Preloved: Pershing 64

This standout speed demon from Italy will attract plenty of attention even without its impressive list of previous owners.

These days, Mick Doohan is a high-flying businessman in more ways than one. The five-time world motorcycle champion runs service and brokering businesses catering to the corporate aviation world in Australia and Europe. He can just as easily run his empire from his homes in Monaco or on the Gold Coast but has spent much of the last couple of years locally.

Doohan bought his first plane while competing in GP racing and on retirement, he realised there was an opening for a new career. He started Global Jets International in 2006, which led to establishing the air service Platinum Business Management Group in 2010, operating out of Essendon and Coolangatta Airports.

From a youth spent going fast, both in speedboats on the water and GP and Superbikes on the track, Doohan is a self-confessed wheeler dealer who has acquired many boats over the years to cruise the Riviera and Corsica, as well as the east coast of Australia.

The Pershing 64 was launched in 2014 and came Doohan's way after a Russian aristocrat upgraded to a 92ft Pershing 9Xa to serve as a chase boat to his 65m Feadship — as you do if you’re a Russian billionaire. Doohan enjoyed the 64 on runs between Portofino and Corsica, but on his return to Australia, due to COVID-19, the boat was shipped here. It’s had plenty of use, including a quick dash to the Whitsundays for a month as well as numerous jaunts up to Tangalooma and day boating on the Broadwater.

With plans to spend major time back in Europe, Doohan has chosen to move the Pershing on and it’s being marketed through Leigh Smith Yachts in Sanctuary Cove.

Pershing isn’t a familiar marque on our shores but the brand is from one of Italy’s premium builders and will be familiar to many boating enthusiasts. Described in its marketing as “the Dominant Species”, Pershing takes the concept of sports yacht to a unique level.

Boasting a timeless bespoke luxury and an open-plan entertaining or relaxing style, the 40t vessel is capable of 46kt and a cruise in the mid 30s. Think Gold Coast to Sydney Heads in very quick a 10 hour steaming time in the right conditions.

Performance like this is courtesy of twin 1623hp MAN V12 diesels running through a set of ZF Sea Rex surface drives designed for performance boats like the Pershing. It might sound counterintuitive, but specially designed propellers meeting the water at shaft level are more efficient than those that are fully submerged. Simply put, the blades have less hydrodynamic resistance and can deliver scintillating performance.

As well as providing drive, the propellers move horizontally to steer the boat and vertically for optimum trim. While the system protrudes more than standard props, they are covered by a large swim platform. Being higher than shaft, stern or pod drives is an added advantage in shallow water. 

THE BUILDER

Built in Forli on the north-eastern Italian Coast, Pershing is part of the giant Ferretti Group, which has been producing a range of desirable yachts since 1968. Construction is balsa-cored, vacuum-bagged fibreglass with E-glass and carbon fibre where it matters. Hull, floor and superstructure form a single monocoque unit that’s immensely strong and proved creak and rattle-free at speed.

A relatively narrow 5m beam and an aerodynamic, sweptback screen and roofline emphasise the sleek and simple lines. In profile, the boat is stunning. At speed with a flying, foaming 10m rooster tail following the glistening white boat’s every move, there’s nothing like it. It’s not a boat for the shy and retiring, but on the other hand, you will be gone before anyone gets your number.

UNDERSTATED LUXURY

Starting with an electric swim ladder at the back, visitors make their way past timeless, minimalist Italian chic all the way along wide sides to a recessed sunpad at the bow. A generous garage lifts on an electric ram for access to a 3.25m Williams jet tender that launches on the combination davit and passerelle.

In the cockpit, a 10-seater lounge and a giant sunpad wait under a retractable overhang. Flick a switch and the full width glass doors drop into the cockpit sole to create a seamless single level entertainment precinct through to the helm. A leather-clad lounge at the rear of the saloon adjoins the open area to form a close-knit space for mingling.

Soft tones of light oak, cream and black blend with discreet Scandinavian-influenced furniture for a restrained and enduring ambience. Long, tinted windows summon tsunamis of light while the lounges are positioned to make the most of the ever-changing views. 

It took a while to realise the uncluttered impression of the saloon was due in part to the galley being secreted in the port side front corner. A steep companionway gives access and, despite the compact space, even demanding cooks will find everything they need laid out in an orderly fashion. 

A second companionway leads down to the three-cabin accommodation where the indulgent vibe continues. The bow cabin, with its own ensuite, imparts a roominess that defies the performance imperative of the relatively narrow beam with wide access each side of the island queen bed. Opening ports and a skylight admit light and fresh air, but like all the cabins, there’s individual air-conditioning. 

A starboard-side twin cabin is recessed into the hull, so you step down into a room with a high ceiling that lends roominess and privacy. There’s loads of light and it’s a quick trip up the steps to a shared bathroom.

The full beam master is a generously sized private escape with an island king bed, a lounge and desk, as well as an ensuite with a monster shower with rain head. Sky blue wall tiles liven up the room and stand out as the only splashes of interior colour.  

When designers introduced large windows just above the waterline on the sides of the full beam master into cruising boats, it transformed these cabins into places any sea lover would want to linger and that’s very much the case here. The low perspective gives a unique view and the cosseted luxury is hard to beat.

THE DRIVE

Surface piercing drives are something of a novelty on our shores and they sometimes get a bad rap because of perceived issues when manoeuvring at low speeds. However, according to Doohan, who is very much a hands-on owner, it doesn't take much time to get the knack of driving, especially with the bow and stern thrusters fitted on the Pershing.  

All the same, it takes driver input to get the best out of any high-performance vessel and the Pershing is certainly in that class. Handling in the seemingly endless low-speed zones around Sanctuary Cove is no different to any large boat and it’s only when reaching cruising speed that you need to change your approach. The boat is designed to cruise at mid-30kt and that takes a bit of getting used to.

An rpm of 1200 equals just under 10kt and an 115L/h fuel burn. Slowly advancing the throttles gets the hull moving and by 2000rpm, the turbos change note as the secondary stage chimes in. There’s no lift at the bow as we accelerate and at around 15kt, the hull is planing and itching to go faster. Only 150rpm more and we are already at 29kt!

Given its head, top speed is 46kt but Doohan believes the hull and drivetrain are designed for an optimum cruise of around 36kt, where range should be close on 260nm. You can go slower and use less fuel, but you won’t get as far.

When Doohan handed over the wheel, I realised how quickly the maze of Broadwater channel markers were rushing by. It was then I welcomed the expansive curved window that allowed clear 180 degree views. Luckily Doohan is a decent navigator and we managed to stay in the right lane. In broader sections of the waterway, the boat banked steeply and smoothly through turns. Experienced drivers can play with engine trim to keep the blades in the optimum position but I didn't notice any lack of power from the 3246hp engine room.

Close 1m waves greeted us at the bar as we headed out of the seaway. It didn't slow us down and we headed towards the horizon at a handy 38kt into the slow swell. Travelling on the ocean at these speeds is the essence of Pershing and a new owner will delight in the ride, whether its on runs from Sydney to Port Stephens for the weekend or for extended cruising where the journey will be half the fun.

Whitehaven has been maintained impeccably during its life and is on the market for $2.25m through Leigh-Smith yacht sales in Sanctuary Cove.  Boats of this style and quality don't appear that often, so if you're interested and like the boat, you will want to be quick. 

QUICK SPECS

PRICE $2.25m

GENERAL

MATERIAL GRP    

TYPE Performance monohull

LENGTH 20.04m (65ft 9in)

BEAM 5m (16ft 5in)

WEIGHT 40,500kg

DEADRISE 12.5 degrees

ENGINE

MAN 1623hp V12

Capacity 24.2L

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE 6+1 (NIGHT) 16 (DAY) 

FUEL 3500L

WATER 900L

CONTACT

Ryan Leigh Smith

Leigh-Smith Yachts

Shop 42 D and E Quay,

Sanctuary Cove, Qld, 4212

P: 0408 758886