Why are YBW in love with Contessas?

[Colvic Watson]

I've just read the review of the Contessa 32 and it was a piece of hagiography. The boat seemingly has no vices, maybe just a weeeeee bit small below, maybe just a weeeeeeee bit wet on deck, but endless verbiage about how it's just perfect in every other regard. Frankly if it was a new boat/car review you'd suspect the editor had been given a freebie. In the interests of balance, let me help the editor out:

1. It's unbelievably cramped for a 32 footer, yacht interior design has come a long way since.
2. The heads is positively Stone Age. Take a dump and you fill the forecabin and saloon with the aromatic after effects - this is a 32 footer, not the little 26 footer.
3. The heads blocks access to the forecabin, so if someone from the saloon sleeping cabin is in there, they're urinating 6 inches from your head in the forecabin and you can't get out until they've finished, again this is a 32 footer.
4. It's blummin expensive to park in a marina for what it is.
5. It has a nasty main sheet traveller right in the middle of the companionway.
6. The cockpit is narrow, cramped and either wet or your view is obscured by the necessary dodgers and sprayhood.
7. There isn't 6 foot of headroom if you're wearing shoes or boots, which a surprising number of sailors do.

It's another case of a boat that has the undoubted virtue of being able to sail to Greenland as quoted and then has that virtue elevate the boat to sainthood. I sail a Colvic Watson, I understand compromise and I'm honest about it. It seems that YBW staff cannot understand the concept and get all hot and emotional when a Contessa or Sadler is reviewed. They don't have shares in them do they?

 

[PlankWalker]

If this was a review of a CARAVAN, items 1 to 7 would be relevant, but they are not, this is a SAILING BOAT and she sails like a dream.

 

[wully1]

Maybe because they are very pretty and sail anywhere in any weather?

Maybe because they are still being built?

 

[Sailfree]

If this was a review of a CARAVAN, items 1 to 7 would be relevant, but they are not, this is a SAILING BOAT and she sails like a dream.

And as a sailing boat for many it would be useless and cause many females to give up on sailing. Sales of modern boats indicate that design is going where the people want or they would all be demanding cramped narrow boats as designed in the 80's.

I think the Contessa is best left to lonely men (not families) that can smoke their pipes and spill their beer down their beards while talking anout the 32' Contessa that survived the 79 fastnet that they weren't anywhere near!


Being built just but only when one is sold!! How many were sold new in last few years.

Personally I believe the Contessa 32 is like the Sigma 38 - outstanding designs of that period but like many I don't want one the same as I don't want a new Ford Cortina (if they were still being built!)

Just feeling provocative!!

 

[dunedin]

I tend to agree. I think there is a lot of nostalgia at YM, which perhaps clouds judgement sometimes.

Beauty is both a personal thing, and a changing thing. The Contessa's are nice enough, and sail quite well for their age - though nothing special IMHO, unless blue water sailing in a smallish oldish boat is your thing.
My dream boat at this size would more likely be an Arcona or XC rather than a Contessa, nice boat though they were.

 

[NDG]

I quite like mine....

It's always amazed me how the co32 arouses such passionate views. They're nice boats but not everyone's cup of tea. Same as a lot of boats really.

 

[DownWest]

I wonder if the OPs mother was run down by a Contessa when pregnant. They are splendid boats of the era. That some still want them built speaks words.

 

[Sailfree]

My dream boat at this size would more likely be an Arcona or XC .

We always think others are intelligent if they agree with us.

Good choice - I seriously looked at a new Arcona 46 but SWMBO loves the lightness of a Deck Saloon and that why I can get her to go for extended sailing holidays these days!

 

[Avocet]

I've never sailed on, so maybe I'm missing something really special, but we looked at a C26 and ended up buying a Cutlass 27 for very similar reasons. Fora 26 footer, the Contessa 26 was too much of a compromise in favour of (I'm told) seaworthiness and handling. To be honest, I don't know what they;re like but the Cutlass is every bit as seaworthy / kindly as we could ever want, and more practical and cheaper.

 

[jwilson]

I have sailed more than one Contessa 32, and fully understand why people love them. You have to like the feel of the boat under your hand to appreciate it. There are other good boats too, some even better, my personal favourite being the She 36. I have yet to meet the boat that combines really sweet handling under sail with cavernous accommodation. A Swan, Sweden Yacht or Arcona may come close, some X-Yachts and Maxis also make a good try.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Agreed, there's no such thing, we all know you need to compromise but the YBW writers and one or two owners can't see the compromises at work in a Co32 - let alone the even more challenged 26. The 32's great attribute is apparently sea worthiness in atrocious conditions, but car buyers are intelligent enough to know not everyone should have a Land Rover. Its other great quality is apparently its sailability - but that's nonsense, we buy sailing boats that need to be good at more than just the actual business of getting from a to b by sail. Otherwise to use the car analogy we'd all drive a Lotus Elise, probably the best drive there is. But a yacht is a magic carpet to transport us on adventures so it needs to offer some reasonable accommodation, some comfort in the cockpit and some intelligence in its non sailing design features. They make about one Contessa a year, so best not use that as a recommendation to buy

I get, totally get, that the Co32 is a good sailer, ideal for trips to Greenland. But it's a **** family boat, an awful place to live if it's not just a couple and a pretty rubbish cockpit. I sail a boat that's **** to windward, an awful machine for racing round the cans and a pretty rubbish speed machine. I'm honest about the compromises, any review in YBW would be similarly honest, but show them the pretty upturned nose of a Contessa and objectivity and rational thought disappear as fast as their fingers pick out that lovely old cliche "a design that's stood the test of time" - that would be a design from the era of the MG Austin Montego - the fastest MG ever, but they don't sell many of those anymore either.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

If she had been built in Britain, not France, and had been used by the Navy to train "Officers"(?), then I think the Centurion 32 would be considered a far superior yacht. More room below, drier, very light on the helm, magnificent sea boat that sails well, quality build (396 or so) and looks good. Most owners keep them a long time so they are seldom on the market in the UK.

But I agree with Lazy Kipper. Yacht design has moved on and the Contessa 32 and is the equivalent of the original Mini Cooper! Feted, loved, uncomfortable, not particularly fast. Compare with a modern Mini-more room, faster, more comfort etc. The Centurion would be a Rover 2000. Even a modern Ford Mondeo is far superior to that Rover. Things move on.

 

[dylanwinter]

they are nice boats though

classy, fast, well made and of course they look great

real gentlemans cruisers

the sort of yacht you expect to see flying a properly earned blue ensign

D

 

[AndrewB]

Well yes, they are biased, but what's the harm in that? Absolute objectivity is hard to maintain, and what's more, is really boring.

 

[Colvic Watson]

As you say designs have moved on but YBW imply that Jeremy Rogers' 1970's creations were the epoch of yacht design. I don't get it and I'd love to understand why they do. Maybe they're all gentlemen of a certain age and hark back to the dream yachts of their early adult lives. I sailed on a Contessa 26 in my youth, crewing in a number of races on the Isle of Man; it was fearsomely wet and never came home anything like first. The Contessa 32 is eminently suited to a middle aged bloke who generally sails alone and surprise surprise the owner of the review boat only has a spaniel for company. Nice looking dog though.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

A question to the forum, which current production boat of similar length would you say has similar or better seaworthiness and handling?
It's not a trick question I'm just interested to know whats available.

Cheers
Buck.

 

[jerrytug]

Good question Buck. You will be bombarded with answers, but they ought to keep it to 32', no creeping up to 34', because it makes a huge difference.

 

[Koeketiene]

cramped narrow boats as designed in the 80's.

Not all 80's designed and built boats are cramped/narrow/wet/...

 

[Koeketiene]

the sort of yacht you expect to see flying a properly earned blue ensign

How do you earn a blue ensign?
You join the right club and you pay your dues - where is the merit in that?

 

[30boat]

The Westerly Fulmar sails just as well if not better and has none of the failings of the Contessa bar one.It's ugly ish.The accomodation is great there's tons of stowage,a proper heads compartment,it sails beautifully on a run or a beat,I could go on.It can even be made to look sort of elegant with a decent paint job.