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Yachtsnet's archive of boat details and pictures
 

The following information and photographs are displayed as a service to anyone researching yacht types. HOWEVER THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT ARE COVERED BY COPYRIGHT, AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF YACHTSNET LTD. Details and photographs are normally based on one specific yacht, but could be a compilation. No reliance should be placed on other yachts of the same class being identical.  Where common variations exist, we have endeavoured to indicate this in these archive details. 

Contessa 32

Brief Notes

Builder

Several builders: mainly Jeremy Rogers, but also Macbar Marine and M. J. Slack in the UK, and J. J. Taylor in Canada

The Contessa 32 is a classic cruiser-racer, whose combination of speed and seaworthiness was proved in the ill-fated 1979 Fastnet Race. By "modern" standards the interior is cramped for a 32-footer, but the Contessa can make passages in weather that will keep most other boats firmly in harbour. The very few recently built boats from the 1990s and 2000s can command very high prices

Length OA

32' 0"

Sail Area

562 sq ft

Length WL

24' 0"

Rig

Sloop

Beam

9' 6"

Cabins

2

.Draught

5' 6"

Berths

6

Displacement

9,520 lbs

Engine type

various

Ballast

4,500 lbs

Engine bhp

10 - 20

Keel type

Fin and skeg

Contessa 32

The Contessa 32 was designed by David Sadler in 1971, and rapidly became very popular, both as a fast cruiser, and as a one design racing class. Series production by Jeremy Rogers Ltd. continued until 1982, by which time the cost of production building in the UK to the Contessa level of quality was becoming uneconomic. Jeremy Rogers then started "reconditioning" older yachts. In 1996 Rogers once again started limited production, of what is now a very expensive 32-footer - see details here

 

The few latest Rogers Contessa 32s have minor alterations to the original 1970/80s construction speciicatiion, whilst keeping them "in class" for class racing.

In the interim period in the late 80s and early 90s between Jeremy Rogers ceasing and restarting production a small number of boats were built by other builders, mostly by Mike Slack.

About 80 yachts were also built in Canada by J. J. Taylor, from a set of moulds taken from a Lymington-built Contessa that was shipped to Canada. These were to the same hull and deck moulding specifications, but used more internal GRP mouldings rather than a wooden structure, and many of these were wheel-steered rather than have a tiller. These Canadian boats are thus slightly lighter weight, and the interior a little brighter.

This Contessa 32 is currently for sale
Contessa 32

Contessa 32

Yachts seen here are no longer for sale - the data is online as a free information service for buyers researching boat types. THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COVERED BY COPYRIGHT, AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF YACHTSNET LTD.

Go to our brokerage section for boats currently for sale

The Contessa 32's reputation is based primarily on her elegant lines and sailing ability, but another factor which many people remember is that a Contessa 32 was the only yacht in the small boat class to finish the 1979 Fastnet Race, in which 15 lives were lost. The stability curve of the Contessa 32 was for some years used as a comparison in yachting magazine tests of newer designs - very, very few yachts ever match her range of positive stability....

Contessa 32

Yachts seen here are no longer for sale - the data is online as a free information service for buyers researching boat types. THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COVERED BY COPYRIGHT, AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF YACHTSNET LTD.

Go to our brokerage section for boats currently for sale

Photographs Yachtsnet

Yachts seen here are no longer for sale - the data is online as a free information service for buyers researching boat types. THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COVERED BY COPYRIGHT, AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF YACHTSNET LTD.

Go to our brokerage section for boats currently for sale

 

In comparison to modern 32-footers, the interior of the Contessa is small, but for most owners this is a price they are willing to pay for their performance, handling and seaworthiness, plus their looks.

As well as building a very few new Contessa 32s, Jeremy Rogers offers a service to refurbish and upgrade older models.

Contessa 32
Contessa 32
Contessa 32