SOLID CITIZEN

THE PEARL 72 HAS A HIGH-END INTERIOR, SLEEK LINES AND 33-KNOT SPEED.

- CHRIS CASWELL

For starters, there are two master staterooms among the four en suite staterooms. The room that Pearl calls the "master" has a private entry typical of larger yachts, leading to a room with a forward-facing berth, high-gloss black cabinetry and windows for natural light. Triple closets, six under-berth drawers and the en suite head with shower make this space livable for long cruises.

The "guest master" is amidships with a separate stairwell from the salon, another mega-yacht feature. It also has a forward-facing berth and a private entry from a short hallway. A double-berth guest stateroom is to port. A twin-berth stateroom is to starboard, where the en suite doubles as a day head, accessible from the hallway. All staterooms have 6-foot-4-inch headroom. 

Naval architect Bill Dixon penned the 72's elegant exterior lines, which include long glass sections in the hull sides and a wider, 18-foot-10-inch beam. Interior designer Kelly Hoppen, CBE, created three interior schemes. The 72 I got aboard had the Indulgence theme, a solid rendition of a Monaco (or New York or London) penthouse in onyx marbles, dark bulkheads, a dark sole, and a look that doesn't distract from the view. That view, by the way, is vast, with the coamings on the side decks cut down to allow windows just 17 inches above the salon sole behind the sofas. Forward, the skipper and guests have an almost unbroken windshield stretching from the deck to the flybridge, with a 4-foot shade to keep the sun at bay.