“This thing should have seatbelts,” I think as I plant myself in the empty
helm chair next to the captain. We are gathering speed in Miami’s
Biscayne Bay, 35 knots, 40, 45 and climbing, throwing an attention
grabbing rooster tail 30ft in the air behind us.
I am enjoying a front row seat on a Pershing 82, from the brand whose
sole objective is to go very, very fast. But this is no ordinary 82. The
mid-40s top speed of the five-year-old model wasn’t quick enough for
one American client. Working with him, Pershing developed this VHP
(for “very high performance”) rendition that will reach 52.5 knots. After
unveiling it in early 2017, the company has built eight VHP models, four
of which have gone to the US market.
I received an invitation to break the 50 knot barrier, “without spilling
my champagne,” so I had to test that, of course. After all, this is a yacht
that calls for bubbly. I take an experimental sip of my before-noon
libation (it’s OK – this is during Art Basel). Yep, the Veuve remains
steady in the flute.
It is surprisingly comfortable inside at speed, though “inside” isn’t
quite the word for it. It doesn’t feel at all enclosed as the glass bulkhead
that separates the open plan main deck interior from the aft deck
recedes completely, creating one continuous space. Fresh air circulates
without mussing the hair. There’s also a sunroof over the helm but the
captain opts to shut it when we leave the sedate cruising of Government
Cut and cross under the Rickenbacker Causeway.
“With the boat closed, there’s very little concept of speed,” confirms
Randy Coleman, vice president of North American sales for parent
company, Ferretti Group, “especially in flat water. You go outside and
it’s still OK, but poke your head around the corner and you’ll feel it.”
LOA: 81' 11"
LWL: 60 10"
Beam: 18' 1"
Draft: 4' 7"
Displacement (full): 65.6 tons
Fuel capacity: 1,572 gallons
Water capacity: 343 gallons
Construction: Composite
Engines: 2 x 2,638hp MTU 16V 2000 M96L
Max speed: 52.5 knots
Cruising speed: 45 knots
Guests: 8
Price: Upon request
w: pershing-yacht.comPershing 82 VHP
Twin 2,600hp MTU
engines power
the 82 VHP to a
blistering top speed
of 52.5 knotsWORDS Kate LardyPHOTOGRAPHY: ALBERTO COCCHI