A good year for the Contessa 32 in the Solent
by Ben Price 23 Jul 2023 06:37 PDT
Contessa Regatta in Yarmouth © Clive Hughes
The Contessa 32 turned 50 a couple of years ago and is firmly established as a modern cruiser/racer with a devoted following around the UK and worldwide. Despite her age, the beautiful lines and solid construction make the boat a wonderfully reliable companion.
There is an active racing programme on the Solent and her seaworthiness was tested again during this year's Round the Island Race where bracing conditions saw many lighter boats having difficulties.
Thirty-five Contessa 32's competed this year and all but four finished, the winner being Binkie II in a creditable 8 hrs 33 mins. These high numbers have followed a pattern of a resurgent interest in racing these highly competent yachts.
Back in June, the Royal Solent Yacht Club at Yarmouth hosted a Contessa regatta, inviting Contessas of all sizes to a weekend of racing and social activity which saw forty boats of five different sizes congregate in glorious weather in the western Solent.
The weekend was also a round within the CO 32 Inshore points series which saw 14 Contessa 32s take part, the regatta being won by Merak.
The resurgence looks set to continue with eighteen CO32 entries for the forthcoming Cowes Week, the highest number for over a decade.
Aside racing, there is an active cruising fleet too, the next activity being scheduled across the August bank holiday weekend and due to visit Lymington and Cowes - a traditionally popular weekend which normally attracts around twenty boats.
More information can be found on the Contessa 32 website, www.co32.org