Contessa 32's celebrate 50 at Cowes Week 200

Co32 Parade of Sail at North Sails Cowes Week 2026 © Jack de la Hunty

There is an irresistible allure of one design racing, especially at Cowes Week. People just keep coming back to it year after year and try to win the thing (or just their bit of the thing, for there is something in it for everyone); it becomes an inevitable part of your year; for many, year after year, such is the attraction of the Solent with all its tradition, unpredictability of wind and tide and fascinating challenges. And what better occasion for summer racing is there than Cowes Week? Especially this Cowes Week, celebrating, as the Contessa 32 class did this year, not only a double century of yacht racing but a rather special half century for the class too.

So before we go further let's say a huge thank you to North Sails for sponsoring this incredible week of sailing, not just for this double century year of 2026 but a three year package which is sure to generate really significant benefits not only for the classes which are so important to the Week but for the local economy, all competitors and particularly new and future youth competitors which was a big part of what this week was all about.

Co32 Parade of Sail passing Sir Max Aitken Museum at North Sails Cowes Week 2026 - photo © Jack de la Hunty

The Contessa 32 class celebrated its 50th Cowes Week in considerable style with a Parade of Sail of the whole fleet to the Squadron line on Tuesday accompanied by Gualin's own piper to mark the auspicious occasion. What a sight it was to see the whole Contessa fleet proceed n formation down the Medina Rover to the start, including the ever present Drumbeat joining just a bit late for crew over indulgence reasons. A Cape 31 and a TP52 tried to join in but were successfully excluded from the official photographs!

Co32 Jemana racing on Sunday at North Sails Cowes Week 2026 - photo © Andrew Richards

The racing overall was a truly classic Cowes Week, only on Wednesday were some smaller classes cancelled. Strong winds tested the Contessa 32 fleet that day, gusting up to 39 knots in the west which gave the fleet some exciting downwind racing back to the Squadron line.

Plenty of variety in weather conditions characterised the rest of the week, strong tides and interesting tactical choices to be made every day. This is no ordinary week of racing. A very well organised race management team took the Contessas to the West for the first day and their only Committee Boat start before two races out to the Eastern Solent on Sunday and Monday. Thereafter the racing was more to the west as the series started to develop with Solan Goose showing early prowess over strong contenders Drumbeat, Jemima of Farley and Andaxi with Jemana and Gualin on the pace with consistent results.

The well-known rocks on the island shore caused more than a few embarrassments for the class, much to the delight of the spectators on the shore, as the penalties for the risks of trying to cheat the tide were delivered without mercy. Those who judged the right time to break away for the north shore were well rewarded, particularly Andaxi on Wednesday, while for some the race on Thursday turned into a lengthy orienteering exercise out west, a trial of impossibly variable wind, unremitting tide and 5 hours on the water.

Overall, Solan Goose dominated the leader board scoring 5 wins and a second over the week to win not only the class but Black Group overall, a magnificent achievement for Ben Rogers and his crew. Commenting afterwards he described what a privilege it had been to win at this year's Cowes Week on a boat built by his uncle Jeremy and crewed by his family. This was a true family regatta for the wonderful legacy of Jeremy Rogers said Ben, with "pretty much every grandchild out on the water, except... Johnny Rogers busy winning the Optimist nationals". Solan Goose also won the family Prize and the Equal Seas Trophy.

There was plenty of tight competition throughout the fleet with just 2 points between 2nd and 4th. Both Drumbeat and Andaxi took first places and the podium was shared by several other boats over the week as both Jammana and Gualin challenged Drumbeat, Jemima of Farley and Andaxi. The mid fleet was closely fought as well with 6th and 7th spot decided on count back and only 2 points between 8th and 10th and 4 between 15th and 17th.

This really was a regatta for the whole fleet and it was a mark of the continuing appeal of the Contessa 32 as the leading Solent cruiser racing class that there were several new boats this year with crews keen to challenge the leaders both on the race course and in the protest room. Fleet newcomer this year, Gigi helmed by Eddie Steel was last raced at Cowes Week by none other than Jeremy Rogers himself. Of the week he said his crew "had an absolute blast on and off the water, pleased with a finish in the top half and loved every minute." Another new competitor was Cu na Mara helmed by Paul Gardner whose crew enjoyed the class berthing at Shepards Marina and felt "very welcomed into the class, thoroughly enjoying the week."

The two hundredth anniversary caused a little research to be done. One of the most senior competitors in the fleet was the redoubtable Ray Rouse sailing with his daughter Stella and crew on Blanco. A former International 14 sailor, he first competed at Cowes in 1982 eventually notching up a first class win in 1998 before going on to dominate the class leader board no less than 8 times from 2000 to 2010.

The family tradition has continued with Donna and Martin Rouse-Collen on the regular high scoring Andaxi sailing with younger family members (and their dog) also placing well in the Family trophy.

There was a very healthy number of younger competitors throughout the fleet, exemplified particularly by Nimbus, hosts of a notably successful Saturday pontoon party; with many other under 25 crew throughout the fleet, including on Kit Rogers' well-travelled Assent. The class also welcomed two young Greig City Academy competitors supported by the Scaramouche Sailing Trust for their first racing on a Contessa 32 during the week.

The class celebrated its 50th Cowes Week in some style with a dinner organised by social secretary Mel McQueen at the Sir Max Aitken Museum. This provided a memorable evening's entertainment presided over by class captain, John McNaughten who was sailing Coric in possibly her first Cowes Week demonstrating the true versatility of this class which many members routinely cruise as well as race competitively every year.

Solan Goose team celebrating their wins at North Sails Cowes Week 2026 - photo © Donna Rouse-Collen

What a week! It is a testament to the competiveness of this class that only two out of 19 boats missed the final race on Friday before the Fireworks. Racing went on till the end and there are already plans in motion for next year's racing. Cowes Week certainly delivered in 2026 and there will be plenty of Contessa 32s returning in 2027 for another great week of racing that only Cowes Week can provide: there is simply nowhere else quite like it, especially for one design class racing and for a huge variety of onshore entertainment.

Meanwhile the Solent Inshore Racing series continues with a weekend at Cowes Corinthian on 5/6 September before the Nationals at Royal Lymington YC on 18-20 September closes out the season. The leader board after Cowes Week shows Andaxi topping the table with Drumbeat and Connie continuing their challenge into the September racing.

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