Interior designer: Francesco Paszkowski
in collaboration with Margherita Casprini

The winner of the Displacement Motor Yachts – 499GT and below, 40m to 45.9m category, Lt. Pete Maverick Mitchell caught the judges’ attention for the immense customisation found on board this Cantiere delle Marche Flexplorer 146. “This boat is highly customised for a Cantiere delle Marche yacht – it’s geared towards the owners’ absolute requirements,” said one judge. “And the owners knew exactly what they wanted.

Built for a multi-year around-the-world journey, the yacht will serve as the family’s home as they traverse the Northern Hemisphere, including the challenging Northwest Passage, and down to the Southern Hemisphere, requiring that she be capable of long-range voyages and be well suited for both polar and tropical conditions. She has a 12-millimetre steel-plate belt wrapped around the waterline to enhance her abilities in ice conditions, and both active and passive stabilisation systems to ensure comfort at sea. The A-frame crane on the aft deck has a high load capacity of four tonnes, enough to handle a very large tender and a raft of water toys. The aft placement of the crane prevents obstruction below deck, which helps to optimise space planning.

The yacht’s exterior was created to give the angular lines typical of the Flexplorer series some softer curves and playful design elements, with inspiration drawn from the aerodynamic tail fins of iconic Grumman F-14 Tomcat fighter jets, like the ones depicted in the Top Gun film that inspired the yacht’s name. Inside, the yacht has a novel layout proposed by the owners, which includes an owners’ apartment with a panoramic master cabin and cabins specially designed for the needs of their children.