British understatement looks different. Pearl Yachts announces the 25 metres with five suites as redefining yacht design in the 80-foot segment. The Pearl 82 boasts no less modestly as the "most compact superyacht on the market". She made her US debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boatshow (FLIBS) with a grand entrance and thus made an important statement.
Iain Smallridge, director and co-founder of Pearl Yachts, says: "The launch of the Pearl 82 and the entire fleet at FLIBS symbolises our strategic expansion in the American market." Another milestone in the shipyard's 25-year history.
Completely new hull from Dixon
Such a brash appearance comes with backing, the 82 does not simply fill the gap between the 72 In this case, Pearl's product development for the 82 started from scratch, and the order was once again placed with Bill Dixon's studio, which was initially tasked with the fuselage. Finally, designer Simon Coles took the boss's sketches and spent six months fine-tuning the framework for the Pearl 82.
It didn't stop at drawing; for the first time in Pearl's history, extensive CFD analyses were used for optimisation. "I then began with the styling," remarks Simon Coles, confirming his responsibility for the lines of the innovative Raised Pilothouse (RPH) design.
Pearl 82 with private owner's terrace
The 82 boasts another layout asset, namely a private forepeak terrace for the owners. It is just a few steps away from the sunbathing area on the foredeck. Another new feature: from the bow area on the port side, a path leads directly to the flybridge via a pantograph door. To starboard, the walkway leads aft to the cockpit.
In addition to the owner's suite, there are four guest cabins with comparatively large hull windows and crew accommodation for four people - and a garage large enough to accommodate a 395 tender, jet skis and other water toys.
Test drive before Cannes
The yacht designer is happy to show his finished work at the world premiere in the harbour of Cannes and invites you on a test drive. Construction number one was built for a German owner who chose the Riviera model variant and thus a large upholstered lounger on the rear aft deck. The veranda option offers flexible seating here, including a dining table. In both cases, folding bulwarks extend the cockpit and open it up to the sea.
As the MAN V12 engines begin to bubble, Simon Coles points out another feature that distinguishes the 82 from the previous models and offers various advantages, such as a lower noise level: "The exhaust gases are emitted under water." The yacht accelerates quickly to seven and then eight knots (700 rpm), with a fuel consumption of twelve litres per engine.
Even the weight matches the calculations
We continue at ten and finally 12.3 knots (1250 rpm), which increases consumption to 80 litres. Simon Coles nods with satisfaction, the values are correct. "Only 0.5 per cent deviation here and there from the data from the CFD simulation," he remarks. Even the weight of the yacht agrees with the previous calculations: 78.4 tonnes.
In the meantime, the Pearl 82 is rushing through the Mediterranean at 16.4 knots (1,750 rpm, 227 litres) and eventually shoots across the bay at a maximum of 25.7 knots, which increases the figures to 2,200 rpm and 386 litres. The two 1,491-kilowatt packages - the most powerful of the three possible options - had already broken the 30-knot mark during test runs at the shipyard. However, with 80 per cent full fuel and water tanks, plenty of fouling under the belly and 16 guests on board, the pearl "only" managed just under 26 knots on this trip.
New stabilisers hardly slow down at all
At the same time, the 82 is fairly steady, with the new, curved fin stabilisers from Sleipner doing a great job. "We are only around one knot slower than without them," explains Coles, "the stabilisers used previously slowed us down by around two knots." Pearl can also install gyro stabilisers as an option.
What is noticeable is something that is not (or no longer) there. Nothing rattles on the superstructure, no squeaking around the hardtop, whose variable louvres sometimes send more, sometimes less sun onto the lounge and dining area of the flybridge. "The build quality has improved enormously," says Simon Coles with satisfaction. Neatly installed LED strips run underneath the railing and through the bulwark.
Three concepts for the interior
Kelly Hoppen was responsible for the interior design of the salon and suites. There is a choice of three basic concepts, known as moods. The owner of number one has opted for "Indulgence", a mix of grey and brown tones, lots of leather - for example for the seating and master bed frame - as well as glossy bar tops and table tops. Other variants are called "Modern" and "Luxury", which score points with more classic contrasts or fresher colour concepts.
With the 82, Pearl can look to the future with optimism; eight units had been sold by the end of April 2025. Margaret Whittaker would certainly have liked that. The investor and co-owner of the brand passed away at the beginning of this year. She joined the company with her husband Tony in 2003, five years after it was founded in 1998, and helped shape the development of the small but fine flybridge yachts.
Technical data Pearl 82
- Length: 25.30 m
- Width: 6.34 m
- Draught: 1.90 m
- Displacement (fully loaded): 78,4 t
- Standard engine: 2 x MAN-- 2 x 1,230 kw
- Engine option 1: 2 x MAN - 2 x 1,342 kw
- Engine option 2: 2 x MAN - 2 x 1,491 kw
- Top speed: 31 kn
- Cruising speed: 24 kn
- Range @ 10 kn: 750 nm
- Tank: 6,100 litres
- Water: 1,400 litres
- Guests: 10
- Crew: 3
- Construction: Dixon Yacht Design
- Exterior lines: Dixon Yacht Design
- Interior: Kelly Hoppen
- Class: CE B
- Shipyard: Pearl Yachts, 2024
- Starting price: from approx. 5.5 million euros
