Carajillo is the name for the new Sasga Menorquin 55 flybridge model freshly shipped into Tauranga. It’s named after a strong Spanish coffee cocktail, and it was a strong coffee – without the liquor – we needed for our early start.
We left Auckland in a one-way rental car at 4.00am to make it to Tauranga Marina for a planned 7.00am dock out. Me and Brett Patterson from Boating NZ, and Bruce McGill from European Marine were tasked to deliver the new Sasga Menorquin 55FB to Auckland, ready to hand over to her new owner.
Sasga Yachts are built in Menorca, one of the Spanish Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea. The company manufactures the Sasga 35, 42, 48, 55 and 68 models.
My initial reaction on approaching the boat on the marina was, “Oh! That’s an impressive boat!” Partly because of its imposing physical presence, but its classic lines also catch the attention, inviting you to look along the sheerline.
Stepping aboard, you notice the beautiful Flexiteek decks complemented by substantial solid teak handrails and door frames. Indeed, there is timber everywhere which was richly glowing in the filtered morning light, including the varnished iroko ceiling of the cockpit overhang.
This large boat welcomes you aboard, almost saying: “You’re with me now – I’ll look after you.” It really does impart that feeling.
Underway
Stepping into the main saloon, the light white oak decapé timber and large windows provide a light-filled space with plenty of room to spread out. With departure imminent Bruce busied himself turning on switches and starting the engines which produced a distant thrum.
We cast off the lines and headed down the fairway, the bow thruster proving its worth when making a sharp turn. Brett settled into the passenger seat opposite the helm position, while I got the GoPro attached to my long camera pole to get some bow and side shots.
Conditions were perfectly calm to start the day with some light, misty cloud that would probably burn off. The forecast was for 10-15 knot SW winds going northerly later in the day and generally fine. A 1-1.5m northeast swell was left over from the previous front which had passed through overnight.
The waves going out the channel past the Mount were big enough for me to have to hang on or be launched skywards, but they were easily parted by the high bow. Spray flew neatly away to the side, leaving the decks (and me!) dry.
The forecast was bang-on, so we powered up to cruising speed – just over 17 knots at 2997rpm. The twin Volvo D6 480hp engines on shaft drives were comfortably doing their thing, while providing a reassuring background hum in the cabin with the rear doors closed.
In my previous outing on the Sasga Menorquin 54FB – the same hull as this boat but without the flybridge – Bruce had talked about how well it handled a seaway. Now I had firsthand experience of its purposeful rise and fall taking the swells head on with no effect on our forward momentum.
Flybridge for lunch
We quickly settled in for the 130nm trip, making good progress up the coast with the wind initially increasing to 15 knots before easing off to under 10 knots. The swell stayed with us until Great Mercury Island where we stopped for lunch at Peachgrove Bay.
This was a beautiful spot to take some covers off and put the drone up. The sun was shining, the water a beautiful blue and the sand glowed on the beach, willing us ashore. Alas, not enough time, but I did send the drone ashore to capture the boat at anchor.
The perfect spot was on the flybridge, which is what makes this model unique in the range. Accessed from the rear deck via teak steps, the generous top deck provided the perfect lounging space. A table and seating opposite the starboard helm station provides plenty of seating options. To the rear is a large open space leading to a teak radar post aft. This post and the one in the bow are a nod to the traditional heritage of the vessel, which harks back to the island of Menorca in Spain.
The flybridge results in slightly longer overhangs forward and aft compared to the hardtop model and does away with the hatch above the lower steering position. There is some additional weight aloft, and some more windage too, which is likely to affect fuel consumption figures slightly, but in every other sense the additional usable space is a big plus.
Performance
The Mediterranean is known for at times boisterous and difficult sea conditions with short, sharp waves. The design pedigree of this boat is informed by fishing boats of the past, with their very seaworthy hulls. The 55FB is hull is a semi-displacement design, with a long waterline and fine entry forward. It is easily driven – we opened Carajillo up to get to 24.9 knots, which is pretty impressive for a 24-tonne boat.
Fuel consumption figures weren’t available as the Volvo Penta fuel data management software was yet to be installed by the dealers in Auckland – part of the list of to-dos to finish commissioning prior to handover.
However, fuel consumption figures from the hardtop version of the same hull with the same engines was 113l/hr at 3000rpm/18 knots. With the fuel tanks holding 2800 litres, that’s a cruising range of over 400 nautical miles.
The engine room is located aft, under the cockpit floor, accessed either by a small inspection hatch or a larger one with an electrically-operated cover on stays for easy servicing access and additional storage space.
The engine installation is very tidy with plenty of room to move around. There is a Kohler generator and watermaker installed aft, and easy access to check steering coupling, shaft seals and other routine engine maintenance items.
The transom platform tucks in neatly around the vessel’s curved aft end. It lowers into the water hydraulically to provide great options for retrieving tenders, divers and swimmers. There is a fold-down boarding ladder on the starboard hidden away neatly under a lid.
After our lunch of chicken and salad sandwiches, we weighed anchor, allowing the Lofrans anchor winch and articulated rollers to show their prowess.
The drone stayed aloft as we motored up past Bumper Cove and the rocks off the point of Great Mercury Island. The running shots show how smoothly the Menorquin 55FB makes passage – a pleasure to drive.
Coming around the top of the Coromandel Peninsula we saw birds working and an abundance of sea life. Dolphins were jumping and pilot whales cruising on by – a very cool sight!
The twin 16-inch Raymarine multifunction display screens provide plenty of real estate to display charts and/or data, while the rest of the dash is left simple and uncluttered. The Zipwake automatic trim tab controls are to the left, along with an array of real switches, and the autopilot is to the right. The flybridge has similar controls but with slightly smaller 12-inch screens.
At the time of our trip the boat upholstery was covered in protective plastic, so a return visit was required to capture her accommodation on camera at its best.
Layout
The main saloon is custom designed to the owner’s requirements with a galley to port, a seat opposite the steering position, and had a pop-up flat-screen TV aft behind the galley counter. This necessitated a slightly wider galley. Every Menorquin can be custom fitted (within reason) to suit any owner’s requirements.
The galley includes Isotherm fridges, Bosch electric oven and cooktop and a u-shaped table and seating opposite. The table lowers to create an additional berth.
Below, down six steps, you’ll find three cabins and two bathrooms. The master cabin aft under the main saloon is full beam – a beautiful space with light-coloured timber trim and hull windows. There is a comfortable double settee by the port window, a great space for some privacy and a huge amount of storage under the double bed, which lifts on electrically operated struts.
The ensuite is to port and includes a separate, generously proportioned shower.
There is a double cabin forward with smaller side windows but a large overhead hatch letting in plenty of light. Underbed/shelf lighting provides a nice warm glow around the teak and holly floor. The hull has plenty of width so there is side access to the double bed.
To starboard is a cabin with two single berths and a large hanging locker. The day head and shower are opposite to port.
Behind the starboard cabin is a butler’s pantry with extra storage and refrigeration; the washing machine is located neatly under the stairs, which the owner specified rather than placing it in the engine room.
Another significant change to the standard layout was to do away with an ensuite for the third cabin.
In the words of Carajillo’s owner Mike: “On a 55ft boat, I don’t see the need for every bedroom to have an ensuite bathroom. What this boat really needed from my point of view was a bit more refrigeration and bit more storage space for dried foods and odds and sods that you always carry on a boat and never quite know where stow. So, we took the smallest of the ensuites away, created a common bathroom for the two secondary cabins – perfectly adequate – and got this beautiful storage facility down below with a big fridge-freezer.”
Everywhere onboard you’ll find solid handholds situated in critical places to allow easy moving about in a seaway.
Making port
The afternoon passed quickly as the boat remained steadily on course steered by the autopilot. Our 130-nautical-mile trip neared an end as we passed the Friday Havana Club Rum Race fleet and quietly turned into Westhaven Marina to find our berth.
By now the wind had dropped so we had no trouble backing into the berth using bow and stern thrusters. Safely home.
Wrap up
The Sasga Menorquin 55FB is a large, very well- built and -finished motor yacht, which in my opinion offers plenty of character, beautiful lines and simple, purposeful engineering.
Her sea-keeping ability should remove any doubts you have about venturing out to sea, or any safety and comfort concerns should the weather turn.
She makes a wonderful ship for coastal adventures and holidays, promising easy passage-making and plenty of comfortable spaces in which to accommodate family and friends.
With options available to custom design your layout, this elegant motoryacht is a strong contender in the big boat marketplace.