Innovative, disruptive, thrilling. The new Pershing GTX116 yacht expresses the trends of the moment. Indeed, she offers generous open spaces, intrinsic contact with the water, high performance, and exceptional onboard livability. It’s no surprise that hull number one attracted an American owner. “I spent years searching for a yacht that’s perfect for Miami but could never find one,” the owner says. “Now my ideal model is finally a reality,” he says about Caffeine (which he named in honor of his business).
The Pershing GTX116 yacht has elegant, aerodynamic styling, with lines clearly from the gran turismo automotive tradition. Interestingly, the ventilation grills and the windshield each result from 3D printing. This technology, a first for Pershing, can save weight dramatically in manufacturing. “Performance and a sporty attitude are key points to the success of the new GTX range,” notes Stefano De Vivo, Ferretti Group’s chief commercial officer. (The 116 is the flagship of the range.) To that point, the megayacht has triple waterjets combined with the optional MAN engine package for a maximum speed of 34 knots. Cruising speed, meanwhile, with the same package is 29 knots. Add in reduced draft, too, which De Vivo says is purposely for shallow waters like those of the Bahamas.
The 116-footer (35.23-meter), with a beam of 25 feet (7.7 meters), further rethinks the use of space. We immediately noticed it when we stepped aboard at her premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival last September. For instance, the main deck stretches over two levels seamlessly inside and outside. There’s a spacious beach club area at the water’s edge. Its extended swim platform and sunning area look like separate spaces. However, hydraulic, lateral-opening gunwales merge the two into a single 431-square-foot (40-square-meter) space. This generous area, which can be used underway, too, challenged the shipyard’s construction skills.
The beach area flows up to the main deck’s second level, a 377-square-foot (35-square-meter) panoramic space. Here, the Pershing GTX116 yacht particularly caters to socializing and dining, further connecting with the main saloon. The owner of Caffeine and his guests have an asymmetrical layout inside to enjoy. It’s particularly successful, since it exploits the yacht’s full beam on the starboard side, eliminating the side deck. Fulvio De Simoni, the designer who contributed to the Pershing GTX116 yacht profile, assures buyers the project doesn’t look imbalanced. “We camouflage the asymmetry of the superstructure by closing off the forward section of the yacht’s port side with a panel, which reproduces the continuation of the starboard-side hull,” he explains. Furthermore, owners and guests still get alfresco access to starboard. In fact, the saloon opens on that side to a broad area, which turns into a huge terrace, too, via a swing-down bulwark.
Yet another re-thinking of space is the sportbridge. Two stairways, built into the superstructure, connect the main deck to this area. It’s new for Pershing’s sport superyacht segment. It’s also more than 430 square feet (40 square meters), partially covered by a hardtop. With a fully equipped bar area and built-in seating, the sportbridge is super social. The exterior helm station is up here as well, forward.
“We’ve managed to create an ambience that’s at once classy, sporty, and elegant, with much more headroom than usual on a sportboat,” De Simoni says. Certainly, the interiors of Caffeine are bright, even with extensive dark wood on the walls lending personality. The wood matches perfectly with leather on cabinet frames. De Simoni says the headroom and décor, from top design brands like Poltrona Frau, lend the new five-stateroom layout and saloon an airy, comfortable feel.
Run by five crewmembers (who get three cabins), the Pershing GTX116 yacht reflects a lot of attention to even small details. Like the name of hull number one, she’s a high-energy yacht well suited to active lifestyles.
Pershing Yachts pershing-yacht.com
More About the Pershing GTX116 Yacht
LOA: 115’6” (34.24 meters)
Beam: 25’3” (7.7 meters)
Draft: 4’9” (1.45 meters)
Guests: 10 in 5 staterooms
Engines: 3/1,775-hp MANs (standard); 2/1,973-hp MANs optional, each package with KaMeWa waterjets
Range: 400 nautical miles at 26½ knots
Builder: Pershing Yachts
Stylist: Fulvio Di Simoni, Ferretti Group Strategic Product Committee
Naval Architect: Ferretti Group Engineering
Interior Designer: Ferretti Group Strategic Product Committee
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