Contessa 26
Masthead Sloop · Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder · 1965–1990
A David Sadler-designed long-keel masthead sloop, built in both England and Canada with a 25-year production run
Designed by David Sadler, built by Jeremy Rogers.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder
See her sail
The Contessa 26, on the water
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from Sailing Gently
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 26 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.
1.71 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.
301 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.
12.1 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.
43% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.
Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.
- Narrower than ~79% of boats her size on file
Compared with 272 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.
The living fleet
Sailed by the fleet
Where the fleet has filmed this boat.
Seen once across one channel of the fleet.
On the water
The Contessa 26 on video
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Boats like this, on the water
More boats like her, on the water
Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.
The family
Related models
The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.
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The fleet has more to say
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