Contessa 32 – Sailing yacht
Photo: Matthew Haywood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Contessa · Sailing yacht

Contessa 32

The Contessa 32 is a 9.75 m cruiser-racer drawn by David Sadler together with Jeremy Rogers, who moulded the first two hulls in Lymington in autumn 1970 and showed the boat at the London Boat Show in 1971. It has a fin keel with about two tonnes of lead encapsulated in the hull, a skeg-hung rudder with tiller steering and a keel-stepped masthead rig. Jeremy Rogers’ yard has built around 500 in all: most before it went into receivership in the early 1980s and 25 since 1996, when, having bought the moulds back, it resumed building the boat to order, today with a Beta 25 diesel; 87 more were built under licence in Canada. Engines differ with the year (a single-cylinder Perkins in the 1970s brochure, a Yanmar 2GM or a Beta 20 in the 2004 and 2010 specifications) and the class rules allow any inboard in the original position, so check the plate before ordering parts. Jeremy Rogers offers no owner’s manual for download: the yard sells original Contessa spares, and the Contessa 32 Class Association keeps the builder’s drawings and technical papers for its members.

Manuals & documents

The links go to Contessa’s own documents — some as archived copies of pages the maker has since taken down. We host no manuals or drawings.

Equipment & its manuals

Standard equipment as the builder’s documents list it. Boats were ordered with options and refitted since — check what is actually aboard.

ItemModelManual / pageNote
EnginePerkins 1.36M1,21970s brochure: single-cylinder diesel with 2:1 reduction and reverse gear, remote throttle and gear control, water-cooled exhaust and electric start; no power rating given—Jeremy Rogers lists re-engining (electric options included) among its typical Contessa refit jobs, so read the plate on your engine before ordering parts.
EngineYanmar 2GM 18 hp3,4,5Yard specifications 2004 and 2010: one of two engine choices, two cylinders, 18 hp, cooled directly by sea water, two-blade fixed propeller on a conventional shaftYanmar 2GM20F Parts & service page18 hp and sea-water cooling point to the plain 2GM20; our 2GM20F page covers both versions. The yard’s GRP engine beds suit Beta and Yanmar engines.
EngineBeta Marine Beta 203,4,6,7The other engine choice in 2004 and 2010 and the standard engine in the 2015 specification: three cylinders, 20 hp, fresh-water cooled; in 2015 a Beta / Hybrid Marine installation was offered at extra costBeta Marine operator’s maintenance manual, Beta 10 to Beta 115T heat-exchanger engines (covers the Beta 20)Stainless 12-gallon fuel tank with sight gauge, drain cock and deck filler, copper fuel pipes, single-lever control in the cockpit and sound insulation in the engine space.
EngineBeta Marine Beta 258,9New-build specification 2023: three cylinders, 25 hp, fresh-water cooled, two-blade fixed propeller on a conventional shaftBeta Marine Beta 25 & Beta 30 Parts & service pageStainless 12-gallon (55 l) fuel tank shaped for the cockpit locker, with a Wema sender and gauge at the chart table; the yard sells the tank as a spare.
Shaft & stern gearØ 1″ / 25 mm3,8,10,11,12,13,14Conventional shaft drive from under the bridge deck on every boat; remote greaser for the stern tube in the yard specifications of 2004 to 2023—The yard sells bronze cutless bearings for a 1″ or a 25 mm shaft (outside diameter 1¼″ or 1⅜″), a Tufnol bearing for either shaft and the rubber stern-gland hose in 1½″ or 1⅜″: measure shaft and tube before ordering.
Propeller2-blade fixed3,4,8,10Standard in the yard specifications of 2004 to 2023; in 2004 and 2010 the yard recommended a Darglow three-blade feathering propeller as an option—Class rule 2.7 for racing: at least 330 mm diameter and 75 mm blade width; two-blade propellers must be solid, three-blade feathering ones are allowed, and the boat must make 5 knots under power.
WinchesLewmar C40 × 2 · C25 · C8 × 41,101970s brochure: two C40 two-speed genoa sheet winches, a C25 two-speed genoa halyard winch, two C8 spinnaker sheet winches and one C8 each for the spinnaker and main halyards—Class rule 2.8: larger primary winches must sit in the designed position and must not overlap the cockpit coaming.
WinchesLewmar 40 × 2 · ST30 × 2 · 8 × 3 · 73,4Yard specifications 2004 and 2010: two 40 two-speed genoa winches, two ST30 self-tailing halyard winches, two 8s for the spinnaker on the coaming, a single-speed 7 for reefing and an 8 for the main halyard on the mastLewmar Ocean & EVO winches Parts & service pageLewmar mainsheet traveller, genoa tracks and clutches in the same lists.
WinchesHarken 46.2 STA × 2 · 35.2 STA × 2 · 20.2 STA × 26,8Yard specifications 2015 and 2023: two-speed 46.2 STA genoa winches, 35.2 STA self-tailing halyard winches and 20.2 STA spinnaker winches on the coaming, plus two single-speed Harken winches on the mast for reefing and the main halyardHarken Radial & Classic winches Parts & service pageHarken traveller and genoa tracks with roller cars; Spinlock clutches at the aft end of the coachroof.
Mast & riggingKeel-stepped masthead, Selden3,6,8,1,15,16,17,18,10Selden mast and boom in the yard specifications of 2004 to 2023: silver anodised, aerofoil spreaders, internal halyards, three slab-reefing lines in the boom and a gas kicker; 1970s brochure: gold anodised alloy mast stepped on the keel, boom with through-mast roller reefing—Standing rigging of 6 mm 1×19 stainless wire with swaged ends and chrome-bronze open-body bottle screws, ratchet backstay adjuster. The shrouds end in stainless U-bolts through the deck: four cranked lowers (M10 nuts, on GRP backing plates) and two caps (M12); the yard sells them and new-style backstay straps. Class rules ban rod rigging and composite spars.
SailsDacron main + jib3,8,1,10,19Yard specifications 2004 to 2023: 7.5 oz Dacron mainsail with battens and three slab reefs and a working jib (Sanders Sails in 2023); 1970s brochure: mainsail, No. 2 genoa, staysail and storm jib—For class racing since 2014: No. 1 genoa up to 32 m², No. 2 up to 25 m², a heavy-weather jib to ISAF size, no battens in headsails.
SteeringTiller · GRP rudder on skeg3,8,1,20,21,22All years: glassfibre rudder on a stainless-steel stock with two bronze bearings and a stainless heel plate at the foot of the skeg; tiller (hinged in the 1970s brochure)—The yard sells the bearings, heel plate and skeg cap and complete new rudders (foam core, stainless stock). The bronze tiller block is locked to the stock with a Woodruff key that comes in two sizes, so ask which one your boat needs.
ToiletLavac11970s brochure: Lavac marine WC on a Formica base, closed off by a PVC screen and a sliding doorLavac Zenith & Popular Parts & service page
Toilet—3,4,8,10,23,24Yard specifications 2004 to 2023: sea toilet on bronze Blakes seacocks in a one-piece GRP heads moulding; holding tank in the 2010 and 2023 specifications—Wash basin with a double-acting Whale foot pump. Class rules forbid flush-fitting seacocks; the yard sells Blakes seacocks in ¾″ and 1½″.
StoveGas, 2 burners + grill + oven3,25,8,1Yard specifications 2004 to 2023: two burners, grill and oven, flame-failure devices on all burners, maker not named; 1970s brochure: Argyll cooker in gimbals—
Gas systemCamping Gaz3,6,8,1Yard specifications 2004 to 2023: one Camping Gaz bottle with regulator in a drained cockpit locker vented overboard, copper pipe with a shut-off valve and armoured hose to the cooker, space for a second bottle; 1970s brochure: one 2.7 kg (6 lb) bottle—
Water pumpFoot pumps · Whale3,25,8,1,2Yard specifications 2004 to 2023: double-acting foot pumps for fresh water and waste at the galley sink and a double-acting Whale foot pump at the wash basin; the 1970s brochure lists a fresh-water pump at the galley—The standard boat has neither pressure water nor hot water; the yard lists fitting a calorifier among its typical refit jobs.
Bilge pumpManual diaphragm1,3,25,8Manual diaphragm pump in the cockpit in the yard specifications of 2004 to 2023, drawing from a strum box in the deep sump in 2004 to 2015; the 1970s brochure lists a diaphragm bilge pump in the cockpit; maker not named—
Batteries2 × 12 V, 85+ Ah3,25,8,1,10Yard specifications 2004 to 2023: two batteries of at least 85 Ah with one multi-function isolating switch, in a GRP box under the quarter berth; 1970s brochure: 12 V system with two batteries, alternator and cut-off switch—Class rule 2.5: at least two batteries of 14 kg or more each under the forward end of the quarter berth, and a lighter engine can be balanced with a third battery (rule 2.6). Bear this in mind before fitting lighter batteries if you race in the class.
Hatches & portsGebo 500 × 500 mm · 8 windows1,6,8,26,27,28,29,30,31Gebo alloy forehatch in the 1970s brochure and, at 500 × 500 mm, in the 2015 specification; eight toughened-glass windows in aluminium frames in every list; cambered, tinted Perspex sliding hatch in the yard specifications; a midships Gebo hatch of 500 × 370 mm is an option—The yard sells the forehatch, the sliding hatch (made to your drawing) and the windows in three sizes: two large over galley and chart table, two medium in the saloon, four small in the heads and forepeak.
AnchorCQR 25 lb · 10 m × 8 mm1,3,6,8,10,21970s brochure: 11.3 kg (25 lb) plough anchor, 9 m (5 fathoms) of 8 mm chain and 36 m of nylon warp; yard specifications 2004 and 2010: 25 lb CQR, 10 m of 8 mm chain, 36 m of warp; 2015 and 2023: the same with 30 m of warp—Class rule 2.5: anchor and 8 mm chain together at least 24.94 kg (55 lb), stowed in the foredeck locker. No windlass in any yard specification; the yard fits one on refits.
InstrumentsContest compass3,4,8,32,33,34Yard specifications 2004 to 2023; instruments and electronics were options—The yard sells an instrument console moulding for above the companionway, a bronze through-hull housing for a Raymarine transducer or triducer and a tiller-pilot bracket.
LightsLED (2023)8,3,25,12023 specification: LED lighting inside and out, bi-colour navigation light on the pulpit, stern light on the pushpit, combined steaming and deck light on the mast; the 2004 to 2015 specifications list the same lights without saying LED; the 1970s brochure has side lights on the pulpit and a masthead light—Steaming and deck lights cannot be switched on together (2004 to 2015 specifications).

Specifications

Years builtAutumn 1970 (the first two hulls) and from 1971 at Jeremy Rogers in Lymington until the yard went into receivership in the early 1980s; the moulds then went to other builders until Jeremy Rogers bought them back; built to order again since 1996 (first: Wild Call, February 1996)35,36
Hulls builtAround 500 by Jeremy Rogers, 25 of them new builds since 1996, plus 87 built under licence in Canada (Jeremy Rogers website); nearly 500 were afloat after the first ten years (class association history), and the yard’s 2004 website spoke of about 800 sailing worldwide37,35,38
DesignerDavid Sadler, with Jeremy Rogers37,35
BuilderJeremy Rogers Ltd, Lymington (Hampshire, England): Waterloo Road yard in the 1970s, Lymington Yacht Haven today; 87 boats built under licence in Canada1,37,8
VersionsSince 1996 every boat is built to its owner’s order from the same hull and deck moulds; the yard offered Classic, Pure and Expedition versions in 2015; exterior wood is teak in the 2004 and 2010 specifications, teak or Kebony in 2015 and TMT marine maple in 202336,6,3,4,8
Length overall9.75 m (32 ft)6,1,3
Waterline length7.32 m (24 ft); 7.31 m in the 1970s brochure and the 2004 sheet6,4,1,3
Beam2.90 m (9 ft 6 in); the 1970s brochure and the 2004 sheet print 2.98 m for the same 9 ft 6 in6,4,1,3
Draft1.68 m (5 ft 6 in); 1.65 m in the 1970s brochure and the 2004 sheet6,4,1,3
Displacement4309 kg (9500 lb) in the 2010 and 2015 sheets, 4300 kg in the 1970s brochure and 2004; the text of the same specifications gives a total displacement of 4218 kg (9300 lb)6,4,1,3,8
Ballast2042 kg (4500 lb) of lead, ballast ratio 47 %; 2045 kg in the 1970s brochure and 2004; the specification text gives 2026 kg (4468 lb) encapsulated6,4,1,3,8
KeelFin keel with the lead ballast encapsulated inside the hull; rudder on a skeg8,35
Sail area52.2 m² (562 sq ft) upwind6,1
MainsailClass maximum: luff 9.756 m, foot 3.049 m, leech 10.366 m, up to four battens10
GenoaNo. 1 genoa up to 32 m², No. 2 up to 25 m² (class sail plan adopted in 2014)10,19
Rig dimensions (I, J, P, E)P 9.755 m (32 ft) and E 3.048 m (10 ft) between the measurement bands; gooseneck 2.795 m above the mast heel; foretriangle height about 11.07 m; spinnaker pole up to 3.868 m10,19
EngineSingle-cylinder Perkins diesel (1970s brochure); Yanmar 2GM of 18 hp or Beta of 20 hp (2004 and 2010); Beta 20 hp, or Beta / Hybrid Marine at extra cost (2015); Beta 25 hp (2023)1,3,4,6,8
Engine optionsClass rule 2.6: any inboard in the designed position under the bridge deck; engine and gearbox at least 113.4 kg without oil and water, otherwise corrector weights under the engine or extra battery weight; report an engine change to the class measurer10,19
Fuel tank45 l (10 gal) in the 1970s brochure; 12 gal (about 55 l) of stainless steel since 2004, shaped for the cockpit locker1,3,8,9
Water tank18 gal (about 82 l) under the saloon sole: GRP in 2004 and 2010, stainless steel in 2015 and 2023; the yard’s stainless replacement tank holds 75 l; a GRP tank in the bilge in the 1970s brochure3,4,25,8,39,1
Holding tankHolding tank in the heads in the 2010 and 2023 specifications; not listed in 2004 and 20154,8,3,25
CabinsForecabin with V-berths, heads with a hanging locker opposite, saloon with galley and chart table aft, quarter berth to starboard; one head1,8
BerthsUp to 6: two in the forecabin V, a double to port in the saloon (the table drops to make it), a single to starboard with lee cloth and the quarter berth1,8,25
HullGlassfibre, built under Lloyd’s supervision with Lloyd’s-approved materials (1970s brochure); polyester with an isophthalic skin coat behind the gelcoat (yard specifications since 2004)1,3,8
CE categoryA (RCD 2, certified by RINA) for new builds (2023 specification)8

Good to know

  • Jeremy Rogers offers no owner’s manual for the Contessa 32. The yard’s specifications of 2004, 2010, 2015 and 2023 come closest to an inventory; for original parts call or e-mail Jeremy Rogers Ltd, and as a member of the Contessa 32 Class Association you get the builder’s drawings and a library of technical papers on repairs and improvements.8,40,41
  • Check which engine a used Contessa 32 really has before ordering parts: the 1970s brochure lists a single-cylinder Perkins 1.36M, the 2004 and 2010 specifications a Yanmar 2GM or a Beta 20, 2015 a Beta 20 and 2023 a Beta 25, and the yard lists re-engining among its routine refit jobs. If you race in the class, report a new engine to the measurer: engine and gearbox must weigh at least 113.4 kg dry, or the difference is made up with corrector weights or extra battery weight.1,3,4,6,8,2,10,19
  • Measure the shaft before ordering a cutless bearing or stern-gland hose: Contessa 32s have either a 1″ or a 25 mm shaft, the yard’s bronze bearings come with an outside diameter of 1¼″ or 1⅜″, and the gland hose comes in 1½″ or 1⅜″.11,12,13,14
  • The shrouds end in stainless U-bolts through the deck: four cranked lower U-bolts with M10 nuts, each on a GRP backing plate, and two cap-shroud U-bolts with M12 nuts. The class association’s technical papers include one on failing shroud bolts, and the yard sells all six U-bolts, the backing plates and the backstay straps.15,16,17,18,42
  • For a rebuild, the class rules name the builder’s drawings that define the boat: general arrangement plans of 1975 and 1986, the deck plan of 1983, the Mk II sail plan and the standing and running rigging schedule of 1976. Members can get them from the class association.10,41
  • The standard boat is simple: foot pumps, no hot water, no fridge, no windlass. Typical jobs the yard lists for Contessa refits are a calorifier for hot water, refrigeration, heating, a windlass, a stainless water tank with a new saloon sole, replacing the wooden toe and taff rails, re-wiring and full osmosis treatment.2,8

Videos & how-tos

Links to YouTube, nothing embedded. The maker’s own channel comes first; the rest are channels we found clear and correct for this model.

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Sources

  1. jeremyrogers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/70s-Contessa-32-Brochure.pdf
  2. jeremyrogers.co.uk/contessa-refurbishment/
  3. web.archive.org/web/20041015215204/http://www.jeremyrogers.co.uk/contessa/specs.html
  4. web.archive.org/web/20100118125023/http://www.jeremyrogers.co.uk/contessa32/contessa32-sp…
  5. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/engine-beds-for-beta-yanmar/
  6. web.archive.org/web/20150105001319/http://www.jeremyrogers.co.uk/about-contessa/contessa-…
  7. betamarine.co.uk/resources/Operators_Manuals/10-115T-HE-OM/
  8. jeremyrogers.co.uk/contessa32-specification/
  9. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/fuel-tank-55l-12-gallon-including-fittings-wema-sender-and-gauge/
  10. co32.org/racing/class-rules
  11. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/cutless-bearing-bronze-for-1-prop-shaft/
  12. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/cutless-bearing-bronze-for-25mm-prop-shaft/
  13. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/cutless-bearing-tufnol-for-1-or-25mm-prop-shaft/
  14. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/stern-gland/
  15. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/cranked-lower-shroud-chainplates/
  16. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/upper-shroud-or-cap-shroud-chainplate-u-bolt/
  17. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/grp-backing-plates-for-chainplates/
  18. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/backstay-chainplates-pair/
  19. co32.org/racing/measurement
  20. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/rudder-bearings-top-and-bottom/
  21. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/rudder-new-including-heel-plate-bearings-and-skeg-cap/
  22. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/woodruff-key-please-enquire/
  23. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/seacocks-blakes-3-4-inch-19mm/
  24. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/seacocks-blakes-1-5-inch-38mm/
  25. web.archive.org/web/20150726181902/http://www.jeremyrogers.co.uk/about-contessa/contessa-…
  26. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/gebo-forward-hatch-500-x-500/
  27. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/hatch-skylight-midships-gebo-500mm-x-370mm-with-flange/
  28. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/hatch-main-sliding-perspex-including-lock/
  29. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/windows-large/
  30. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/windows-medium/
  31. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/windows-small/
  32. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/instrument-console-moulding-for-coach-roof/
  33. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/transducer-triducer-bronze-thru-hull-housing/
  34. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/autohelm-tiller-bracket/
  35. web.archive.org/web/20130612214357/http://www.co32.org/SECTION_Boat/BOAT_History.aspx
  36. jeremyrogers.co.uk/contessa-32-new-build/
  37. jeremyrogers.co.uk/all-about-contessa/
  38. web.archive.org/web/20041205075125/http://www.jeremyrogers.co.uk/index01.html
  39. jeremyrogers.co.uk/shop/watertank-75l-stainless-steel-including-fittings/
  40. jeremyrogers.co.uk/product-category/contessa-32/
  41. co32.org/association/members-benefits
  42. web.archive.org/web/20140113100504/http://www.co32.org/Section_TECHNICAL/TECH_Papers.aspx

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