Contessa 32, are they really that good?

[Praxinoscope]

Over the years I have owned bilge keel, lifting keel, fin keel and long keel boats, my favourite for cruising and occasional racing is the long keel, unfortunately not ideal on my present mooring in Aberaeron so I am back to bilge.
If I had the money I would be looking at a marina berth and a modern long keeler, but I don't, so it's a compromise, like all boats are,
I still have a hankering for a CO32, but can't afford one, and the cost of berthing it would really chew up my pension faster than SWMBO.

 

[Gary Fox]

If a third of a yacht's LOD is her overhangs, I would call it an extreme design.

 

[mrming]

If a third of a yacht's LOD is her overhangs, I would call it an extreme design.

Absolutely - it’s a design influenced by the racing rules of the time.

RORC / early IOR -> long overhangs, pinched sterns, tumblehome
Later IOR -> bumps, bustles, flat forefoots, sugar scoops, ballast at the top of the keel
IMS -> slab sided weirdness
IRC -> boats that are heavier and slower than they need to be

The Contessa 32 wasn’t designed specifically to rate well on IOR, but it does share a lot of the same design traits that early IOR boats had.

 

[stevie69p]

It wasn't great, but to be fair the Leyland answer to the DS was really the Rover P6, and it was a pretty good answer. And, of course, the Princess led to ...

Ah... the Austin Ambarrassment (sic)

 

[[178529]]

I wish you would all stop this thread. Everytime I get a notice of a new post I seem to have to key in contessa 32 into apolloduck

 

[Concerto]

I wish you would all stop this thread. Everytime I get a notice of a new post I seem to have to key in contessa 32 into apolloduck

Here is a link for you.

1977 Austin Leyland Cars Princess 2200 HL 75000 miles

 

[doris]

Unfortunately, such hubris soon gets deflated by such as an A22 hurtling past on the plane!

Oh so true!!!

 

[Blueboatman]

If the A22 and Co32 were to get together , would that be a COntenderSon??
Whoooosh?????

 

[mrming]

If the A22 and Co32 were to get together , would that be a COntenderSon??
Whoooosh?????

There’s a conspiracy among all yacht builders to ensure that never happens. It would render all other models of boat redundant. ?