Contessa 32 “Gigi” Sail Number CO 771 – Built 1982
Price £70,000.
Gigi is one of the most well-known Contessa 32’s built having been the star of “Cape Horn to Starboard” written by American adventurer, author and sailor John Kretchmer. Built by Jeremy Rogers Yachts in Lymington, Gigi’s first owner planned serious offshore sailing, to include rounding Cape Horn to retrace the route of Clipper ships sailing from New York to San Francisco. John Completed that trip with the first owner in 1984.
The Rogers family found Gigi some years later in Texas and transported her back to Lymington where she underwent a total refurbishment in 2007-8 and was then sailed by the Rogers Family having been shown at the London Boat Show. “Gigi” won the Contessa 32 National Championships in 2008 and 2009 with Jeremy at the helm. In 2009 her IRC rating was 0.856.
The current owner has enjoyed sailing “Gigi” in France, England and Scotland. She has been kept in the best possible condition but is now waiting for a new owner who will appreciate this important piece of Contessa and sailing history.
A selection of pictures taken by Yachting Monthly in 2008 are available online* here: (http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/pictures/yacht-tests/contessa-32-gigi-6722
Currently Lying in Lymington, Hampshire, UK.
Specification
Hull
White painted topsides (2007).
Underwater areas stripped, dried, Epoxy coated with Coppercoat applied in 2007. Coppercoat reapplied in 2016
On Deck
Sprayhood (2017)
Life Raft - Ocean Safety 4 person in canister (2017)
WindPilot Pacific – Windvane self-steering system (2009)
Lewmar 44 Self tailing primary winches
Lewmar 14 Self tailing spinnaker winches
Lewmar Halyard winches
Lewmar Anchor windless (2010)
Rocna 15kg Anchor with 40m 8mm Chain + 40m warp
25lb CQR anchor, Chain and warp
2016 All-over Winter Cover (Sanders Sails)
2016 Removable S/Steel outboard Davit
Various fenders, mooring lines and warps.
Rig & Sails
Kemp Mast with Selden Boom and Selden Rod-kicker
Hydraulic Backstay adjuster
Furlex headsail furling system
Removable inner forestay
Sanders Laminate racing sail (can be used on Furling system)
Sanders Dacron No 1 Genoa
Sanders High-cut Dacron No 2 Genoa
Sanders Hank-on Jib for Inner Forestay (never used)
Sanders Loose-footed Dacron Mainsail (fully battened)
Main sail track (2015)
Sanders (2016) Asymmetric Spinnaker
All Sails maintained and serviced by Owen Sails (Scotland) Engine & Sterngear
Beta Marine 20, 3-cyl diesel, fitted in 2008 as part of refit.
New Propeller shaft and Aquadrive fitted in 2016.
Engine regularly maintained and serviced by local engineers.
Electrical systems and equipment
2 x Domestic Batteries (110AH)
1 x Engine Battery (90AH)
Battery Charger (2012)
Battery Monitor (2014)
New electrical distribution panel as part of re-wire in 2007/8
Full Raymarine Instrumentation (2008)
Raymarine Autopilot
Navicom VHF Radio (2011)
Furuno GPS
Furuno Navtex (2017)
MC Marine Computer (2011)
Nasa AIS “Radar” receiver + VHF Splitter for sharing with Seeme.
Below Deck
Interior rebuilt and/or replaced with solid teak joinery in 2008
Forward cabin fitted with Aluminium fold-up pipe cots in 2008
Upholstery in Blue washable Alcantara type fabric
Pressurised Hot and Cold water system
Calorifier heated by engine and/or shore power
Galley fitted with Isotherm fridge and Force 10 cooker (2 burners + Oven)
Eberspacher Diesel blown-air heating system (2009)
Clarion radio/CD player with USB port (2009)
Additional Information
A selection of pictures taken by Yachting Monthly are available online* here: http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/pictures/yacht-tests/contessa-32-gigi-6722
*Please note that there have been some changes to the boat equipment and specification since these pictures were taken.
Refurbishment case study on Jeremy Rogers Yachts website here: http://www.jeremyrogers.co.uk/boat-refit-and-repair/contessa-32-refurbishment-gigi.php
A 2003 review of the Contessa 32 by John Kretschmer in “Sailing” Magazine: http://sailingmagazine.net/article-560-contessa-32.html
A comment on Gigi by John Kretschmer having revisited and sailed her in 2016:
"I had the wonderful opportunity to sail aboard GIGI last summer in the Outer Hebrides. It had been 32 years since I last sailed her, an epic voyage from New York to San Francisco by way of Cape Horn. It was a thoroughly enjoyable week and brought back fond memories. From blasting along on a tight reach in 25 knots, to gliding back toward Oban under spinnaker, GIGI performed brilliantly. I was reminded that the success our Cape Horn voyage was all due to GIGI, we were just along the for the ride.
After an extensive and well documented refit by Jeremy Rogers in 2007, and several years of loving, meticulous care by her dedicated owner, Francois Moussett, GIGI seemed like a new boat, a sailing time machine.
Francois has not only maintained the boat in near perfect condition, but he has thoughtfully outfitted GIGI for blue water sailing with top quality gear throughout. The allure of the Contessa 32 is that it is a boat that's delightful to sail on gusty afternoon, and capable of crossing any ocean. And when it comes to Contessa 32s, there's only one GIGI, a remarkable boat that is in, better than new, condition. Her next owner will have a boat that is only limited by his or her imagination."
John Kretschmer,
Author of: "Cape Horn to Starboard," "Flirting With Mermaids," "At the Mercy of the Sea," "Sailing a Serious Ocean"
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For further information please contact Francois Mousset ([email protected])