There are yachts that captivate with the daring of their futuristic lines or the boldness of their layouts. Others remain etched in memory for some unusual detail.
And then there is the yacht that touches your heart. The one you don’t just observe but perceive. The one that envelops you with its aura as soon as you step aboard, making you never want to leave because it captivates and seduce you so completely. Maverick (whose full name is Lt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell), is one of those yachts.
The Flexplorer 146, built by Cantiere delle Marche and launched in April 2024, has a story so intriguing it deserves to be told. In 2019, Tom Schröder and his wife Jeannine, entrepreneurs from Cologne, decided it was time to focus on the things that truly matter in life: family, loved ones, inclusion, and the discovery of new cultures. They sold their business, started a Family Office, and decided to have a yacht built to explore the world. On the recommendation of a friend, they chose Cantiere delle Marche and the first Flexplorer 146.
But there’s more: Schröder fell so deeply in love with the shipyard that in 2024, through the Fil Brothers Family Office, he acquired 75% of its capital. Maverick was launched in November 2023 and delivered in April 2024 to her owners, who set off with their entire family on the maiden voyage before arriving at the Cannes Yachting Festival for the world premiere. It was there that this 44-meter yacht revealed its true soul and extraordinary features.
The interiors, designed by Francesco Paszkowski in collaboration with Margherita Casprini, reflect the owners’ specific vision. But perhaps in this occasion, their role was more technical than creative. “We gave a very detailed briefing for the interiors,” explain Jeannine and Tom Schröder. “We even invited the designers to our home to show them our lifestyle and how we approach the world. We really wanted Maverick to be an extension of the places we love most.”
Maverick is not just a welcoming yacht; she is a therapeutic one. She embraces you, pampers you, and introduces you to a magical world you’ll never want to leave.
The experience begins as soon as you step aboard. The large living area on the main deck is the yacht’s calling card. At its center, a large, low, modular sofa by Living Divani invites you to chat, laugh, and admire the panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling windows. The bar and dining area, next to the large sofas, tell the story of a boat full of friends, laughter, warmth, and a desire to share. Everywhere, an inviting and carefully measured informality underscores how Maverick is not a representational yacht but a true explorer.
“We chose this type of yacht because it’s the only one that allows us to explore the world with complete peace of mind,” the owners say, “enabling us to focus on people, their cultures, and their ways of life without worrying about reliability issue.”
Soon, the Schröders, their four children, Tim, Ben, Pit, and the youngest, Fil, the true star of the group, embarked on an extraordinary seven-year journey around the world. The first two years will be spent entirely on board, while the following five years will alternate six months on the yacht and six months on land, though not consecutively. The itinerary, subject to constant adjustments due to geopolitical circumstances, includes the Red Sea, the legendary Northwest Passage, Greenland, Iceland, the coasts and estuaries of northern Canada, North America (where they have rented RVs for inland explorations), and Africa, where the Schröders have launched charitable initiatives for disabled children.
Having a son with Down syndrome has made the couple particularly sensitive to issues of inclusion. “We know our son is fortunate because he has parents and siblings who love him enormously,” says Jeannine, who runs an Instagram account dedicated to this topic with nearly 30,000 followers. “But we also know that this is not the case for everyone, especially in countries where, due to lack of funding or cultural barriers, these children are still marginalized,” she adds.
“Some of our stops have been chosen for very specific reasons,” echoes Tom. “Our children and some members of our Family Office staff have formed five teams. Each team was tasked with identifying social projects for disabled children in the poorer countries along our route. These projects will receive six-figure donations and will be visited during our journey,” he concludes.
“The hope is that this journey will not only help me and my family broaden our horizons but also have a significant impact on the communities we visit and how they live, love, and consider children with disabilities,” Jeannine maintains.
From a technical standpoint, Maverick is equally impressive. Featuring four decks, the yacht’s external lines, naval architecture, and engineering were crafted by Hydro Tec. Featuring a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, it includes a 12-millimeter ice belt at the waterline to ensure maximum safety during navigation in extreme latitudes.
Among her standout features are a carbon-fiber A-frame crane with a four-ton lifting capacity, which magically disappears into dedicated compartments when not in use; a main-deck pool that can be covered to create usable space; and collapsible bulwarks that expand the main deck stern terrace to 135 square meters. From here, a staircase leads to a small beach club, designed mainly for ease of water access, while the outdoor living area on the main deck, with its freestanding furniture, offers endless configurations.
The lower deck features a multifunctional area that can transform into a gym or cinema, technical spaces including the engine room, laundry, and storage, and four guest cabins midship—two doubles and two twins, each with its own bathroom. Forward, the crew quarters include three double cabins and a large crew mess area for a total of six crew members.
The main deck is Maverick’s social heartbeat. Both the cockpit and the main salon were designed by the family as spaces to gather and welcome friends. In addition to the large informal sofa, the bar, dining area, and versatile outdoor cockpit, even the galley is directly connected to the main salon. Another indicator of life on board is the presence of refrigerators and storage scattered throughout the yacht, emphasizing its ‘voyager’ spirit and guest-friendly approach.
Further forward, a corridor with a wine cellar leads to one of the Schröder siblings’ suites, offering stunning views on both sides through large windows.
The upper deck is the private realm of Tom, Jeannine, and Fil. It includes a panoramic master bedroom at the bow, large dressing and wardrobe area midship, Fil’s cheerful and colorful room, and an unusual L-shaped bathroom at the stern, with large side windows and door opening onto their private aft deck. This deck features a relaxation area, including a suspended swing sofa ideal for reading or cuddling. Above this is the wheelhouse and captain’s quarters,crowned by a ‘crow’s nest’, a super-panoramic and intimate retreat for moments of solitude or family bonding, perfect for escaping the bustle of life on board, or, in this case, from your siblings. Because two years aboard together is a long time, and sometimes a bit of privacy helps.
Giuliana Fratnik
