Is a Contessa 32 basically a man cave for Boomers longing for the halcyon days of the 70s?

[Lucky Duck]

A link to this review appeared in my inbox

Contessa 32 review: Still an enduring classic - Yachting Monthly

Until now I had never considered the detrimental affect of the masthead anemometer on my boat’s stability

 

[potentillaCO32]

Nick from sailing ruby rose has seen the light and flogged his cat

 

[Major_Clanger]

Co32s are, by modern standards, cramped, wet, cluttered and high maintenance.

But all one has to do to see that they're very much still relevant is take the helm, especially in foul weather.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Co32s are, by modern standards, cramped, wet, cluttered and high maintenance.

But all one has to do to see that they're very much still relevant is take the helm, especially in foul weather.

And if you want the other side of the coin, get on the foredeck.

 

[Frogmogman]

And if you want the other side of the coin, get on the foredeck.

 

[Major_Clanger]

I've got a Co26 which is even worse. I can't find an emoji for Scuba gear!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I've got a Co26 which is even worse. I can't find an emoji for Scuba gear!

Your hatch looks a bit like one on Jules Verne’s Nautilus. For good reason.

 

[dunedin]

Co32s are, by modern standards, cramped, wet, cluttered and high maintenance.

But all one has to do to see that they're very much still relevant is take the helm, especially in foul weather.

In July I arrived at Coll after a brisk sail over, overtaking a CO32 in the last mile (which is fair enough, as bigger LWL).

As we picked up the moorings, I noticed that all of the crew on the Contessa were in full oilskins - by contrast I was wearing shorts and T-shirt

 

[Major_Clanger]

In July I arrived at Coll after a brisk sail over, overtaking a CO32 in the last mile (which is fair enough, as bigger LWL).

As we picked up the moorings, I noticed that all of the crew on the Contessa were in full oilskins - by contrast I was wearing shorts and T-shirt

Are you sure they weren't immersion suits?!

 

[awol]

In July ........................................................ I was wearing shorts and T-shirt

Aye, right! Pull the ither yin! Scotland/July - I can understand dispensing with full thermals but oilies - nae chance.

 

[Blue Seas]

And if you want the other side of the coin, get on the foredeck.

Yes indeed, tonight my foredeck is seriously wet. But your deck is seriously ugly. In the morning my foredeck will have dried out, but yours will still be seriously ugly.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Yes indeed, tonight my foredeck is seriously wet. But your deck is seriously ugly. In the morning my foredeck will have dried out, but yours will still be seriously ugly.

You’ll never see my foredeck. It’s my transom you need to worry about.

 

[Blue Seas]

You’ll never see my foredeck. It’s my transom you need to worry about.

If you ned to get your kicks from knocking other peoples pride and joy then so be it. Your vessel is a thing of beauty, Honest.

 

[SaltyC]

You’ll never see my foredeck. It’s my transom you need to worry about.

Aah, the contessa has a nice trim transom, a pleasure to view unlike many of the modern fat 'transoms' on modern boats!

 

[flaming]

A link to this review appeared in my inbox

Contessa 32 review: Still an enduring classic - Yachting Monthly

Until now I had never considered the detrimental affect of the masthead anemometer on my boat’s stability

I see that review still trots out the normal line…

‘She’s as quick or quicker than other new 32-footers, because they have so much volume and windage they don’t go to windward as well, though they do go quicker downwind. She is a quick boat when beating.’

Which simply isn’t backed up by observation or race results! Certainly when talking about cruiser racers!

I get the appeal, I really do, but quite why so many people seem to feel the need to claim performance for the CO32 that doesn’t stack up with reality is a mystery…

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Aah, the contessa has a nice trim transom, a pleasure to view unlike many of the modern fat 'transoms' on modern boats!

I don’t recall anyone saying they’re not handsome, from any angle. They’re even a pleasure to look at when that oversized genoa is holding them at 45 degrees. My transom view is ruined by having an extra long shaft outboard hanging on it. But I can’t see that view from the cockpit.

 

[Mark-1]

Aah, the contessa has a nice trim transom, a pleasure to view unlike many of the modern fat 'transoms' on modern boats!

My transom view is ruined by having an extra long shaft outboard hanging on it. But I can’t see that view from the cockpit.

Indeed, 'we' sleep in our own "transoms" and view other people's. So better to have a nice sleep in a massive quarter cabin and wake up to look at your neighbour's pretty C32 than squeeze into a C32 for the evening and wake up to look at someone else's plastic eye-sore. (IMHO.)

...and, if pretty boats are your thing, you see an awful lot of pretty boats if you're going very, very fast in an ugly boat.

 

[Stemar]

My transom view is ruined by having an extra long shaft outboard hanging on it

But, on the plus side, the Contessas - and most others won't have to look at for very long, at least not from close to.

 

[doug748]

I see that review still trots out the normal line…

‘She’s as quick or quicker than other new 32-footers, because they have so much volume and windage they don’t go to windward as well, though they do go quicker downwind. She is a quick boat when beating.’

Which simply isn’t backed up by observation or race results! Certainly when talking about cruiser racers!

I get the appeal, I really do, but quite why so many people seem to feel the need to claim performance for the CO32 that doesn’t stack up with reality is a mystery…

They are not "fast" and nor are they "slow", chat sites love hyperbole though.

For race results we can reprise post 157 which gives us real figures to mull over. People love subjectivity though, it gives lots of scope for bandstanding nonsense, we can't get around that.

.

.

 

[awol]

They are not "fast" and nor are they "slow", chat sites love hyperbole though.

For race results we can reprise post 157 which gives us real figures to mull over. People love subjectivity though, it gives lots of scope for bandstanding nonsense, we can't get around that.

.

.

It all depends on the wind strength. Force 4 and more I can easily sail to my handicap, less than that I'm just out for a potter in company. The handicap shows a slow boat by modern standards but if that is a worry don't get a CO32! I hope I'm not upsetting the photographer with this picture from this year's WHYW - my boat is in the background