Princess Yachts has completed the first X90 at the South Yard shipyard in Plymouth and is now preparing her for her first sea trials. The world premiere is planned for September at the Cannes Yachting Festival, with four further units currently under construction. Seven yachts have already been sold before the official launch. The X90 closes the gap between the X80 and the flagship X95 Vista in the successful X Class series. The New members of the Royal Family.
"We are very proud to see the X90 reach this important stage of development," says Will Green, CEO of Princess Yachts. The model combines design, technology and a deep understanding of how customers want to live on the water. From the beach club-style cockpit design to the new hull shape, every element has been carefully considered to enhance both the onboard experience and performance.
Retractable terraces plus super flybridge
The central design feature of the X90 is the expandable cockpit, a first for Princess Yachts. Fold-out terraces to port and starboard increase the usable area and create a versatile environment with a direct connection to the water. Curved patio doors connect the dining area on the main deck directly to the cockpit. A new aft layout and a glazed transom maximise the amount of light.
The Super Flybridge - typical of the X Class series - combines a closed helm station with skylounge and an open aft deck. The relocation of the main helm position creates significantly more volume on the main deck. This allows for more flexible and spacious living areas throughout the yacht. In the X90, this concept has been further developed to offer even more space.
New H.P.P. hull increases efficiency
The X90 introduces a new hull form for Princess: the Hybrid Progressive-Planing hull (HPP), developed in collaboration with Studio Olesinski. The design combines proven seaworthiness with refined hydrodynamic properties. The H.P.P. hull delivers more efficiency as well as more range and performance across the entire speed spectrum.
By comparison, the X90 requires around ten percent less input than the Y85 above 16 knots when the displacement is normalised. Below ten knots, the fuel consumption corresponds to that of the Y85, although the X90 is significantly larger. The technical development is aimed at economic efficiency without compromising on performance.
Princess preview in London before premiere in Cannes
Before the public premiere, Princess Yachts is organising an exclusive preview event in London for invited guests. This will be the first opportunity to experience the new X90 before the Cannes Yachting Festival. "The strong demand ahead of the launch reflects the enthusiasm for this model, which is a natural evolution of the successful X Class concept," explains Will Green.
The milestone is also a testament to the dedication and expertise of the teams. With the upcoming sea trials, they are looking forward to handing over the yacht to her owner. Visitors to the Cannes Yachting Festival can view the X90 at Jetée 114. Media representatives are invited to the press conference on 8 September at 12:45 pm at the JW Marriott Cannes.
Uske Berndt
Editor News & Panorama
