Pershing turns forty: an incredible journey through history, innovation and revolutionary models
by Pershing 25 Jun 00:25 NZST
Pershing X fleet © Pershing Yachts
Pershing celebrates forty years of history and passion for the sea. It's an anniversary that bears witness to the evolution of a brand with a revolutionary impact on the yachting world, through iconic boats featuring bold designs, cutting-edge technology and superlative performance.
Not just a shipyard but an authentic expression of the sporty luxury and Italian style that have been defining incomparable on-board experiences for four decades.
40 years of history
It all started in the early 1980s, when three friends with a passion for boats - Tilli Antonelli, Fausto Filippetti and Giuliano Onori - founded Cantiere Navale dell'Adriatico 1 degrees. In the early years they focused on repairing laminated wood boats. The breakthrough came in 1985 with the presentation, in partnership with yacht designer Fulvio De Simoni, of Pershing 45, a model as fast as a powerboat and as spacious as a motoryacht that marked the beginning of the Pershing era. Its success put the brand immediately into the spotlight, becoming synonymous with innovation, performance and design. The 1990s saw the start of the brand's global expansion and in 1998 it became part of Ferretti Group, launching a period of growth and consolidation in the luxury motoryacht industry.
In 2012, the arrival of Weichai group further strengthened the brand's presence on international markets, driving strong performance in Asia, America and Europe. A star at the industry's leading international boat shows, Pershing continued to stand out for its ability to anticipate trends and meet the expectations of the most demanding owners in terms of performance, design and luxury. Examples are the introduction of the Generation X and GTX ranges and the construction of the first superyacht, confirming the shipyard's ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of nautical innovation.
40 years of innovation and revolutionary models
Since Pershing unveiled the brand's first model in 1985 (Pershing 45), the shipyard based in Italy's Le Marche region has proved its ability to combine extreme performance, advanced technology and cutting-edge design. Over the last 40 years, Pershing has introduced game-changing innovations, such as the transition from in-line shaft drives to surface piercing propeller systems - a technology in which it is a world leader for recreational applications - and the introduction of water jets with a gas turbine on Pershing 115 (2004), capable of delivering over 5,100 HP. These are joined by the introduction of the triple engine propulsion system on Pershing 108 (2011) and construction solutions that optimise weight, seakeeping and cruising comfort.
Pershing innovation also extends to design and on-board technology: right from the outset the brand has blended aesthetics and functionality with iconic solutions such as the hydraulic gangway (Pershing 45) and the concealed sliding glass door (Pershing 72), both developed in partnership with Giovanni Besenzoni's company Besenzoni. Design-wise, Pershing has introduced sleek, sporty shapes with functional features such as the 'Pershing wing' (since Pershing 70), the retracting carbon fibre stairway and the pillar-free windscreen, while the boat interiors offer settings that are spacious, light-filled and carefully curated in every detail, not least thanks to collaborations with top brands including Poltrona Frau.
The Pershing fleet today consists of two ranges and a superyacht that embody the brand's trademark innovation, performance and design. Generation X - comprising the 5X, 6X, 7X, 8X and 9X models - achieves the perfect balance between power, lightness and advanced technology thanks to the use of ultra-lightweight materials, integrated control systems and sleek lines. The more recent GTX range - which includes the GTX116, GTX80 and new GTX70 models - redefines the Sport Utility Yacht concept by enhancing comfort and liveability, but without compromising on performance. Completing the fleet, Pershing 140 is the brand's first all-aluminium superyacht, built at the Ferretti Group Super Yacht Yard in Ancona. This masterpiece combining uncompromising sportiness, revolutionary architectural solutions and a focus on detail is a symbol of the brand's boldest vision.
40 years of production in Mondolfo
For four decades, Pershing boats have been taking shape in Mondolfo at a world-class production facility adjacent to the storied shipyard. Designed by architect Sandro Sartini, the production site spans over 84,000 square metres today and contains four buildings, two paint booths and a testing tank. Every space is designed to combine technology, function and aesthetics, with tailor-made solutions for the various Pershing ranges, such as the fourth building dedicated to the GTX series, which has the capacity to build yachts up to 36 metres in length.
With a total of 27 stations used to build 27 yachts in parallel, the shipyard can handle highly specialised processes such as PPG-certified dry painting, which ensures that Pershing yachts have a level of finish comparable to that of luxury cars. The testing tank is used to perform comprehensive technical tests that ensure maximum reliability before Pershing yachts are launched from the nearby port of Fano.
By introducing technological innovations, unveiling revolutionary models and evolving the brand's storied shipyard, for forty years Pershing has continued to look beyond the horizon, to where the sea meets the future.