Design and Construction
Felci gave the Esse 850 a plumb bow, an open stern, and a wide-open cockpit whose footprint resembles that of a beach cat more than a conventional 28-footer. Both the hull and deck are solid fiberglass.
Builder data lists displacement at 2,778 pounds, though period reviews described the boat as an ultralight 2,590 pounds. Lead ballast is estimated at 1,543 pounds, for a ballast-displacement ratio near 55 percent. With a 26-foot waterline and a 7-foot-2 beam, the boat has a low displacement-length ratio of around 69, which helps explain its liveliness.
The lifting bulb keel is the design’s defining feature. It retracts up to 4 feet 6 inches for easier trailering and drops to 6 feet 6 inches for upwind stiffness.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Esse 850 has a fractional sloop rig with more than 800 square feet of available sail area. For downwind sailing, a masthead A-sail flies from a retractable carbon-fiber pole. Sail controls are led under the deck for easy singlehanding, reinforcing the boat’s shorthanded brief.
With a sail-area-displacement ratio near 41 and the lifting keel down, the polars show that the Esse 850 can reach well over 10 knots of boatspeed in 20 knots of wind. Its ultralight displacement, plumb bow, and deep bulb keel give it a responsive, planing character rather than the posture of a heavy-weather grinder.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The Esse 850 isn’t a cruiser, and the available material gives no interior berth count or galley arrangement. Instead, it confirms a stylish Euro look and a wide-open cockpit intended for daysailing and one-design racing rather than overnight living.
The open stern and trailerable design further reflect a boat built around the ramp and racecourse, not the anchorages.
Verdict
The Esse 850 succeeds as a Felci-designed one-design that combines racer pace with genuine shorthanded simplicity. Its retracting keel addresses the trailering conflict that usually requires a compromise in upwind performance, while the under-deck controls help a solo sailor remain in command. It’s light, quick, and polished in appearance—but unapologetically a daysailer and racer rather than a cabin cruiser.
Pros
- Trailerable, with a retracting bulb keel for easier transport and deep-keel upwind stiffness
- Capable of more than 10 knots in 20 knots of wind according to the polars
- Ultralight, planing-oriented hull
- Under-deck sail controls and a retractable A-sail pole make shorthanded sailing practical
- European Yacht of the Year recognition
- Stylish Euro appearance
Cons
- No described cruising interior or tankage; daysailer/racer only
- Open stern and wide cockpit favor racing over sheltered comfort
