Let’s hear from the Owner of RJ130 about his experience with the yacht and why he decided to have a larger version built by CDM.

CDM – Straight to the point: What are the characteristics of both the yard and the product that you appreciate most? Would you please tell us why you decided to buy your first explorer yacht built by CDM?
The experience that made me think about wanting to spend time at sea was when, as President of one of my companies, I was invited aboard the sailboat sponsored by us to participate in one of the most important regattas in the Mediterranean in the mid of the 90s. Since then, together with my wife, we decided to approach this world by buying a Gozzo to be used during our summer holidays in Liguria. When I think back then and where we are now it makes me smile, I always thought that the boat I was buying at that moment would be my last. Well, in short, we made up our minds to grow with the size, we formed a crew (some of them are still with us after almost 15 years) and slowly we left for ever longer cruises. Our first yachts were in fiberglass: a 60', then an 85' and a 105', with each of them we took the level of our travels to the next step and inevitably the boat to its limit. At that point both my wife and I understood that we had to aim for a yacht up to our needs, that is an explorer yacht, and we simply went to the best manufacturer, which also had plus for us: it was an all-Italian reality. The first real meeting with CDM was with Ennio, Vasco and part of their team at their headquarters in Ancona in 2019. We immediately realized that the group was united and solid in achieving the same goal, build ‘beautiful boats’. It was enough to step aboard one of their constructions to receive the feeling we were looking for of solidity and strength from it.

CDM – Why the RJ 130? What are her main qualities?
Our first CDM was a 40m, because we were convinced that growing more would have limited us in our explorations between the small islands and small bays. It was the case that when we went to negotiate, we were offered a 130' under construction at about 40% of the process. It was a stroke of luck for us, as they didn't have any slots available at the time and taking over saved us at least 1 year on the whole building process. There was no time to lose, my wife immediately set to work with the architects to give her own style, simultaneously my Master and I formed the Owner Tech Team, trying to bring the most possible level of customization into our vision. Everyone's commitment was exemplary and the project became the shipyard's flagship. In May 2021 the boat was launched and I remember how great the emotion we felt when we boarded the first time, we organized our maiden voyage in Greece and we fell in love with her. The aesthetic qualities stand out on anyone who crosses their gaze with her, but in my opinion the greatest qualities are hidden under the elegance of her evening dress, which make her a true Explorer Yacht. Stability, silence and a feeling of safety are what you notice at first approach, navigation quality, low consumption and autonomy are what you notice the moment you get to know her.

CDM – How would you describe your experience with RJ 130? ... and then: why an RJ 155? What was the brief you gave the designers, Paszkowski and Salvagni
We really enjoyed every moment on board and it wouldn't be right to forget anyone of them. This would already answer the question, but I would like to add that it was the same enthusiasm felt on board the RJ 130' that made us decide to grow once again. Project RJ 155 materialized together with the shipyard in the space of about a year, a few months after the maiden voyage of RJ 130. The basic philosophy had to remain the same as the previous project, to build the best Elegant Yacht Explorer, but taken to the next level in terms of tailor made by fulfilling some of our requests in general to increase performance and comfort. Sure of Francesco Paszkowski's RJ line for the exteriors, we opted for Achille Salvagni for the interior spaces, again a combination of Italian excellence. My wife and I love elegant and essential style, nothing unnecessarily flashy and disconnected from practicality, this is the initial input we gave the architects. The last step was to organize the same Owner Tech Team, which immediately found the winning affinity with the CDM Technical Office built with the previous boat.