MEMBER OFARD

Sessa C38

F'ORM ANDF'T]NCTIONBeautf isnt skin deep, as Sessa's newopen sports cruiser provcs bv packing in a u,holchost of practicaì and thoughtful fèatures.l l I Cra is Barnèt t l ) l ! )11 \ Cour tesy o f Sèssa Manne

Septenher Otroher 201A Debut

Anyone who has had the pleasure ofvisiting Italy can t fail tl) be impressed b1

thc country's passi()n lbr sculpture. Indccd so prolific rvere the Italians jn \Yhittling

beautiful lìrrms liom blrcks rf sbrre, one has to rvonder rvhere thel fi)und the time to

Iirlge an l.irpire? No other corurtr) in the world boasts wrrks as làmous as'Ihe Venus

De Milo. Michelangekts David and the'lrevi Firuntains, each a lnonument that has

carvcd its orvn niche in history Judging by the nerv C38 open cmiser lioù Sessa, this

inlirluation fòr fashioning filnns to quicken thc puìse is very much alive and kicking.

Drarvn lrorn the boalds ol (lhristian Gtandc, in the C38 Sessa have produced a

h:rnl-topped oper spol t cruiser on \\'hich everv plane, curve, edge and surfar:e

contributcs to\\,ard the aesthctic and pì-actical appeal ofthe boat. The flagship ofa

ner,lìr'e-model range, Sessa are banking on the C3B rcpLacing theit bcsGselling

C35 and fiorn our time onboard, the smatt mone-v would be on that happening

Frrnn thc stainless steel anchor on tìre slightly dropped nose ofthc borv to the ba-

thing ladder that sits in a gel coatcd ìocker on the teak lined bathilg platfonn, this

nodcl demonstrates a high qualitl of lit out.' l 'hroughout detai ls demonstrate Gtaùdc and Scssa's fusion offornl and function

The rakc of the guardrail stanchions aclds to the spoÌt] àspect of ihe ctali, whilc

thc teak step/seat in the pulpit is a practical àddition. The saÍìe àpplics to the

thoLrghtfully pìaced grab rajls. our làvourite being belo* the fòlding lcai of the

teak taLlc in ihe cockpit. When the br)at is at anchor and stablc, the table is ox-

tendcd, rvhen under'r'a1' space and grab rails ar-e requircd, so the table lòlds arvay

and one appeam. Also. in terms of headroom, Grande's clever design of Lhc hard-

top has ensur-ed plcnt-"- of space inside, \\,hile naintaining a athletic prolìle - rvi-

Note the grab-hùdle

below the folded table leaf,

of the C38's pncticality.

BOATS

Debut Se p te mbe r-O ctober 20 10

thout creating the unsightly 'bubble top some craft in this genrc sport. The opencockpit ofthe C38 is a large comfortable entetainment area and sports the mostimpressive day galley with \À,et bar we've seen on a boat ofthis size. lt features asizeable grill, deep washbasin, plenty of stotage and an isotherm refrigeratorconcealed behind a teak door. Opposite, to port, the large C-bench banquette withfolding teak dinette is deep and comlbrtable. Thankfully, Sessa have been bolderthan most with their choice ofupholstery too. The anguÌar back cushions are co-vered in a burnished bronze hardwearins fabric a u'elcome alternative to thcubiquitous beige Ìeatherette!Forward on the portside an oversized chaise ìounge ofiers additional space to repose,a great place to relax in the shade provided by the hardtop. lb starboard sits the helm,with a console straight out of an episode of Battlestar Galactica. AIso finished in abronze colour, the C38's stìking dashboard will provide the ouner with the grati$'inglmowledge they have bought something dillerent every time they step up to it. Sur-rouded by the necessary switches a.rìd gauges, but taking pride ofplace in the centreis Rayrnarinds latest E-series widesoeen hybridtouch display - cutting edge stufilWith regaÌds to actualÌy helming, you re not short ofpositions or aids. For slow speedmanoeuvring the Volvo Penta joystick control makes liîe a synch, with separatecontrols for the Sidepower bow thruster should it be required. The rvheel and throtdesare well positioned and easiÌy within reach whether you are firìly seated, leaning onthe bolstec or even standing on the teak step sitting atop the bolster enjoying thcbreeze through the large electronic srìnroof. Another satisrying point ofnote is thatSessa have positioned the comprìss directly in Ìine $ith centreline of the heÌm, notoffset like some manufactures do, which causes the danger ofcrcating a pa-raÌlax ernÌ.Opening the tinted curved Perspex door and dropping easily down the thrce com-panionway steps - again with useîul handraiÌ intuitively located - the salon opensup. Large skylights supplement the natural light provision lrom the circular por-

ACCOMMODATION COMPRISES OF FOUR BERTI-.]SIN TWO CABINS. THE AFT GUESTS CABIN STEALS VITAL

INCI]ES TO MAKE IT ONE OF TI-{E BEST IN CLASS

Lage slqlights provide

plenty of natural light

fo! the salon and

well appointed ga.lley

September -October 2010

tholes and Ìight oak veneers and neutral liners keep the space airy. The C-sofa and

dinette is located to port, with another sizeable galley to starboard. Again weL

equipped with a steam/llnll/microwave, domestic size rcfrigerator, twin hob and

stainless steel work surfaces with mirrored splash backs. As one would er?ect, it's

all very attructive aÍd eminently practical.

Four berths in two cabins make up the accommodatìon space, \À,ith both sharing a

decent sized head/shower The aft guest cabin offers full headroom on entry, belore

dropping down to a useful bench/storage unit and then further to the large double

bed. The few inches stolen here and there, especially the height above the bed space

and for the wardrobe, places it amongst the best in class. The forward owners cabi:

features the traditional V-berth, but features some addilional touches like alcantra

suede and leather liners to elevate it above the morc junior cabin ali.

In terms ofpower, the C38 packs twin 300hp Volvo Penta D4's not huge lor this

size of crafl, but enough to power her through to a 3s-knot top speed and 28-knots

cruising. Showing speeds that compare favourably rvith others with larger power-

plants is testament to the efÍiciency of the hull - and smaller engines burn less fuel.

So with looks, performance and a mFiad of îeatutes that make her a very practical

family coastal cruiser, therc is much to lìke about the C38. If we did have to lìnd

fault, the height ofthe bathing platform above the \a'aterline does create something

of an barrier with the ocean in terms of access, and a more substantial transomgate would be favourable for families with toddlels. But these take nothing away

from what overaÌl is a very impressive yacht indeed.

Debut

LO,l: 11.70 M (38.3rr)

l ì I^ \ r :9.80 M

Du^ì.fr 0.96 M

Drsfl.^c r.:\I.:N r 8000 Kc

Iur , i r Cl , , \ f \crrY:2 x 480 ì ,

\1'',\TrR C^P\arr'!: 300 r,

trfì\ PERSoNSi12

4BEn1r$N2clBINs

liNcrNrs:2 x Vor.vo D4 3tì0HP

PÌ()r,n -sl( )\: VoLVo DP

Dtìo PROP SflÌtN I)RIVE

Srr, LÌr: 35 (N()Ts MA)i.

28 Kxors cRrJIsE(;rlL)ri lììrcr,; I.SMILLIoN AED

5lissA l:\ctn s ,\,rl: r)fslRIIJlTllìl

rN' f l l l i G( l ( l r r l :

LlxunY SEA BoArs

OFFTCE 2,

GULF N-$roN,\1, B!:n,DrNc

DuBAr MAJìIN^. DuRAr, UAE

Tnj +9714 447 36 62

F^x: +971 4,f47 36 54

BOAIS