How easy is it to roll a Contessa 32

jimi

jimi

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As I understand it, it has a wonderful AVS which enables it to roll right round and get upright again. Now surely it would be a lot better if it did'nt go over at all? Presumably more modern boats with an apparently worse AVS are in fact safer cos they're a lot less likely to roll in the first place. What do you think?
 
Because a modern wide bodied boat relys a lot on form stability it has a lot of initial stability. However once that is overcome (as if by a breaking wave) there is less stability around the 75-90 degree mark. Which is where a bad situation becomes a really bad situation.

What would you rather be sailing in survival conditions, a Contessa 32, or a 32 foot Jen/Ben/Bav?
 
As I understand it boats of similar beam have exactly the same chance of being rolled in a breaking wave?
 
Sounds a good theory but the modern AWB is likely to be well stocked with baked beans, FB pies, bottles of wine and etc. all mostly stored in cupboards up high so reducing their design AVS's whereas the Contessa is going to be stripped out of unnecessary clutter and be kept in race trim at all times making it IMO the much safer of the 2.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Contessa is going to be stripped out of unnecessary clutter

[/ QUOTE ]

Beacuse it has such a small interior volume, you can't get any cr@p on board! Designed to suit the same sort of people who can fit in the back of a sports coupe. ie; amputee dwarves.
 
Amputee dwarves

That's actually an interesting concept, I suppose cos dwarfs are so small they've got lots of bits they do'nt really need .. eg toes cos their COG is so low I suppose you could prune a lot of their feet before they started toppling over.
 
[quoteDesigned to suit the same sort of people who can fit in the back of a sports coupe. ie; amputee dwarves.

[/ QUOTE ]

I say Jimi, you going to stand for that - oh, you already are standing /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Well, those of you who remember the Fastnet may recall that a Contessa 32 (and incidentally a SHE 32 like mine) were among the few boats to emerge unscathed! OK, so there's no running hot water, shower, hairdryer etc but I just love the looks and sailing performance..
 
Yeah but was'nt that cos they were so slow they were miles away from the problem area hitting the main body of the fleet?
 
"Although the boat has a stated headroom of 6 ft. 1 in., this height is only found at the foot of the companionway; beyond this spot, headroom quickly reduces to about 5 ft. 10 in"
No problem in a roll, just stand up and wedge yourself between floor and ceiling until back upright........
 
Don't think so, pretty sure they were right in the middle of it. Haven't got my copy to hand, but Fastnet Force 10 has the details of this.
 
You really must be dimensionally diminished. I can't get from one end of the cabin to the other without bashing me feet on thet blasted table.

Go for real build quality and buy a mid eighties Gib'sea 96 Master. That's really comfortable and DRY in a gale, just sits hove to while you rest in comfort, or reefed right down just pops along.

Real boats sail upright!
Toy submarines lie on their side in the bath water.

All IMHO of course!
 
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