Contessa 39

[Sea Seven]

Does anyone have experience or knowledge of the Contessa 39? There's very little on the internet.

 

[rickym]

Why not ask Jeremy Rogers at Lymington?

http://sailboatdata.com/view_builder.asp?builder_id=168

 

[E39mad]

Aren't the boats latterly called a Dawn 39 following takeover of the moulds/rights.

Also iirc the navy at Dartmouth have a fleet of them.

 

[Tranona]

Does anyone have experience or knowledge of the Contessa 39? There's very little on the internet.

Very little because few were actually built. When it came out, fashions had changed and that style of boat lost popularity. As already mentioned it was rebadged as the Dawn 39 and some were built, but often home completed from mouldings.

 

[Boo2]

Aren't the boats latterly called a Dawn 39 following takeover of the moulds/rights.

According to Sailboatdata that's the Contessa 38.

I tried without success to obtain info on the D39 a few years ago when I was daydreaming about self-build, IIRC Blaxtons were advertising mouldings at that time but there's nothing about it on their website now.

Boo2

 

[r_h]

According to Sailboatdata that's the Contessa 38.

Correct - the 38 is very similar to the 32 in terms of style.

IIRC the 39 started out as a One Ton IOR race boat in (I think) 1979 and the first couple were quite stripped out, although I believe a few were also built with fully fitted interiors.

 

[Morven]

I think the moulds ended up at Crinnan, IIRC they were for sale about 8 years ago as well as a couple of hulls.

 

[sailorman]

Does anyone have experience or knowledge of the Contessa 39? There's very little on the internet.

The S&S or the Rogers stretched 32
a friend had the stretched one & hated it he sold it within 9 months & bought a Nic 35 owned her these past 12 yrs

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

I think this is one of them.
Lovely boat if they stay upright!

 

[uxb]

I think the moulds ended up at Crinnan, IIRC they were for sale about 8 years ago as well as a couple of hulls.

They were both on the pier at Ardrishaig for a long while. A storm blew one into the harbour and damaged it badly. The other one was bought by someone from darn sarf...

 

[E39mad]

Agh ... OK .. yes there was a Doug Peterson designed 39

 

[Shuggy]

I saw a nice one last summer on Canna. I think she was green - a very pretty boat. I also think that the moulds did end up at Crinan some time ago.

 

[dt4134]

I saw one recently and I did a web search to see if I could find a photo to jog my memory. Anyway, no luck there, but according to Wikipedia, Jeremy Rogers was placed 2nd overall in the 1979 Fastnet in a Contessa 39, so I guess that would indicate they could cope with a lot in the right hands.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

I saw a nice one last summer on Canna. I think she was green - a very pretty boat. I also think that the moulds did end up at Crinan some time ago.

That sounds like the one beside me, Greenheart.

C_W

 

[Morven]

Didn't she get built for Mike Balmforth, the editor of Yachting Life, I know he sold her on must be about 7 years past now.

 

[uxb]

They were both on the pier at Ardrishaig for a long while. A storm blew one into the harbour and damaged it badly. The other one was bought by someone from darn sarf...

If I remember correctly the previous owner of the yard was planning on building them to keep the yard busy in the winter months but the plan failed once they realised that the only way to get the moulds into the yard would be by sea or helicopter-a bit late in the day to find this out when the moulds were on a truck in Ardrishaig...

 

[robmcg]

One being fitted out in Port Bannatyne boatyard at the moment (Dawn Class 39).

 

[doug748]

Does anyone have experience or knowledge of the Contessa 39? There's very little on the internet.

As already mentioned in the more accurate posts, the Contessa 39 was a very quick late 70s boat. Not many about and the usual warnings apply about ex racing machines. I have only seen one at sea and it was moving fast in about 1 knot of wind.

If you are looking at Dawn Class 39s, try searching for Contessa 38. They are a 32 writ large, the line of the deck just does not quite work, to my eye

 

[sailorman]

As already mentioned in the more accurate posts, the Contessa 39 was a very quick late 70s boat. Not many about and the usual warnings apply about ex racing machines. I have only seen one at sea and it was moving fast in about 1 knot of wind.

If you are looking at Dawn Class 39s, try searching for Contessa 38. They are a 32 writ large, the line of the deck just does not quite work, to my eye

check for lee helm too

 

[Sea Seven]

Many thanks for all the replies. This was my first ever post and I'm amazed by the diversity of knowledge and information.
I've promised myself a boat when I get to 60, not long now, and have researched many in the 36-40 foot range. This one was a bit more difficult to find out about.
Next time I'm at Ardrishaig I'll watch out for those moulds!