Contessa 26

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 9:32 am

There was a bone yard boat that the yard was giving away, it had been fought over and then abandoned in an ugly divorce. The wife had title, the husband's name was on the yard lease... the wife would not give up title, but would not pay the yard bills. Finally the yard got title for the bills and they simply want it out of there. I saw it on a free list and called a friend of mine.

She is now the proud new owner. I told her we will become either good friends or bitter enemies over this. HA! She is arranging to have it transported to a "working" yard. It has already had alot of work done on it... the gel coat below the waterline has been stripped and all the deck hardware holes have been epoxied and the initial deck prep has been done (looks like all the hardware, etc. is with it).

I am excited, my friend Suzanne is a bit daunted. I keep telling her it is like eating an elephant.... a bite at a time.

I'll see if I can get some photos of it today. I love old boats! and old boat projects.... I got Windrose hauled on Friday, the last sail of the season was simply glorious. 30 miles, one tack, 15- 18 knots broad reaching the whole way. :-)

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 10:10 pm

I told her we will become either good friends or bitter enemies over this... I keep telling her it is like eating an elephant.... a bite at a time.

Never were more truer words spoken. For the sake of your friendship I wish you luck :-)

I always liked the Contessa 26 myself and when I first started trying to narrow down what my dream boat would be it stood near the top of the list. It was the headroom issue and overall small-ness that eventually got me looking at other boats. There is no doubt they are capable boats and if you are happy with the accomodations they could easily be somebody's perfect boat.

-Britton

Post by **Tim** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:55 am

A lot of people think highly of the Contessa 26. They have a generally good reputation and a strong cult following.

I think they make Tritons seem cavernous, though!

(and we all know that Tritons are small inside...)

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:24 am

I think they make Tritons seem cavernous, though!

That is the best part about them. Everytime I think a Triton is impossibly small I remind myself that I could be sailing a C-26. If you think the Contessa is small you should poke around its predecessor the Folkboat. Now that is a beautiful, and impossibly small, sailboat.

-Britton

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:51 am

We've only gotten to poke our heads in, there is a huge yellow jacket nest somewhere in the port quarterberth in some old cushions. We threw in a "bug bomb" but it only drove them outside. We will have a hard frost in the next few days and that should take care of things.

It's Suzannes first boat and she is single, I think it will suit her well. A forgiving boat to learn on and enough space for a single gal, even enough head room for her. :-)

Lance F. Gunderson · Post by **Lance F. Gunderson** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:53 am

I hope she has read Tanya Abei's books (I see she has a new one titled "I've Been Around."). Was it Brian Caldwell who also sailed around the world in a C26? I almost bought a C26 before I found my Rhodes Ranger 28. The lack of room abourd the C26 put me off it.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 3:48 pm

I think C26's have been just about everywhere.

In Tania's case, her lack of skill when she started her trip is absolutely frightening. The boat took care of her though. That may say something about the design.

-Britton