Pershing’s 9X Balances Raw Power with Gentle Grace
Beauty in the beast.
If we were to assign animal-like qualities to yachts, then the 9X from Pershing is the big cat of the seas. Large, powerful, fast, stealthy, the 9X is one of those rare beasts you can’t help but admire in every possible way—the ultimate balance of muscle and grace.
Is it any wonder then that the Italian marque finds itself unable to keep up with demand for its most celebrated sport yacht?
Stemming from the partnership between yacht designer Fulvio De Simoni and Ferretti Yachts, parent to the Pershing banner, the 9X makes extensive use of carbon fibre composite materials that give the hull and superstructure exceptional strength with minimal weight. The combination allows the 9X to reach an eye-popping 42-knot maximum speed and a cruising speed of up to 38 knots. That’s astounding performance for a 28-metre yacht that displaces nearly 84,000 kilograms.
The 9X pairs twin MTU 16V M96L engines generating 2,638 horsepower apiece with Top System surface drives spinning Rolla surface propellers, producing power to burn and jet-ski-like handling. The 9X’s ability to deliver this kind of rocket ride while still accommodating a boatload of guests in opulent luxury with its four magnificent staterooms is what sets it in a class of its own.
Step aboard at the deep stern swim platform with hydraulic lift and you’ll see the big Pershing’s sophisticated side. With its huge tender garage–big enough for a standard 10-metre RIB plus a Sea-Doo–the stern hints at the fun in store.
Heading up into the cockpit, decisions await. Do you take a place on the enormous stern sun pad to work on your tan? Or do you grab a cold drink at the L-shaped lounge and cool off under the shade of an overhead sunscreen? A cockpit grill to port and a full wet bar to starboard ensure you won’t want to leave anytime soon.
But wide promenades on either side of the yacht demand further exploration. Both lead to the spacious bow lounge, where twin settees surround a folding table, creating what might be the ultimate space for late-night drinks under the stars. Aft of this seating area is a second sprawling sun pad for daytime enjoyment.
From the cockpit, a wide stairway on the vessel’s port side leads to the flybridge, where an inviting wraparound settee and yet another massive sun pad welcome guests to unwind while enjoying uninterrupted 360-degree views. Up front, the flybridge helm station provides triple-wide seating, giving the skipper what could be the most stylish centreline command post at sea.
The final option from the cockpit is to step inside to the sumptuous salon. Just inside the oversized sliding glass cockpit door is a delightful lounge area to starboard with a large coffee table, while an inviting dining space lies further ahead. The entire salon is bathed in natural light thanks to enormous wraparound windows.
At the aft end of the salon, a discreet stairway leads below to provide access to the galley, the engine room, and the laundry facilities.
Far forward is the primary helm station, its four touchscreen displays giving the dash a look right out of a private jet. Bridge doors either side provide direct access to the promenades when docking, while to the starboard side of the helm console a discreet stairway leads below to the primary accommodations. A convenient day head is easily accessed at the base of the stairs as you step into the main corridor.
Up front, a spacious and bright VIP stateroom with private ensuite is easily as large and spacious as the master suite in other yachts of this size. Amidships, the port and starboard guest cabins flank the corridor, each with its own large privacy window and ensuite head.
The master suite is accessed from the aft lower corridor. With its spacious full-beam layout, there’s room for a generous head with a huge shower, plus a full walk-in wardrobe. An abundance of privacy window space yields plenty of natural light. An inviting lounge provides a great spot to unwind at the end of the day or wake fully while planning new adventures.
Pershing’s 9X raised a lot of eyebrows—and dropped a lot of jaws—when it made its global debut. But it doesn’t take long to understand its appeal. With its balance of muscle and grace, this is one luxury yacht that can’t help draw stares everywhere it goes.
