There has been much chat about the different Contessa yachts. I would like to help clarify details about both of these classic yachts. The Contessa 25, designed by the Australian Peter Cole were built by East Coast Yachts as were the, all solid seagoing vessels. The Contessa 26 was designed by David Sadler in England.
Peter Cole is a very popular yacht designer. His designs are very pleasing to the eye and delightful to sail and include the Peter Cole Contessa, Cole 43, East Coast 31 and later the Traditional 30.
The Cole Contessa has a fin shaped keel that leads through to a skeg protecting the rudder which also replicates a fin. The original Contessa 26 was similar in hull shape, rig and size except for the underwater configuration. The Contessa 26 has the traditional long keel with a transom hung rudder on the aft end. (see images below)
The Cole Contessa 25 is actually a scaled down miniature of the Bruce Fairlie built Cole 43 with the swept back keel and rudder configuration. (see image below) They share the same hull design. They are a safe boat with good sea keeping qualities. They track well, great classic yachts. Cole Contessas are members of the well respected older Australian made pocket cruisers group including the Folkboat and the Spacesailer 25. The Contessa has lovely hull. When the breezes are light they sit on the reduced waterline length of 20 feet. When it blows up they increase speed and sit on the longer waterline length as they heel to dip the swept up transom into the water. They are responsive on the helm with little weather helm. A gust of wind just increases the heel a bit and they just keep tracking. The cut away keel of the Cole Contessa reduces the wetted area and increases the turning ability.
The Contessa 26 has a distinguished career of ocean voyages. Perhaps her long keel makes her more suited to crossing oceans. I don’t know. All I know is that ultimately a successful coastal or ocean voyage depends on the preparation and seamanship of the sailor. The Contessa 26 was designed by David Sadler and Jeremy Rodgers in the 1960s. Jeremy Rogers, in Lymington GB, entered production in England in 1966. Moulds for the Contessa were shipped to Canada in 1969. Many of these boats competed in the OSTAR (the Observer Single-handed Transatlantic Race) and the Round Britain and Ireland Race. In the first three years of production 350 hulls were laid up.
Cole Contessa
Cole 43
Contessa 26
Contessa 26 plan
Some good info there!, thanks PAL.
I haven't seen many Contessa 26, on the east coast, though that doesn't mean much.
Search Big Oceans for some good footage of a single handed voyage on a Contessa26, around the Atlantic. Also a very good feature film called "Between Home" on the same boat & skipper.
cheers
