We enter production hall in Cividate. A scent of recently laid laminate mixes with… perfumes Chanel Mademoiselle. Next to the form are standing two workers. Behind big goggles I recognize girly faces. Next to another form – same situation, third – likewise. “We value manual work of women very much” – Cinzia Grottoli, PR specialist of Sessa Marine, catches my questioning look.
We finish tour along halls when from loudspeakers comes out lengthy sound of a hooter. It’s one pm, lunch break. Cinzia leads us to plant canteen. Along the buffet people have already lined up. You can hear a laugh, jewellery jingles. “We had started to hire women back in the seventies when we switched over from wood to laminate – explained dr. Massimo Radice, grandson of the company’s owner and one a few men in a hall – Girls are better not only with completion works but processing of wood furniture and laminating as well.” Right, and not only with that. Have you ever seen Sessa catalogue? “And we care about quality – dr. Radice went on. – This is also the reason why we reduced the production from over 1000 units to 800 annually. Anyway; you’ll see tomorrow on your own.” „So, when do we start a test?” – asks Cinzia.
LET’S START FROM THE MORNING
Of course, from the very morning people had queued up to the new S26 therefore we had to wait until noon. The little Sessa caught our eyes among bigger boats in Bruno Manfredi’s harbour. It attracted attention with its interesting shape of hull and an elegant combination of white and beige. Two-coloured boards harmonized well with beige upholstery and teak lied on the floor of the cockpit (discretionary teak and colourful GRP on boards). The boat was moored with its back to a quayside so we reached deck by short, integrated swimming platform. Two steps down and there we were in a cockpit. A bit on a cramped side – due to big sunbathing cushion on the back, traditionally but functionally appointed – with such a taste! “This is what Massimo was talking about yesterday” – said Cinzia, making no secret of contentment that has been called out. What a shame we don’t have time to make use of sunbathing cushion with diameters of 153 x 123 cm that can be additionally lengthened 40 cm (optional). Hidden behind steersman cushion and higher boards, it is not only well sheltered form the wind but quite safe, too. We can’t be threatened by unexpected bath. I left sunpad with sorrow, hid a bag with camera in the storage underneath an amidships seat and changed my seat to two-peopled steersman cushion. Well, well, here is also pretty nice! Not only because a wheelhouse is a world championship with regard to its stylistics or owing to the fact that it colour is always matches shades of boards and upholstery in cockpit (for now I have seen only units with beige and chocolate boards) but also because it guarantees fantastic view on dashboard instruments and all that you have in front the bow. And in front of the bow I had a way out from harbour to Garda. A little bit darker from behind fairing and beautifully green when I folded my seat to steer in a standing position.
MOORING ROPES DOWN!
There is no separate seat for an observer. Portside is occupied by modern annexe kitchen with sink, a table top to prepare meal and a place for discretionary refrigerator and gas cooker. Doorway to cabin is narrow, made of dark plexiglass. Beside are located teak stairs leading to a foredeck; you enter it through an openable middle part of the fairing. Extra charge gives an opportunity to appoint bow with cushion to sunbathe; but not as safe as the one on the back. Yet yes, railing is not missing. The thing is that is short for a sports boat. Luckily, it has comfortable step over the anchor making descending on a quayside easier.
Cinzia asked the rest of the crew to sit on an amidships cushion and we gave back the mooring ropes. Unfortunately, loose on a leather steering wheel confounded first impression from the sailing. “It’s a brand-new specimen, only yesterday we placed it on water” – Cinzia nervously began to explain. The standard Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi gave us enough power to reach the maximum speed 0.6 kn higher that it had resulted from the boat’s builder data. „We will have to revise our results”, said Cinzia, when she saw the 32.6 kn on my GPS. Especially as we were having six people on board! Sessa pleasantly surfaced from water, thanks to the shape of the nicely done hull and a relatively light weight – one of the priorities of the shipyard, as well. This feature is even more distinctive in bigger units. The boat laid on bends easily, in a sports style and smoothly came through its own wake. In the afternoon wind became stronger and reached 3?B so we had to reduce to cruising speed; 27 kn was accurate for the soft sailing along the restless Garda. I stopped the boat and shifted reverse gear. With short, high back platform moving back was no problem for S26. On that occasion I glimpsed at the cockpit. And there, a table was arranged, friends sit round, only sandwiches were missing. Deep cockpit sheltered from the wind well even those sitting just in front of sunbathing cushion at the beck – and this comes useful while sailing along with kids. My companions turned 18 long time ago and now were discussing about… of course, about Sessa catalogues.
I passed the steering wheel over and squeezed through to the cabin. Well, quite European here. Yes, very neat and soft but still too ascetic. And this three-leveled floor; it was hard to stand straight while sailing. What I liked was energetic orange table top contrasting with oak kitchen cupboards and light upholstery of two-peopled V-shaped hut. And bathroom was first class; with steel washbasin in a cupboard, shower and toilet, light and darkened skylight. Simple and functional, nothing more is needed.
CONCLUSION
Sessa is on a good way! Today more and more often it is woman who decides which boat to choose and man only pays for it. That is why the shipyard focuses not on fanciful technical solutions but rather on functionality of family sailing, sophisticated stylistics and detailed workmanship of its own units. Things that attract women’s attention and things that, as it shows, she can do better herself.
Published: 2007
Joanna Kazanecka (Przeglad Motorowodny, TINC)
Photos: Joanna Kazanecka, Sessa
SPEED & NOISE
Revs -- Speed -- Sound
rpm -- km/h-knots -- dB
400 -- - -- 63
1000 -- 10,3-05,6 -- 70
1500 -- 13,8-07,4 -- 72
2000 -- 14,2-07,7 -- 77,5
2500 -- 16,7-09,0 -- 87
3000 -- 29,3-15,8 -- 83
3500 -- 42,2-22,8 -- 80,5
4000 -- 52,7-28,5 -- 82
4500 -- 57,0-30,8 -- 84
Cruising speed – 27 kn
During the test there were six people onboard. Fuel tank ? full. Wind 2-3?B.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION OF ENGINE:
Producer - Volvo Penta
Model - 5.0 GXi
Type - 4-stroke
Power - 270 KM
Cylinders - V8
Capacity - 5000 cm?
Weight - r - 460 kg
Fuel - Gasoline
ADVENTAGES:
o Good behavior on waves
o Deep, safe cockpit
o Nice stylistic
DISADVENTAGES:
o Any extended swimming platform is to order
o Both sunpads are extra paid
Published: 2007.
Text: Joanna Kazanecka (Przeglad Motorowodny, TINC)
Photo: Joanna Kazanecka, Sessa
COMPETITORS:
Doral 245 Escape
Loa - 7.78 m
Boa - 2.59 m
Draft - 0.48-0.86 m
Displacement - 2081 kg
Crew limit - 6
Engine - max. 375 KM
Price with MerCruiser 350 MAGNUM MPI (300 KM), Bravo I (in Poland) - 54 830 EUR
Sea Ray 220 Sun Sport
Loa - 7.01 m
Boa - 2.55 m
Draft - -
Displacement - 1731 kg
Crew limit - 10
Engine - 220-260 hp
Price with MerCruiser 4.3 l MPI (220 KM), Alpha I (in Poland) - 42 699 EUR
Yamarin 76DC
Loa - 7.52 m
Boa - 2.6 m
Draft - -
Displacement - 1500 kg
Crew limit - 8
Engine - 150-300 hp
Price - -
COMPETITORS’ SUMMARISE:
Above there are three options from outside Italy which successfully combine sports look and performance with opportunity to sleep on board. Doral and Sea Ray are equipped with stationary engines; 245 Escape is better while having three huts and Sun Sport 220 while an attractive price. Yamarin alike Sessa is not available in Poland but we present it because on the contrary it has outboard engine and as much as four places to sleep (yet, it doesn’t have shower and only a toilet).
JOANNA KAZANECKA
| Technical details | |
| Producer: | SESSA (IT) |
| LOA: | 24'27 ft |
| LOA: | 7,4 m |
| Beam: | 2,5 m |
| Displacement: | 2200 kg |
| Fuel tank: | 300 l |
| Water tank: | 40 l |
| Max. passengers: | 6 |
| Berths: | 2 |
| Cabins: | 1 |
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