Mark-1
Well-Known Member
Whereas climbing back onto a Golf GTI you've fallen off is a non starter.
Is a Contessa 32 basically a man cave for Boomers longing for the halcyon days of the 70s?
- Thread starter Baggywrinkle
- Start date
doug748
Well-Known Member
We know it's all panto but some people here like to hammer one particular design and when people say "....those things are not quite correct" and confront with facts, the tune slightly changes.
They then start suggesting you are: "..... trying to prove an outdated design 32 footer will beat any and all modern designs of any size
"So you have to repeat yourself for the more sedate thinkers: - Few people will say the Contessa is a fast boat in comparison with modern cruiser/racers but to say it is a slow boat does not stand up to scrutiny.
I picked 2017 because the winds were moderate and consistent, the water flat. A fair crack for all boats:
.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
And Drumbeat is a podium finisher in every National championship I believe?
obmij
Well-Known Member
I haven't read the article but the situation with the Contessa 32 sounds very similar to that of Land Rover, who will build you an effectively new Defender or Series based on a 'donor chassis' but in reality the only thing that is original is the chassis number.
If you are one of the select group of people interested in this proposition it will cost you around £250K
Below that, and in a very similar way to the CO32 there are absolute sheds to expensively restored sunday cars and everything in between including working cars and runabouts.
One thing is for sure though, I don;t think that anyone who bought a CO32 or series landrover in the 1970's would buy the same thing if they were available new today. They were great at what they did at the time but there are so many better options today. You would have to be absolutely batshit to do so.
If you are one of the select group of people interested in this proposition it will cost you around £250K
Below that, and in a very similar way to the CO32 there are absolute sheds to expensively restored sunday cars and everything in between including working cars and runabouts.
One thing is for sure though, I don;t think that anyone who bought a CO32 or series landrover in the 1970's would buy the same thing if they were available new today. They were great at what they did at the time but there are so many better options today. You would have to be absolutely batshit to do so.
ridgy
Well-Known Member
I learnt something of note yesterday.
Since RORC have dropped the use of SSS qualification (i.e. all pre-RCD boats) from Cat 1 races e.g. AZAB and OSTAR, those wanting to do a budget Corinthian entry just for the challenge have been somewhat disenfranchised.
I found out that since C32s are still being made, and meet cat A then since older boats are the same design and scantlings then they also qualify as cat A.
I wouldn't otherwise be interested in a C32 but that 8 grand one just became an interesting concept.
Since RORC have dropped the use of SSS qualification (i.e. all pre-RCD boats) from Cat 1 races e.g. AZAB and OSTAR, those wanting to do a budget Corinthian entry just for the challenge have been somewhat disenfranchised.
I found out that since C32s are still being made, and meet cat A then since older boats are the same design and scantlings then they also qualify as cat A.
I wouldn't otherwise be interested in a C32 but that 8 grand one just became an interesting concept.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
Ours isn’t the worst multi for that, but I cannot deny, swimming back to the boat, you pick an average direction, then wait for the boat to come to you. Not exactly hard in a tender though.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
An idea, but bringing an 8k boat up to Fastnet spec, not sure thats the best approach
ridgy
Well-Known Member
For some it's that approach or no approach.
What is "Fastnet spec"? It just needs to remain floating and the mast stay up. For sure it will need standing rigging replacing but that can be done on this size boat at a cost far less than some believe.
Perhaps one already owns all the relevant safety kit and autopilots on their existing boat and if it's blowing F8 then one gracefully retires.
doris
Well-Known Member
This is without doubt the most bizarre thread I can remember!!!
Back in another lifetime I might have fancied a MGBT, aka Austin Cambridge GT, or similar. I had a pair of Mexicos. But today I’ve utterly no interest, any more than I want a Nokia 6310 or an Olympus Trip.
I’m still alive because the world has moved on, I embrace that and have no interest in re living the past.
Others see things differently but their quasi religious fervour has I find slightly disquieting. Each to their own but there’s nowt so queer as folk.
Back in another lifetime I might have fancied a MGBT, aka Austin Cambridge GT, or similar. I had a pair of Mexicos. But today I’ve utterly no interest, any more than I want a Nokia 6310 or an Olympus Trip.
I’m still alive because the world has moved on, I embrace that and have no interest in re living the past.
Others see things differently but their quasi religious fervour has I find slightly disquieting. Each to their own but there’s nowt so queer as folk.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
Plenty of other things go wrong in offshore races, I’ve seen my share of unexpected breakages. I certainly wouldn’t consider a Cat A offshore race of any sort without a thorough going over, which is almost certain to expose the odd expensive weakness. The first would be sails on the 8k one. Not just shape, but actually hanging together if pressed in a breeze. Plus a few hundred quid here, a few hundred there. There is no budget way in to offshore racing. None. You’re committing your life to the integrity of your boat.
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
We know it's all panto but some people here like to hammer one particular design and when people say "....those things are not quite correct" and confront with facts, the tune slightly changes.
They then start suggesting you are: "..... trying to prove an outdated design 32 footer will beat any and all modern designs of any size
So you have to repeat yourself for the more sedate thinkers: - Few people will say the Contessa is a fast boat in comparison with modern cruiser/racers but to say it is a slow boat does not stand up to scrutiny.
I picked 2017 because the winds were moderate and consistent, the water flat. A fair crack for all boats:
.
Elan 333 was mentioned up thread, the one in class 5B was half an hour or more faster on elapsed time
Concerto
Well-Known Member
Great to see the J90 performance and exhilarating to sail, but not very relaxing. Constantly adjusting and tweeking the sails and the helmsman constantly adjusting the course. This forum is more about cruising than racing. Personally I would not want to cruise a J90, I am very happy with my Fulmar. In the past I owned and raced a Hunter Formula One, a Steven Jones 22ft extreme race boat, with a similar sailing experience to a J90. Been there and had the T shirt, but now prefer to travel slightly more sedately.
I have only once sailed close to a Co32 on the same course. I just sailed so much faster, but that Co32 was too sedate for me. It is very difficult to compare boat speed of a race Co32 with any similar sized boat set up for cruising. It is only when the whole package on offer is compared, then the cramped cockpit and small interior stand out as big drawbacks for many who cruise.
doug748
Well-Known Member
The quickest Fulmar in the 2017 RTIR would have come 22 out of 24 in the Contessa fleet.
CONTESSA ANNABEL 16:37:42 - 09:37:42 21
JEMMANA 16:55:32 - 09:55:32 22
STARSTREAK 16:55:49 - 09:55:49 23
AGAMEMNON
Westerly Fulmar - 09:50:23
[td]
[/td][td]
[/td]
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
I think I’ll just state the obvious anyway, but I like tweaky boats. We rarely sail on autopilot, maybe if we’re having lunch. Our boat rewards you for trimming, probably even more than a J. I grant you it’s not for everyone, that style of sailing, and this is more of a cruisers forum. The Contessa was a cruiser racer in 1971 though, and quite slavishly copied features from the best one off racers of the day, even though those very things are the millstone round it’s neck now. Fulmars were good all round boats, and have stood the test of time without any extreme features to get in the way of that.
potentillaCO32
Well-Known Member
Was a good year for the contessa, i doubt many 30 -40 foot bavarias finished in 2024
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Sure, but it seems 80% of the fleet either retired or did not compete.
In any event shouldn’t such a competitive fleet be racing in IRC?
In any event shouldn’t such a competitive fleet be racing in IRC?
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
I've raced and cruised a J109 and cruised a J122 and frequent adjusting and tweaking was very much optional. As with modern dinghies, fast doesn't mean difficult to sail.
....and, of course, getting there faster is an energy saver. You'd have several hours extra kip safely tied up crossing the Channel in a J122 over a Fulmar or a C32.
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
...and the beat up to the Needles was perfect for CO32s if a little wet.
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
.... I'd heard you can order an optional periscope on the new Contessas for exactly this reason.
steveeasy
Well-Known Member
Quite frankly I’ve not felt the need for a periscope sailing in to a blow but perhaps I’ve led a sheltered life. I did sail in 40 knts close hauled which was not too much fun until we managed to bear away and drop thankfully my new head sail which I believe is a no 2. But glad I had it on, but not too wet at all.
Anything above that and I’d have run.
Steveeasy
Anything above that and I’d have run.
Steveeasy
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