Uniesse 42

Villas perched high on the olive-green hillside look down at the blue grotto where the air swirls with salt spray. Silver gulls call out above the waves crashing against the esplanade. There are people at quaint bistros sipping cappuccinos, others flapping nonchalantly in the cobalt sea, and lots of kids licking ice-creams as they do everywhere in summer.

With houses painted in various pastel shades, pink geraniums falling out of their terracotta pots, and a foreshore walkway bustling with bronze bodies in tight trunks, it sounds for all the world like the Amalfi Coast. But, no... Welcome to Manly on a stunning summer's day.

We mouthed "Arrivederci" as we left Sydney Heads, shadowed the sandstone cliffs on a north-south run, strode along the coast from crest to crest, before venturing into Shelley Beach on the ocean side of Manly.

The reason? The Italian-esque setting was the ideal destination to take the new Italian-made Uniesse 42 sportscruiser, the first of the marque to arrive in cosmopolitan Sydney. Much to my delight, the Uniesse 42 excelled where other sportscruisers - particularly those built for the flat as a pancake Mediterranean - have failed.

In fact, the boat gets better and better the more you drive it offshore.

The steeper the waves, the deeper the troughs, the more the Uniesse impresses. And along with its seaworthiness - due in part to the American-designed hull - the boat offers a good dose of what the Italians do best.

Italian flair is evident in the complex mouldings, the finish, and the fitout which includes, incidentally, everything including a barbecue. While other imported 42-footers cost less, few offer such completeness.

The boat's inventory is absolute, facilities truly indulgent, and the seaworthiness is commendable.

I came away pleasantly surprised because the Italians don't always embrace the better-by-design principle. Often, their boats have design for design's sake; a whole lot of complex curves, bold bumps and sexy sculpturing that gets in the way.

But that's not the way with the Uniesse. This boat honestly ranks as the best Italian-made sportscruiser I have driven. It's not all show and no go, not all glitz for the ritzy; it is a proper seaboat that can cut it in Australian waters and back at the marina.

BETTER BY DESIGN
The deep-vee hull beneath the Uniesse has been designed by Miami-based Fred Hudson, who has a reputation for hatching performance-oriented hulls for Chris Craft and Magnum in the US.

Unlike some go-fast boats from the States, however, this fast runner has passagemaking capabilities.

The solid hull is fine below the waterline, but nicely flared and with a lot of freeboard in the bow. In fact, I thought the Uniesse looks and performs more like a gameboat than a lightweight point-and-shoot sportscruiser. It is my guess that you will be able to maintain a comfortable mid-20kt speed through just about anything.

Stability at rest is another strength. We sat beam on to the swell in the blue grotto and heaved gently. The hull seems heavy and lifts only so far before settling back on its chines. The feeling of solidity is felt running into a headsea, while the boat seems to surf before the swells entirely predicably.

The cutting edge of the Uniesse - its forefoot - seems neither too full to throw a lot of spray nor too fine to dig in and steer when you are running downswell. The flare up front also keeps you dry. I found no salt on the windscreen after our offshore run, which certainly contrasts with my time on some 40ft sportscruisers.

Tweaking the trim tabs doesn't bring too many surprises, either. The tabs aren't so aggressive that they throw the boat off line. A touch of in-trim helps button the bow down into a headsea, giving an improved view, but downswell the boat likes to run au naturel.

THE UNIESSE STORY
Building just 60 boats a year, Uniesse from Chiudono in Italy is respected for the quality of its luxury craft. The company has been running for 13 years.

Success has been swift, however. Its boats have earned a reputation for quality and performance in the discerning European and US markets.

The biggest Uniesse (a 70ft motoryacht) boasts six happy customers, while the range starts from 40 feet. A 48 Open and 48 Flybridge have been ordered by the Australian importer.

Like its bigger siblings, the 42 uses composite construction with closed-cell Airex foam. Solid internal timber bulkheads and frames provide added rigidity. The craft has a fully-moulded internal liner that gives a feeling of uniformity.

Attached to this liner are various moulded units with tops that lift up to reveal a sink, barbecue and fridge. Overhead is a raked targa arch.

Deck space is a feature of the boat. You can kick back in the sun or, with the complex canopy unfurled, enjoy some shade in the cockpit. Wide sidedecks backed by handrails allow you to scamper to the bow. Up here, during our sea passage, I saw a striped tuna dart across the bow.

Uniesse hasn't skimped on the quality of fittings. There is a nice, high stainless bowrail, designer horn cleats, optional midships cleats, solid stainless framing around the windscreen, stainless rubbing strip, and aft pasarelle/boarding ladder that doubles as a davit with 250kg lifting capacity.

An important point to note is that the boarding platform (not a bolt-on) is an integral part of the hull. The platform runs virtually all the way back to the fold-down swim ladder. This allows you to carry a decent RIB or jetski.

DECKED OUT
Uniesse importer, Urs Wolfensberger, who also represents the Fairline range from the UK, has a no-holds-barred approach to options' lists. With his touches, the 42 presented as a smart boat.

The hull was a classic shade of navy blue, the decks and bathing platform were strip-planked in teak, and there was pristine white upholstery.

And as with most sportscruisers, the Uniesse 42 had three external decks. The aft cockpit is virtually at water level, with two very clever, loose sun chairs. Fashioned from marine vinyl and closed-cell foam, the loose, TV-style chairs convert to sunlounges that can be simply moved about the back deck. They are more practical than a permanent aft lounge.

There is a freshwater deck shower, deep lazarette for holding long-term provisions under the floor, a marlin door, and a liferaft in a dedicated moulding close at hand. Hopefully, the moulded sink unit to starboard and a Miele barbecue to port, on which to char-grill a kilo or two of king-size prawns, get more use.

Amenities just keeping coming in the upper cockpit. It has a Bosch two-burner electric stove and sink with running hot and cold water. There is a big lounge and dinette than can seat up to seven people for alfresco meals that you can cook before your guests.

While I couldn't work out how to fit the bimini top in its cover, it did offer much needed shade when unfurled and clipped in place. There are also airconditioning ducts about the cockpit, so you can drive the boat undercover in summer.

A Shipmate autopilot was fitted, along with a chain counter for the windlass, twin marine speakers and a tinted (though not overly dark) armour-plate glass windscreen.

The helm, meanwhile, is somewhat unconventional in that it is across to port. Yet it makes perfect sense when driving, as you must keep oncoming vessels on your portside. This way, the skipper will know exactly how far he or she is from other moving boats.

Helm seating comes in the shape of a two-person lounge, while the dash, thank heavens, isn't anything too glitzy. It has matt-black facias for flush-mounting electronics and a lower-level area for engine gauges and switchpanels.

In case you're wondering, it didn't take long to become accustomed to the throttle being in your left hand. I liked the fact that the wheel is a stylish timber model with enough diameter to provide purchase in a stiff sea.

I found a fridge and, of course, an ice-maker for the G&Ts under the helm seat. Engine access isn't so bad, either - it's through a hatch between the two cockpit levels. It is possible to remove various moulded units and unbolt a section of floor to lift a motor out or perform serious repairs.

The 8kVa Onan genset and three airconditioning units were mounted back aft in the lazarette. The big sliding door leading down below was a little stiff, but nothing that teflon spray wouldn't fix.

DESIGNER DEN
Four steps lead down into the saloon, which presents beautifully with light-coloured exotic African timber joinery, buttermilk-coloured carpet, real marble benchtops, gold curtains and a saddle-coloured leather settee with designer scatter cushions.

I liked the way the portholes are recessed, the doors are oval and shiplike, and all opening ports and hatches have privacy curtains as well as flyscreens. The twin cabins and saloon are air conditioned, all lockers are fully lined, while headroom is plentiful right through to the bow. The chrome-rimmed clock, barometer and thermometer are talking points.

The settee to port offers a setting for four people to dine in privacy.

Opposite is a compact galley with marble benchtops and impressive marble joinery. An overhead cupboard reveals a television and VCR facing back to the settee.

Cooking amenities include a microwave, two-burner electric stove, sink with stylish mixer, a fridge, and plenty of drawers for crockery and cutlery.

Such are the outdoor cooking facilities that I doubt the galley will be used for much more than making an espresso or knocking up a salad and garlic bread.

SLEEP TIGHT
Accommodation is generous for two couples or a family of four. There is a classic Euro-style guests' cabin with twin, full-sized single berths back aft. The foam mattresses are cut to shape and mounted in bed frames. Storage exists in a locker, in shelves, and drawers under the berths.

Some thought - or a few too many bottles of Spumante - has gone into the location of the light switches. Mounted on the ceiling as you walk into each cabin, they must be part of the deliberate, uncluttered look on the Uniesse 42.

The forepeak cabin is the pick. Destined to be occupied by the owners, it has soft-touch panelled walls with timber kickboards and a big island double berth. The fitted bedspread in a yellow-and-white striped pattern begged to be ruffled.

I found two hanging lockers, drawers, a mirror and separate access to the head. There was room for a television in a locker at the foot of the bed.

With such amenities you could spend weeks aboard if you so desired.

While the Uniesse doesn't have a separate shower stall, there is a curtain on slides. The head is tricky. It has a fully-moulded seat above the recessed loo. The sink is marble-topped, while storage for personals exists in a mirror-backed timber cabinet.

SPEED TO BOOT
Marine growth on the hull was what prevented us from reaching top speed, I'm told. The Uniesse people list 38kt on their brochure, which I suppose is over-zealousness on their part. With a clean bum the delivery team cracked 30kt from Botany Bay in heavy seas. By my reckoning, it is a 33-34kt boat.

Not that numbers are what is really important. We were cruising down the coast around the low-20kt range at 2000rpm, completely comfortable, at ease, marvelling at the smoothness, dryness and efficiency of the hull. These are the things that matter most in a seagoing sportscruiser.

The twin in-line six-cylinder Volvo TAMD 74 EDC motors, producing 480hp aside, have enough grunt to get the hull planing easily. At certain revs the motors are a tad noisy. Some extra sound-insulation would not go astray in the engineroom.

At the end of the day, a Max Power 50kg twin-prop bow thruster lets you hop back into your marina berth and park with poise. But before we called it a day, we dropped the anchor, went for a swim, and cursed each other for forgetting the champagne and chicken. Maybe next time.

As it is, the Uniesse 42 comes fully loaded for outdoor entertaining, spending long hot summer days aboard, and it wouldn't be out of place trolling between ports on the wide-blue yonder (rodholders were mounted in the gunwales).

It is a fine seaboat and I, for one, came away smitten by the ride. While the old architect's axiom, form follows function, is overlooked by some Italian boatbuilders, the Uniesse 42 is both stylish and practical.

More Ferrari than Fiat, the Uniesse is tailor-made for whizzing up the coast to Palm Beach, setting out from Sandringham for Sorrento, running from Runaway Bay to Moreton Island, or fanging it from Fremantle to Rottnest Island.

And it was just perfect for nipping out for the afternoon to my own little bit of Italy, Shelley Beach at Manly, that is. As the Italians say, la dolce vita. That's the sweet life.

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