370 NAUTICAL MILES

Maximum cruising range at 38 knots

Pershing models, running on a hull developed from Pershing’s 92, which in turn evolved from the 90 and 88. ¶ Must-have options, based on my time aboard, include twin Seakeeper 9 gyrostabilizers for comfort at anchor, and a Xenta electro-hydraulic joystick control system for close-quarters maneuvering. At speeds faster than 8 knots, skippers can cruise the yacht using the joystick, a trick that I found immensely satisfying in the big seats down below as well as on the flybridge. Altering course required nothing more than a slight twist of my thumb and index finger. ¶ At a 38-knot cruise, our 9x’s motors were turning 2,250 rpm and burning 110 gallons per engine, which, allowing for a 10 percent reserve, equates to a range of almost 370 nautical miles. At full chat, those diesels are sucking up 2.2 gallons per minute, or 6.3 gallons per nautical mile. Setting the throttles to bumble, which I deem to be around 750 rpm, sees the 9x settle into a 10-knot cruise for around 900 nautical miles. ¶ Pershing interiors are crisp, reflecting youthful tastes. Our test yacht, Najati, fused a satin-gloss ebony and whitened oak sole, along with furnishings from Poltrona Frau and cushions by Fendi Casa. I was convinced that some of the cupboards were sheathed in snakeskin or exotic printed leather, until I realized the material was a silvery fabric. It’s a nice vibe. ¶ Owners can choose a three- or four-stateroom layout. Najati has the master amidships, the VIP forward with a diagonal berth, and two guest staterooms in between (their berths can convert from twins to doubles). The companionway belowdecks is off-center, which means the starboard stateroom is a little beamier than the one to port. ¶ The chaise longue in the owners’ stateroom is the biggest touch point on the yacht. I tried it with enthusiasm, but actually, as is, it isn’t quite right for my 6-foot-6-inch frame. I found it more comfortable when I was sitting the wrong way around, with my back to the bulkhead, although I’m quite sure Pershing’s engineers would sort that one out for me in a flash if I asked. ¶ The yacht’s galley doubling as a crew mess is also on this deck, reached by a dogleg staircase from the portside corner of the main salon. ¶ A garage under the stern sun pad is big enough for a tender and a toy. Najati has the largest Williams RIB that fits, a Turbojet 385, as well as a Sea-Doo. ¶ Following our sea trial, Najati faced a long voyage south as a large piece of deck cargo, on a transport ship bound for Africa. Her owner was taking delivery in Angola, where mining and oil resources have created one of the continent’s fastest-growing economies — growing almost as fast as the Pershing 9x flies.

PERSHING SAYS THE MAXIMUM SPEED FOR THIS 92-FOOTER IS 42 KNOTS, ALTHOUGH DURING OUR TEST OFF LA SPEZIA, ITALY, WE MANAGED A KNOT MORE AT SOMETHING APPROACHING HALF-LOAD.