BoatsContessa 39

Contessa 39

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1979

A Doug Peterson-designed ocean cruiser built with advanced vacuum-bagged construction and proven in the 1979 Fastnet

Designed by Doug Peterson, built by Jeremy Rogers.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 22 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 22
CoastalBluewater

2.02 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.02
LightHeavy

174 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 174
EasygoingPowered-up

19.2 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 19.2
TenderStiff

49% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 49%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Draws more than ~90% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2900 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
49.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.2
Displacement / length
174.5
Comfort ratio
22.5
Capsize screening
2.02
Hull speed
7.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1451
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1979
Units built
12
Designer
Doug Peterson
Builder
Jeremy Rogers

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 38911.73 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Marc Lombard-designed cruiser featuring dual rudders and a versatile keel configuration for varied coastal waters
Farr Phase 412.00 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Bruce Farr-designed masthead sloop built for performance with a fin keel, bulb, and spade rudder
Catalina Yachts 37511.73 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2008 fractional sloop with a 2.08-metre draft and a balanced displacement-to-ballast ratio for coastal stability
RM Yachts 118011.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Marc Lombard-designed performance cruiser featuring a wide beam, dual rudders, and a powerful cutter rig
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39i11.86 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Marc Lombard-designed fractional sloop balancing a 2.0-meter draft with a spacious beam for efficient coastal cruising
Beneteau 39311.63 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA masthead sloop offering a shallow 1.55m draft option for coastal access, built with a high-volume hull since 2002

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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