Marine Business News had the pleasure of meeting Vasco Buonpensiere during his visit to the Gold Coast this week.
Vasco is a truly distinguished figure in the world of boating. A lifelong sailing enthusiast, Vasco made the bold decision to leave behind a career in law to follow his passion for the sea. His journey began in St. Tropez, where he worked as a yacht broker at Waterman Exclusive Yacht Services. But the brokerage world was only the beginning.
Driven by a desire for deeper involvement in yacht building, Vasco returned to Italy to join the CRN-Ferretti Group. There, he quickly rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming Sales and Marketing Director for both CRN and Custom Line, where he led the successful sale of 58 yachts ranging from 30 to 80 meters.
Publisher of MBN Domenic Genua with Vasco Buonpensiere
In 2010—during one of the industry’s most turbulent years—Vasco co-founded Cantiere delle Marche (CdM).
As CEO, he has led the company to international acclaim, establishing CdM as the world leader in the explorer yacht segment within just five years.
Today, CdM holds a commanding 35% of the global explorer yacht market and ranks 13th worldwide in terms of total yacht length under construction.
CdM continues to expand its global presence, including a dedicated sales office in Sydney, where several Explorer Vessels have already been sold. Vasco is also a respected voice in the industry, having served on the board of the International Superyacht Society and currently on the board of the Marche Yacht and Cruising Association. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at major yachting conferences around the world.
Vasco is currently visiting Australia to deliver a keynote at ASMEX and to support the Australian CdM team as they present their first vessel at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
We thank Vasco for his time.
This is what he had to say.
You made a bold leap from a legal career to yachting—what was the moment you knew you had to make that change, and what gave you the confidence to do it?
An American lawyer—who’s been a friend since the 1980s—once told me, “Vasco, you keep complaining about not enjoying what you do, even though you’re successful at it. But I’ve never heard you say what you would love to do.” That moment was eye-opening. I realized I needed to focus on what truly inspired me and it didn’t take long to understand that I wanted a job aligned with my greatest passion: boating. Once that became clear, the confidence to make the leap came from the respect I have for my life and my desire to make it an exciting, fulfilling journey.
What did your early days at Waterman in St. Tropez teach you about the industry—and yourself—that still shapes your leadership today?
I’m still grateful for my time at Waterman, especially to its Dutch founder and owner, Mr. Ron Kleverlaan, one of the most outstanding professionals I’ve encountered in my career.
The key lesson I took from those early days was how to blend the best of Dutch attitudes with my Italian mindset. This fusion—bringing together Northern European precision and Italian creativity—is still one of my strongest traits today.
You’ve had incredible success at CRN and later co-founding CdM during a downturn—what stands out to you as the most defining moment in your journey so far?
At CRN, the most defining moment was the 12 months following the Lehman Brothers crash. I remember standing at the Monaco Yacht Show as Blackberries rang all at once and clients rushed for the exits. Back at the shipyard, I gathered the PR, communications, and sales teams and gave a single order: “From now on, our goal isn’t to sell more boats—it’s to make sure that none of the ones under construction get cancelled.” Of 23 builds, only two were cancelled—and both were sold shortly after without financial loss. A success worth remembering.
For CdM, it was undoubtedly the first Cannes Boat Show, where we unveiled our Darwin Class 86. The response was overwhelming: visits from prospective clients and industry peers kept coming, all curious about this unusual red boat with a stunning paint job and a standout engine room. That was the moment we knew our vision was right.
What was the toughest challenge you faced building CdM, and how did you navigate it?
Without question, the toughest challenge was Covid—especially from a commercial standpoint.
We quickly adapted the way we communicated, marketed, and sold our products. Rather than waiting to see what would happen, we studied how to sell through video and online, looking at other industries already doing so. Apparently, we got it right: we met our sales targets, and even sold a yacht to an Australian client entirely online…he hadn’t seen the boat in person, not once.
CdM is a global leader in explorer yachts—what do you think has been the key to creating and sustaining that leadership position?
Consistency, humility, and reliability.
Consistency: We’ve remained laser-focused on our identity as experts in Explorer vessels. Even when the market tempted us to broaden our scope, we never diluted our core purpose.
Humility: Despite being ranked the 13th shipyard globally in meters under construction (GOB), we stay grounded. Shipbuilding is complex and volatile, and we approach each day as if we still have everything to prove.
Reliability: Not just of our vessels—though they’ve proven themselves, knock on wood—but of our company. We deliver what we promise, and we only sell what we know we can build.
What are you most proud of when you look at CdM today, 15 years after its founding?
That, despite our success and growth, we’re still a shipyard—not a factory. Our decisions are guided by our boats and our clients, not spreadsheets. We’ve learned that building top-quality vessels leads to happy clients, and happy clients drive strong financial results. The spirit at CdM remains one of passion, dedication, and a deep commitment to customer satisfaction. That’s something I’m truly proud of.
What do you attribute your success in Australia to, and did you expect that you would have such success in this part of the world?
We always believed that Australian clients—with their maritime culture, pragmatic mindset, and love for the ocean—would be a perfect match for CdM, and we were right. Our blend of style, design, and flexibility with overengineering, durability, and seaworthiness resonates with a clientele whose cruising environments demand these qualities. Add to that our fantastic local team—Paul Milletta and Domenico Giuffrè, who perfectly represent a blend of Italian and Australian character—and you have the ideal recipe. Seeing our Darwin Class 107 in Cairns, the Darwin 102 in the Kimberleys, or the RJ115 safely navigating 60-knot winds and 5-meter waves from Sydney to the Gold Coast is proof of that.
(L to R) Paul Miletta Vasco Buonpensiere and Domenico Giuffrè,
What advice would you give to young professionals or entrepreneurs trying to break into the marine or yacht-building industry today?
First and foremost: don’t rush. Learn first. Build a foundation, understand how a boat is conceived, engineered, built, and used. My son, who wants to pursue a career in yacht sales, will start this summer working in operations before. Walking the sheds, talking to the craftsmen, learning about the processes and challenges, this will give him a real edge when dealing with clients. That’s what I recommend to anyone entering this industry. Deep knowledge earns trust, not only of clientele, but also of the people who will work around you..
Looking back, is there a piece of advice you received early in your career that changed how you approach business and leadership?
Have Fun, always.
With growing interest in sustainability and exploration, how do you see the explorer yacht market evolving in the next decade?
Generally speaking (without giving away too much of what’s currently on our desks): I believe we’ll see the rise of “purpose vessels”—yachts built with specific uses in mind, rather than for general leisure or ‘holidays’. Explorers are already relatively sustainable due to their low fuel consumption and long service lives. They must also be easy to maintain and extremely reliable. So, yes, they’ll eventually adopt alternative propulsion systems and fuels—but only once these technologies have been thoroughly tested, proven reliable, and become cost-effective.
What’s next for you and CdM—any new frontiers or ambitions you’re excited about?
Our ambition is to remain a shipyard of passionate people building reliable vessels, while sustaining a disruptive vision and our success for many years to come. I know you’d love to hear more about our upcoming projects, but if I shared those… my ambitions might be compromised!
For more information about CdM, visit their website here: cantieredellemarche.it
