The Contessa 26 A true legend Peter Poland recounts the story of the Contessa 26, one of the most able, famous and popular compact long-keeled cruiser-racers A great weekend he ubiquitous Nordic Folkboat, cruising yacht designed in the 1940s, set a – that’ll take trend for sporty and compact you round long-keeled cruiser-racers (see the world! last month’s PBO). Of the many derivatives, perhaps the most Tfamous of all – especially in the UK – is the Contessa 26. This grand little yacht has become part of sailing folklore since she was first launched in 1966, a date celebrated by a 45th anniversary bash in July this year. Coincidentally, her builder Jeremy Rogers has also just received the OCC Award of Merit, the highest award available from the Ocean Cruising Club. This is in recognition of his contribution to the world of yachting over 50 years. ➜ ABOUT THE AUTHOR n Peter Poland crossed the Atlantic in a 7.6m (25ft) Wind Elf yacht in 1968 and later spent 30 years as co-owner of Hunter Boats. He is now a freelance journalist. The Contessa 26 has become part of sailing folklore since she was launched in 1966 David Harding Practical Boat Owner 538 August 2011 • www.pbo.co.uk 27 Boats Contessa 26 – the early years he Contessa story started in the Timagination of two men: Jeremy Rogers and David Sadler. Rogers had always been a keen sailor, and in his early years he set about turning his passion into a way of life. Where better to serve his boatbuilding apprenticeship than under the wing of the great Jack Chippendale? Under his guidance, Rogers joined the team that produced such exotica as International 14 dinghies – and Folkboats. Rogers then launched his own business in Lymington in the early 1960s. His first yacht was, surprise surprise, a Folkboat. Rogers built the hull with carvel instead of traditional clinker planking, having procured oak for the timber A Contessa 26 outside the original Gosport Street boatshed in Lymington frames in the New Forest. Because he couldn’t Folkboat rig planted on top, Rogers’ new baby new, Sadler says, ‘and combined extra internal afford a building shed, the boat took shape in was then accepted by the Folkboat Association accommodation with a streamlined appearance.’ the garage attached to his Lymington house. as being ‘in class’, and duly went on to finish Martin Sadler adds that Contessa of Once complete, it was slipped out in the dead second overall in the Round the Island Race. Parkstone (named after his mother Tessa and of night on an unbraked WW2 bomb trolley, Martin Sadler recalls that at around the same owned by his father) proved to be a vast hitched up to Rogers’ Morris Minor and trundled time his father David had been racing Serenus, improvement on their previous Folkboat. – hazardously, no doubt – down the road to the a timber Folkboat. ‘Her hull was to the original ‘We achieved 42 firsts in two seasons, the harbour. Imagine trying that trick today! lines, but carvel (rather than the original clinker) most memorable winning the Woodbine Trophy, and she had an extended coachroof and a a night race around the Isle of Wight and Poole Cold-moulding doghouse. After two seasons, it was clear that Bar Buoy, in a fleet that included a number of To avoid getting the 1960s equivalent of an considerable improvements could be made to Admiral’s Cup boats. We did that two-handed, ASBO, Rogers figured it would be a good idea increase comfort and speed.’ my father and I, and in those days there was to find a proper shed instead of hammering So David Sadler visited Jeremy Rogers to prize money; 25 guineas for the class win and and chiselling away in a residential area. It was discuss a ‘custom-built’ boat evolved from the 100 guineas for the overall prize. I was allowed now that the seeds of the Contessa saga were Folkboat hull that he already cold-moulded. to keep the class win prize money – great for a sown as Rogers experimented with the new Martin Sadler explains that his father’s young articled clerk earning £2 10s a week.’ cold-moulding methods. Thanks to this robust wooden Contessa of Parkstone was built on At much the same time, another Folkboat and rigid triple-skin hull, made up of two layers Rogers’ mould for standard Folkboats, but with aficionado, Chippy Davey, decided to go ‘out of of 4mm ply and one of 4mm veneer, Rogers increased freeboard. Sadler says the flexibility class’ and cleaned up on the race circuit. His could also save weight by reducing the number of the cold-moulded wooden hull meant the Fenya had a varnished carvel Folkboat hull but of frames and stringers. His wife Fiona beam could be increased to 2.3m (7ft 6in) by a masthead (as opposed to fractional) rig. With remembers with a grimace the brain-numbing jacking out the sides. Fiona Rogers tells me this a small mainsail, large masthead genoa and far and nail-breaking game of pulling out all the was in fact the 17th cold-moulded Folkboat bigger spinnaker, Fenya benefited from a low staples that had fixed each layer as the glue derivative built by Rogers, but the first to have a handicap, under the old RORC rule, and high hardened. Because it had a standard Nordic rating-friendly masthead rig. The coachroof was performance. And she won, frequently. Contessas under construction in the Waterloo Road factory in Lymington, 1972 Jeremy Rogers circa 1980, working on a bow pulpit 28 Practical Boat Owner 538 August 2011 • www.pbo.co.uk The Contessa 26 BELOW The Contessa 26’s hull lines were not lofted The Contessa 26: ‘A in the traditional way – pretty, seaworthy small instead a cold-moulded cruiser offering easy Folkboat was ‘operated on’ handling, ample speed to increase beam, and outstanding stability’ freeboard and length practical, so the hull ‘plug’ took in the whole A new name keel shape. At the same time, Rogers sensibly Now the new baby needed a name. It could not lowered the leading edge by about 150mm include the word ‘Folkboat’ because the (6in). This way, the keel base became straight International Class refused to recognise it as and level. As a result, the Contessa can stand such. Rogers says: ‘We thought the name upright when dried out. David had given to Contessa of Parkstone was The keel’s lower leading edge would also nice, so we went for Contessa.’ move the centre of gravity forward, thereby The first Contessa 26, Contessa of Lymington, A ‘plastic’ Folkboat counteracting the added weight of an inboard cost her owner the princely sum of £2,416 and Meanwhile, Rogers was now using new-fangled engine at the back of the boat. 10 shillings. David Sadler took No5 and called GRP to build dinghies, so it was logical that his When it came to the rig, Rogers and Sadler her Contessa of Mell while Vernon Sainsbury, mind should turn to building a ‘plastic’ reckoned the performance and beneficial RORC the business angel who funded the project in Folkboat. At the Rogers family home he and handicap rating enjoyed by the masthead- the first place, bought No6, named Grayling. Sadler pondered the possibilities. Initially, there rigged Fenya and Contessa of Parkstone made At its first boat show, the Contessa was an was no money to put these plans into effect this a no-brainer, so masthead it was. instant hit, and orders flooded in. On the water, and fund the GRP tooling. However, Vernon A prototype interior was then mocked up, but the early boats made their presence felt in Sainsbury of the grocery clan was much taken in the end production boats were offered with racing circles as indeed they still do – Contessa by the idea and offered to lob in £2,000 to help three slightly different 26 Sundowner won the fund the tooling. This act of faith made layouts. The results In a market bursting with Round the Island Race everything possible: without Sainsbury, there might look a bit Gold Roman Bowl in June would have been no Contessa 26. minimalist now, but bulky bilge keelers, the this year. Rogers says that he never lofted the boat in offered practical comfort Contessa 26 had star appeal However, the Contessa’s the traditional way, but basically butchered one in the 1960s when appeal stretched way of his cold-moulded Folkboat hulls to make the compared to a Nordic Folkboat. beyond a race course. Many sailors wanted a plug. He whipped out the transom, inserted So how did the Contessa 26’s vital statistics pretty and seaworthy small cruiser offering good wedges into the open hull and shoved the finally measure up against her Folkboat looks, easy handling, ample speed, outstanding sides outwards. The hull creaked and widened, forebear? The Contessa is a smidge longer stability and adequate accommodation. And and when it looked right, he stopped. Then he overall and around 100mm (4in) longer on the much as a varnished hull might appeal, they levelled and lifted the sheer slightly, also waterline at 6.1m (20ft). When it comes to wanted the economic and low-maintenance making allowance for small moulded bulwarks, beam, Rogers’ widening exercise added 75mm convenience of GRP. thereby raising the freeboard and increasing (3in) to the Folkboat’s 2.2m (7ft 3in) and the The Contessa 26 hit the spot perfectly. In a the overall length. keel developments added 25mm (1in), giving market bursting with bulky bilge keelers, she What about the pretty roof? ‘It evolved,’ he the Contessa a draught of 1.2m (4ft).