Contessa 32

The Contessa 32 is a Masthead Sloop designed by David Sadler and built by Jeremy Rogers Ltd. in Britain starting in 1971, with 87 additional boats built in Canada by J.J. Taylor until 1990. The boat debuted at the 1973 London Boat Show, winning 'Boat of the Show.' Over 700 were built in Britain.10:18 The Contessa 32 has a Fin with rudder on skeg hull, measures 9.8 m LOA, 2.9 m beam, 1.7 m draft, and displaces 4309 kg. Its reputation for global cruising was solidified after the 1979 Fastnet race, where *Ascent* was the only finisher in its class, demonstrating its 156-degree angle of vanishing stability. Aboard *Halcyon Yachts*, a Contessa 32 named *Confusion* competed in the 2023 AZAB (Azores and Back) race, enduring sustained winds of 35 to 45 knots and Force 7 to 8 conditions, highlighting the boat's seaworthiness despite a wind vane failure and significant water ingress.14:14 The crew of *Confusion* made mid-ocean repairs to the wind vane, emphasizing the importance of carrying specific spares for self-steering gear.10:25 Another *Halcyon Yachts* delivery of a 1972 Contessa 32 from Gosport to Falmouth demonstrated the boat's high sea kindliness and smooth motion through choppy seas.6:18 A winter delivery from Falmouth to Swansea showed the boat's ability to handle heavy seas and cold conditions while beating into wind and waves.6:34 A short coastal passage from Torpoint to St Mawes aboard *Signet* praised the Contessa 32's well-balanced helm and consistent performance at an average speed of 7 knots in 15-knot winds. *Cygnet*'s delivery from Falmouth to Hamble prioritized protecting the boat over speed, delaying departure to avoid 2-meter swells and 30-knot gusts.2:59