"Maverick": A dream comes true - the 44-metre explorer on a voyage to Greenland

Tom Schröder has dreamed of travelling around the world on his own keel for as long as he can remember. The idea of doing so came to him and his wife Jeannine during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. They spent the first few months with their four sons in their house on Mallorca and had an unexpectedly harmonious and inspiring time. So they decided to set sail together. They signed the purchase contract for the Flexplorer 146 with Cantiere delle Marche, held a majority stake in the Ancona shipyard through their family office and took delivery of "Maverick" in spring 2024.

The design of the robust 44 metres was inspired by the cinema classic "Top Gun", both inside and out. After crossing the Mediterranean, they spent a few months in the Red Sea and travelled back north, where they also stopped off on the Baltic coast to prepare the yacht and themselves for the Lofoten Islands and Spitsbergen. "Maverick" penetrated deep into the pack ice and reached 82°17' north latitude, only 463 nautical miles from the North Pole. Then came Iceland and Greenland, where they navigated in complete solitude through icy waters between monumental icebergs.

What was it like to live on board with the whole family for 18 months, and to what extent did this experience influence the dynamics between them?

Tom Life on board with my wife, our four sons and their partners, the captains, Guy Perkins and Oliver Michels, and a wonderful crew has been one of the most enriching chapters of my life. What began as a project, a journey, has developed into a lifestyle. It brings us closer together, strengthens our self-confidence and gives us meaning, gratitude and freedom every day.

Jeannine The closeness of family life on board was incredibly meaningful. We share every sunrise and sunset, every challenge and every laugh and every decision. There is no rushing out the door or getting lost in separate routines. This shared rhythm has deepened our relationships in a way that life on land rarely allows. We have learnt to communicate better, rely on each other and celebrate even the smallest successes as a team. I dare say it worked surprisingly well!

What makes travelling in northern, remote regions so special?

Tom Exploring the far north, which many see as an inhospitable environment, allows us to constantly discover new things. Every anchorage, every coastline, every iceberg and every change of wind brings with it a sense of infinity. Instead of repeating the same patterns every day, we wake up full of anticipation for what comes next: watching dolphins off the bow, encountering whales, discovering remote bays, meeting people from completely different cultures or watching the stars without any city lights. There is always something that reminds us how extraordinary this lifestyle is.

How has life on board "Maverick" changed your view of everyday life?

Jeannine I thought it would be scary and overwhelming to drive that far north between the ice floes. It was intense and healing - not only because of the wild environment, but also because Tom and I had the rare opportunity to share this experience with our four children. Discovering this part of the world together added meaning to the journey. And together with our crew, who have become part of our family, we have shared work, laughter, challenges and unforgettable moments. Together we have created our own little floating world, fuelled by curiosity and the prospect of some kind of transformation.

Tom Life on board has simplified our world. We live consciously, leave ballast behind and concentrate on what really counts: Safety, family, meaningful experiences and the beauty of the ocean. "Maverick" is not just a yacht: she is a home that moves with the waves, a protector and a classroom. We have learnt to fix things, understand weather conditions, overcome challenges and remain adaptable. This gives us strength, and every success feels well-deserved.

Is there a particular feeling or moment on board that you particularly remember?

Tom The peace and quiet. Quiet mornings where only the sound of the water can be heard. Sunsets that feel like private performances and the gentle rocking of the hull at night create a rhythm that calms the mind and rebalances the soul. Even on difficult days - and there are difficult days - there is a sense of purpose and connection that I would never want to trade.

How does "Maverick" behave in difficult sea conditions?

Tom We feel safe, even when nature challenges us, when the sky darkens and the wind howls. "Maverick" is stable and steadfast against the onslaught of the sea. Thanks to her exceptional seaworthiness, we were able to feel at ease even in heavy seas. The journey to the northern latitudes took us and our Explorer into one of the harshest marine environments on earth: waters where icebergs, pack ice and freezing temperatures regularly put its strength to the test. What kept the ship safe throughout the journey was also the technology behind the robust steel hull.

Why did you decide to travel so far north?

Tom We wanted to explore remote, unspoilt seas, observe wild animals in their natural environment, admire nature in its purest form, the deep blue sky, the water and the ice glistening in the sun. I don't want to sound rhetorical, but what I have experienced so far has moved me deeply and helped me to learn a little more about myself.

What makes life on the ship so enjoyable for you?

Jeannine I never thought I would enjoy living in such a cold place - but somehow it's magical. Out here, where we travelled for weeks without seeing a single other boat, the silence and solitude made everything seem even more extraordinary. It's the mixture of freedom, our closeness as a family, the sense of adventure and the way this life forces us to be truly present. This icy, lonely journey has given me memories that I will carry with me forever.

Tom It is the combination of freedom, family cohesion, adventure and the feeling of being completely in the here and now. We don't just observe life, we live it consciously and together. This life on the water has given us memories that we will cherish.

The man for extremes

Since "Maverick" was commissioned in spring 2024, two captains have alternated in command: Guy Perkins and Oliver Michels. Michels took over the helm of the 44-metre explorer in Spitsbergen and led almost 90 percent of the voyage in the Arctic waters. In this interview, the Hanover native reveals what nautical challenges the extreme regions had in store.

What are the most important features that make "Maverick" suitable for such a demanding journey?

First of all, a robust, well-balanced steel hull with a twelve-millimetre-thick ice belt: when navigating through small ice fields or when crossing larger ice floes, the reinforcement of the hull acted like an armoured shell that prevented breakthroughs and minimised deformations. Its load-bearing frames and ribs provided additional internal rigidity so that the yacht could withstand both direct impacts and the constant pressure of shifting ice.

Other essential features include large stowage spaces for consumables, provisions and, last but not least, rubbish, which we seal airtight and watertight. The A-frame crane allows us to store our 9.50 metre long tender "Iceman" on the aft deck and launch it stern-first, which is pretty impressive. And in general, we have a well-equipped bridge, as we are, after all, commercially classed.

What additional ship technology was required to navigate northern waters?

The shipyard attached great importance to the reliability of the systems. The sea valves and sea chests were designed in such a way that they cannot be blocked by ice. This is crucial for maintaining the flow of cooling water for engines and other systems.

Is there another special feature?

For example, water production using our Idromar water treatment system. The watermaker is equipped with a specially developed preheating system to increase the production of fresh water.

What navigational challenges do you face at high latitudes, for example near the poles, and how do you adapt your navigation?

The main difficulties in navigation were to compensate for the lack of reliable nautical charts so as not to have to deal with unknown bathymetry. There are a few routing programmes on the market, the most reliable being from the fishing industry, such as the OLEX system. As drift ice near the ship or our route was a constant challenge, good visibility and vigilance were of the utmost importance. Here too, modern electronics help a lot, such as good radar equipment and SEA-AI thermal imaging cameras for short and long range ice detection, which gave us additional security.

How do factors such as ice maps influence route planning and decision-making at extreme latitudes?

Ice charts play an important role in travel planning in Arctic regions. We used a programme called IcySea, which provides daily updated satellite images of pack ice and other drifting icebergs, chunks of ice or growlers. Of course, the best images of the ice are only as good as the navigator who has to interpret the data.

We as the "Maverick" crew completed an advanced course in polar navigation, which gave us the necessary knowledge and skills for safe navigation in polar waters, including knowledge of safety and emergency aspects. But we also had a first-class ice pilot, Captain Charbel Daher, permanently on board, which opened up completely new possibilities for dealing with the ice. Every day we learnt something new about the region and our yacht proved to be up to the task.

What were the most difficult decisions you had to make during the trip and how did you resolve them?

We spent a lot of time in Arctic waters until early autumn, which brings stronger winds to the region. It was therefore necessary to adhere strictly to the weather forecasts. This is always important, but even more so when we were crossing the Arctic and the Labrador Sea. The most difficult decision I had to make was choosing the right course and position to avoid Hurricane Melissa. I made this decision with the utmost care and I would like to thank the owners for their trust in me!

Built for the cold: How explorers defy icy seas

The shipyard has equipped "Maverick" with systems that work reliably in harsh climatic and sea conditions. Vasil Truja, Product Manager at Cantiere delle Marche, points out the main features that the yacht has been given for the voyage: On board there are engines designed for cold climates, redundant systems, improved insulation and special heating and protection devices. The sea inlets are warmed by the supply of coolant from the main engines, which prevents freezing and ice suction and ensures optimum operation of the pump systems and engines. As a Polar Code Category C vessel, "Maverick" is fully suitable for navigation in polar regions.

The ice belt protects against drift ice

The hull of the "Maverick", i.e. the bulbous bow, keel and waterline, is particularly robust. The ice or ice reinforcement belt is a horizontal steel strip with a thickness of twelve millimetres. It extends beyond the loaded waterline to allow for waves and load changes, as well as below the waterline to cover pitching and rolling movements. This area is particularly critical, as this is where the drift ice pushes and scrapes most frequently, and the wave action causes the ice to repeatedly strike at this height.

At the waterline, the load is therefore high due to ship movements (pitching and rolling), ice impact (ice slides up and down the hull) as well as abrasion and localised impacts. Without reinforcement, the ice can dent the panels, break laminates, damage coatings and cause leaks in the hull.

Differences to an ice-classified hull

A fully ice-classed hull is reinforced over much larger sections and designed to actively break ice. An ice belt at the waterline concentrates the strength, rigidity and abrasion resistance on the part of the hull that is most in contact with ice. This means that a yacht can usually sail safely without an ice-class hull.

Secure navigation and communication

The on-board electronics enable communication between ships, between ship and shore and with the SAR centre and are ideal for the signal restrictions at high latitudes. "Maverick" can receive ice charts, weather forecasts and environmental data via the internet and utilises independent heading sources and a GNSS compass. These functions and the radio equipment for communication with PWOM (Polar Water Operational Manual), POLARIS (Polar Operational Limit Assessment Risk Indexing System RIO ≥ 0) and ETR (Expected Time of Rescue) of five days ensure that the ship can operate safely in polar regions during the summer season (June to September).

Well planned: Food for three weeks

Simply filling the cupboards somehow doesn't work. Planning a non-stop journey in these latitudes is not just a question of the safest route or calculating the increased fuel consumption due to the longer generator running time and heating requirements. Such an undertaking also requires good organisation of food supplies and a reliable supply of fresh water. This supply plan is optimised for a three-week non-stop passage at high latitudes. It should be borne in mind that most of the systems and storage areas on "Maverick" are designed for long journeys. For example, there are large water treatment systems, refrigeration, drying and freezing rooms on board.

The following applies: food per person for three weeks, taking into account higher energy consumption and a comfortable standard of catering:

• Fresh food: 12-15 kg
• Dry products (rice, pasta, flour): 8-12 kg
• Frozen meat: 6-10 kg
• Frozen fish: 3-5 kg
• Eggs: 30-60
• Cheese: 2.5-4 kg
• Olive oil: 1-2 litres
• Butter: 1-2 kg
• Salt: 250 g
• Sugar: 1.2-1.5 kg
• Beans/lentils: 1-2 kg
• Tinned food: 5-7 kg
• Snacks: 3-5 kg
• Chocolate: 0.5-1 kg
• Water (drinking, cooking, hygiene): An average of 25 litres per person per day. A water maker can produce the entire daily consumption self-sufficiently
• Emergency reserves of food for at least one week