TiggerToo
Well-Known Member
How do you rate the two? I have heard enough about how great her Highness the Contessa 32 is, but what about the Rival 32? Anyone had direct experience? I'd be pleased to hear.
is the 32 a Rival to the Contessa?
- Thread starter TiggerToo
- Start date
KenMcCulloch
Well-Known Member
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How do you rate the two? I have heard enough about how great her Highness the Contessa 32 is, but what about the Rival 32? Anyone had direct experience? I'd be pleased to hear.
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Both excellent sea boats, the Rival is rather heavier and needs a little more wind to get her going, but also has a little bit more space below. You may find you get more boat for your money buying a Rival 32 as they are slightly less popular than the Contessa and not quite as elegant.
How do you rate the two? I have heard enough about how great her Highness the Contessa 32 is, but what about the Rival 32? Anyone had direct experience? I'd be pleased to hear.
[/ QUOTE ]
Both excellent sea boats, the Rival is rather heavier and needs a little more wind to get her going, but also has a little bit more space below. You may find you get more boat for your money buying a Rival 32 as they are slightly less popular than the Contessa and not quite as elegant.
macd
Well-Known Member
I've not sailed a Contessa 32 but have been inside one and own a Rival 32. I'd agreed with Ken's broad assessment. I'm 6'2" and frankly found the Contessa pokey below, especially in terms of headroom. I imagine the Contessa's a fraction faster, especially in lighter airs. Both are excellent sea boats.
As well as the Rival 32 there's the earlier and somewhat rarer 31, which is near identical except the transom slopes the opposite way. The later 34 doesn't offer a great deal more room than either, although it's significantly dearer than the R31/32. As well as the Rival or Contessa, you might add the Holman & Pye-designed Wauquiez Centurion to your list. It's a comparable vessel and may be cheaper than either, although they're more common in France than the UK.
If you need any more Rival info, please feel free to PM me. A history and descriptions of Rival models can be found on the Rival Owners Association web site: www.rivalowners.org.uk/
As well as the Rival 32 there's the earlier and somewhat rarer 31, which is near identical except the transom slopes the opposite way. The later 34 doesn't offer a great deal more room than either, although it's significantly dearer than the R31/32. As well as the Rival or Contessa, you might add the Holman & Pye-designed Wauquiez Centurion to your list. It's a comparable vessel and may be cheaper than either, although they're more common in France than the UK.
If you need any more Rival info, please feel free to PM me. A history and descriptions of Rival models can be found on the Rival Owners Association web site: www.rivalowners.org.uk/
Amari
Well-Known Member
It may be the Wauquiez Pretorien 35' you are thinking of. Think I'm right in saying Centuriens are all bigger - 38/40'
Our Pretorien has circumnavigated (not us) and is nice and stiff in a breeze. Skeg mounted rudder and plenty of GRP.
Our Pretorien has circumnavigated (not us) and is nice and stiff in a breeze. Skeg mounted rudder and plenty of GRP.
NealB
Well-Known Member
I think he refers to the Centurion 32...
a lovely looking boat (even prettier than the Contessa, to my eye).
a lovely looking boat (even prettier than the Contessa, to my eye).
Aja
Well-Known Member
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I imagine the Contessa's a fraction faster, especially in lighter airs. Both are excellent sea boats.
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I would say that the Contessa would outsail a Rival quite convincingly.
Donald
I imagine the Contessa's a fraction faster, especially in lighter airs. Both are excellent sea boats.
[/ QUOTE ]
I would say that the Contessa would outsail a Rival quite convincingly.
Donald
Georgio
Well-Known Member
Both have owners associations that would be a good source of info, google finds them. Rival has a bit more room down below but CO32 is MUCH better looking and faster on the water. CO32's also have a very active cruising and racing scene in the Solent.
santeana
Well-Known Member
Both fine boats to take care of you when the going gets tough. R32 arguably better stowage for offshore/passagemaking and perhaps a drier boat. Contessa faster in light airs and stiffer in a blow. Both with AVS around 150. Rival 34 beats both in the beauty contest but that's my biased opinion!
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
Had an R32 for 8/9yrs, it was a great boat, we did a lot of miles from St Kilda to Sardinia, the rival has quite a bit more room inc headroom up forward esp. And a great boat to dry out, (a usefull feature) unlike present Nic 32. Re sailing qualities, suprisingly swift, I have beaten a Contessa on various points once through the Kyles, once in the N Irish Sea, BUT theres no doubt in my mind the CO should be slightly quicker, maybe not as dry though as the R32, I would
certainly rather the Rival in heavy weather. The dry qualities come from the high, full bow,in fact the high bow can be a prob manoeuvering under power, windage. But the dry ride is worth that. The Rival is for me a prettier boat, much more distinctive than a CO, though I hasten to add it is a bonny boat too. Mine was called "TRYVAL" last time I saw her she was for sale.
certainly rather the Rival in heavy weather. The dry qualities come from the high, full bow,in fact the high bow can be a prob manoeuvering under power, windage. But the dry ride is worth that. The Rival is for me a prettier boat, much more distinctive than a CO, though I hasten to add it is a bonny boat too. Mine was called "TRYVAL" last time I saw her she was for sale.
doug748
Well-Known Member
Off we go. If I might muddy the water.... the Nicholson 31 is of the same ilk, is quicker than you might imagine and has a grand full keel. Pricey though.
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
Don,t know about a Nic 31, but my old R32 would show me the way home in my Nic 32 mK X1.
EDIT, Though in fairness the Nic is a much more volumous boat! Bill.
EDIT, Though in fairness the Nic is a much more volumous boat! Bill.
Kurrawong_Kid
Well-Known Member
Wauquiez made just under 400 Centurion 32's. They are found throughout Western Europe and quite a number are in the States. Very similar to a Rival 32 and just as good. Both are not as wet as the CO 32 to windward. Also consider Contest 33.
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
Good advice, all nice boats. Bill.
ebbtide
N/A
My regiment owned the pair in the Eighties and I alternated between Rival and Conti, cruising cross-Channel and racing R the Is for a decade.
IMHO the Conti is one of the prettiest designs on the water with performance to match: rated 8% quicker on PY, '79 Fastnet survivor etcet - the 6ft draft means points high but wet and cramped cos of low freeboard. Professionally built, active owners' assocn.
Rival slower, only 4'8" draft, voluminous by comparison, poorly built including dodgy DIY attempts.
PM me for more including original reviews, specs and lotsa nostalgia!
IMHO the Conti is one of the prettiest designs on the water with performance to match: rated 8% quicker on PY, '79 Fastnet survivor etcet - the 6ft draft means points high but wet and cramped cos of low freeboard. Professionally built, active owners' assocn.
Rival slower, only 4'8" draft, voluminous by comparison, poorly built including dodgy DIY attempts.
PM me for more including original reviews, specs and lotsa nostalgia!
santeana
Well-Known Member
Rivals poorly built? - complete rubbish! Home finished jobbies do need to be checked out but you should qualify your statement. After 79 all Rivals were built to Lloyds 100A1 and all were in fact to Lloyds certified build. Tiggertoo, don't listen to such ill-informed advice.
Seakindly
Well-Known Member
Contessa's certainly look pretty but I'm not at the preening stage meself yet and wanted a safe family boat. Last boat was a Twister and I was prepared to let go a bit of performance and style for head-room, extra berths and livability. You see Rivals on all the long-distance circuits so I bought a 32 recently. Build quality seems good to me, and I was pleased with better passage times than I expected. Certainly much better close quarters handling under power and enough elbow room to take a crew in some comfort. So far, I'm pleased, and the draught is useful on the East Coast. You don't see them often, and they cost more, but an old Rustler has both the looks and seakeeping you might be looking for.
Seakindly
Well-Known Member
OK, I'm PAST the preening stage....
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
Pretty much a load of rubbish, sorry to be blunt, but that is so much TOSH, TO BE POLITE.
G
Guest
Guest
Don't know about build etc., but the Contessa seems quite a bit faster, just from experience of overtaking Rivals... as you'd expect as the Contessa's designed as a cruiser/racer, the Rival as a pure cruiser.
Plenty of Rivals seem to be used to circumnavigate. So far as aesthetics is concerned it's such a personal thing, so each should make his/her own mind up.
About Portsmouth yardstick, not sure about the Rival 32 number, but the Contessa seems to be 994 and the Rival 34 seems to be 1041, so the Contessa's just under 5% faster than the 34 on that measure.
I really like the Rival, but of course am biased and of course I prefer the Contessa. I've only once been inside a Rival and that was an awful home fitted one, which I guess says nothing except about that particular version and that you have to look around for a good example.
Plenty of Rivals seem to be used to circumnavigate. So far as aesthetics is concerned it's such a personal thing, so each should make his/her own mind up.
About Portsmouth yardstick, not sure about the Rival 32 number, but the Contessa seems to be 994 and the Rival 34 seems to be 1041, so the Contessa's just under 5% faster than the 34 on that measure.
I really like the Rival, but of course am biased and of course I prefer the Contessa. I've only once been inside a Rival and that was an awful home fitted one, which I guess says nothing except about that particular version and that you have to look around for a good example.
purplerobbie
Well-Known Member
Everyone is saying that the contessa is a prettier boat?
I think the rival is a far nicer boat.
It has a great side decks and working space.
But they say beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder
Rob
P.s.
Mine is nicer than either....
Sorry
I think the rival is a far nicer boat.
It has a great side decks and working space.
But they say beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder
Rob
P.s.
Mine is nicer than either....
Sorry
