The X90 is a 27 m (88 ft 11 in) motor yacht that sits in Princess's X Class between the 24-metre X80 and the X95 Vista flagship. The British yard first announced her as a project. The first hull was then launched, completed her sea trials and was briefly displayed on the Thames in London. Her world premiere was at the Cannes Yachting Festival.
What is a Super Flybridge?
What distinguishes the X Class from Princess's other ranges is the upper deck the builder calls the "Super Flybridge". A conventional flybridge has an open helm and seating on the upper level. On the X90, part of the upper deck is enclosed in glass to form a skylounge, and the main helm is inside it. The aft section stays open and can be given over to a spa pool, a bar or a crane to lift the tender. The result is more enclosed and more open space than on a conventional flybridge yacht of the same length.
A step-free main deck
The main deck is on one level, with no steps between the aft cockpit and the owner's cabin forward. The cockpit sits low to the water, and the bulwarks to port and starboard fold down into balconies, widening it on both sides.
Curved sliding doors separate cockpit and saloon. With them open, the ten-seat dining table inside becomes part of the outdoor space. There are two galley options: open, with a breakfast bar, or fully closed off from the saloon.
The owner's cabin occupies the forward end of the main deck, surrounded by large windows. An optional gull-wing door leads straight from the cabin to a private seating area on the foredeck.
Guests and crew
The lower deck has three guest cabins in the standard layout and four in the optional one, all en suite, for eight or ten guests. The crew quarters forward have their own bathroom and mess, with room for three crew as standard and up to five in optional layouts.
The H.P.P. hull
The X90 uses the Hybrid Progressive-Planing (H.P.P.) hull that Princess developed with the naval architects Bernard Olesinski Ltd. According to the builder, above 16 knots it needs about 10 per cent less power than the Princess Y85, a yacht of similar displacement. Below 10 knots, fuel consumption matches the Y85.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length overall | 27.11 m (88 ft 11 in); 26.77 m (87 ft 10 in) excluding pulpit |
| Beam | 6.62 m (21 ft 9 in) |
| Engines | 2 × MAN V12-1900, 2 × MAN V12-2000 or 2 × MAN V12X-2200 |
| Power | 2 × 1,900 hp, 2 × 2,000 hp or 2 × 2,200 hp |
| Maximum speed | 22–27 knots, depending on engines |
| Cabins | Owner's cabin on the main deck; 3 or 4 guest cabins below (8–10 guests) |
| Crew | 3 to 5; own bathroom and mess |
| Fuel | 11,000 litres |
| Water | 1,500 litres |
| Design | Princess Yachts; hull with Bernard Olesinski Ltd. |
Who is the X90 for?
The X90 is designed for buyers in the 25–30 metre range who want the owner's cabin on the main deck and intend to run the yacht with crew. The enclosed skylounge keeps the upper deck usable in a breeze and in the cooler months, while the widening cockpit is made for days at anchor in a bay. At this size, crew, berthing and maintenance planning should be discussed at the same time as the purchase itself.
In brief
- World premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival; in the X Class she sits between the X80 and the X95 Vista.
- Owner's cabin forward on the main deck, with the main helm in a glazed skylounge above.
- The cockpit bulwarks fold down on both sides to form balconies.
- The H.P.P. hull, developed with Olesinski, needs about 10 per cent less power than the Y85 above 16 knots, according to the builder; three MAN options give 22–27 knots.
