Pershing's 72 reviewed by OCEAN Magazine

by OCEAN Media on 18 Mar 2008 OCEAN inspected Pershing’s latest 72 on both sides of the Atlantic during the 2007 international boat shows in Cannes, Monaco and Fort Lauderdale.

The yacht had just completed an extensive ‘sea show’ in Europe where Pershing had introduced their latest creation at a series of glamorous special events across the Mediterranean.

When we first set eyes on her, the new addition to the Pershing family lay gleaming in the morning sun, a new coat of pearlescent silvery bronze paint adorning the eye catching curves of the all-new design. This next evolutionary step in the Pershing product line still looks characteristically Pershing and presents a number of evolutionary ideas, furthering the ideal to design the perfect high-performance sport yacht.

As you would expect of the innovative, design-focused Italians, some of the innovations of the 72 are logical improvements in detail not yet seen in other vessels of this type, whilst some have simply been adopted, seen before in other boats from many parts of the world, but still with a Pershing touch.

Nevertheless, the innovations on show in the Pershing 72 are all worthy improvements to what is already an iconic performance yachting brand. You can clearly discern that a lot of new thinking in both aesthetics and function has gone into the new boat, which essentially replaces the previous 76.

Most notable aspects are the revised side window lines and design detail, as well as the large window set amidships in the hull on either side of the master stateroom. Pershing was the innovators with the silver hull colour which proved popular and has been imitated by many sport yacht manufacturers in recent years.

This 72 model progresses that ideal with stunning pearlescent paint that appears to shift colour from silver to bronze depending on light and viewing angle.

The Pershing 72 is capable of 45 knots top speed when the high performance, deep vee hull, twin MTU 1823 hp engines and Arneson surface-piercing drives combine in full symphony. At dockside with mooring lines attached, the 72 conveys the impression of power and poise, and quite simply looks like it’s doing a hundred miles an hour standing still.

A rocket ship to the stars, or for the stars, it matters not;

All furnishings are upholstered in the ultra-exclusive Poltrona Frau brand

The design of the 72 really shines in the typically futuristic Pershing helm station.

This is one craft that screams speed and style whether at anchor or flying across the wave tops. Her sea manners are impeccable, with the added excitement of throwing a sky-high rooster tail from the Arneson drives and massive Rolla surface-piercing propellers.

But Pershing is not all about performance. Strange as it might sound, that is almost a given. Pershing is also about style, comfort and luxury, which are as abundantly available as the horsepower in the engine room. This new 72 model provides for a roomy floor plan, given this is a performance sport yacht. It features a 22.26 metre (73 foot) LOA, 21.67 metre (71 foot) hull length and maximum beam is just over 5.5 metres (18 foot).

The main living deck is where the innovations of the 72 are most evident with a design focus on indoor/outdoor flexibility at the touch of a button or two.

The concept of the indoor/outdoor entertaining space is certainly not new, but Pershing has executed this interpretation beautifully. There is a large, electrically operated sunroof over the driver’s position, made of carbon fibre, for ample sunlight and breeze whenever you wish. There is also an aft sliding roof that extends in two stages over the cockpit to provide sun or weather protection, or retracts fully forward into the roof structure, allowing sunshine to bathe the cockpit lounge and dining table, and most importantly the aft sun lounge.

One of the standout design features of the Pershing 72 is the electric, fully retracting aft bulkhead door and window, which at the touch of a button simply disappears below decks into the bulkhead separating the aft cockpit lounge from the interior saloon. This is surely a special feature certain to be incorporated in future Pershing models. The entry door on the port side slides out of the way to the right, behind the aft lounge, where it can either remain or, should you wish to open the entire saloon to the cockpit outside, can glide below deck, creating an open expanse of indoor/outdoor living from the windshield to the stern platform.

The luxury appointments, furniture and fittings are stunning, as you would expect of the Ferretti Group, the parent company of the Pershing brand, renowned for the interior design and high-quality fit-out of their yachts. The Pershing brand typically features contemporary, Italian-styled furnishings, with a modern and sporting appeal.

All cabinetry, leather lounges, wall and ceiling linings are first class. On the 72, Pershing have even gone so far as to have specified all furnishings to be upholstered in the ultra-exclusive Poltrona Frau leather brand, including the dual pilot helm chairs, which also feature double-electric motion adjustment to suit any driver preference, sitting or standing.

The cockpit features a prominent double sun bed, centrally positioned above an aft garage housing the jet tender and jet-ski on a typically equipped boat. To starboard there is a large L-shaped white vinyl lounge surrounding a natural teak folding table. A barbecue and access to the engine room and crew bunk/head below decks is opposite.

Immediately inside the saloon on the right is a large Poltrona Frau leather lounge which surrounds an extendable and vertically adjustable dining table, with a couple of loose chairs opposite. A sideboard and popup flat screen TV is to port.

Where the design of the 72 really shines again is in the forward section of the saloon where the typically futuristic Pershing helm station is located, slightly offset to the right of centre, the twin electrically adjustable helm chairs sitting on a stylish storage cabinet. Located between the seats are the integrated ZF throttles and gear quadrant. A small ‘drive by wire’ electronic steering tiller is also situated here, right at hand. In practice, the tiller will likely be used most of the time for steering control, despite being directly behind the sports steering wheel and Arneson drive trims located on the characteristic Pershing helm module, displaying a host of navigation and engine instrumentation.

The windshield ahead is highly swept, aiding both the sporting lines and aerodynamics of the boat. This has the added design advantage of providing extensive natural light to both the compact but perfectly located galley, down a short flight of stairs immediately to the right of the helm, and also over the curving staircase to the left, leading to the extensive triple stateroom accommodations on the lower deck.

It is a good design solution made possible by the height of the main deck above the waterline, which allows sufficient depth in the hull to locate the galley to starboard just half a deck down and still have sufficient room for the accommodation below.

On this style of boat it is unusual for the accommodation to be totally separated from the noise and cooking smells of the galley, typically located on the accommodation deck of other open sport yachts. So, this arrangement is another excellent, practical feature of the 72’s design.

The accommodation on board the boat is a three stateroom affair, with VIP double guest cabin located up front along a short passage, with another twin bed arrangement to port. The owner’s stateroom is set amidships with a full beam expanse, framed by the two magnificent signatu