What the fleet has seen
The Contessa 32, as the fleet has seen it
Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.
The Contessa 32 is a Masthead Sloop designed by David Sadler and built by Jeremy Rogers Ltd. in Britain and J.J. Taylor, Sons Ltd. in Canada from 1971 to the present. It measures 9.8 meters LOA with a 2.9-meter beam, 1.7-meter draft, and displaces 4309 kg. The model gained a reputation for global cruising after the 1979 Fastnet race, where the Contessa 32 *Ascent* was the only finisher in its class, demonstrating a 156-degree angle of vanishing stability.9:52 Over 700 were built in Britain, and 87 in Canada until 1990; Canadian boats were built from molds created from a Rogers-built hull and deck. Jeremy Rogers developed vacuum bag assisted resin transfer systems for the Contessa 32's fiberglass lay-up. British boats feature an all-wood interior finish, while Canadian versions have a fiberglass headliner and molded interior furniture. Tiller steering is standard on Rogers boats, though some Canadian boats have wheel steering. Engine options include Bukh 20 hp, Volvo 2003 28 hp, or a three-cylinder Yanmar diesel. Aboard *Cygnet*, a Contessa 32, a delivery crew prioritized boat condition over speed, delaying departure from Falmouth by 24 hours to avoid 30-knot gusts and two-meter swells.2:17 James Evenson recommends the Contessa 32 as a simple, well-sailing boat suitable for developing seamanship.10:05
