Contessa 32 2026 racing season so far and looking ahead to the summer highlights

by Peter Binning 21 Jun 17:46 BST

The racing season is now well under way for the Contessa 32 class as this well-known racing fleet prepares for the big events of the season, Round the Island Race on 11 July and the 200th anniversary of Cowes Week from 1-7 August sponsored by North Sails featuring the 50th class start for the iconic Contessa 32.

This will be a season to remember and it's a great reason to get involved in the class whether you are owner or crew to support the class. New members are always welcome from anywhere in the world (Contessa 32's are everywhere!) and there are crewing opportunities to be had on many boats.

The inshore racing season began with the traditional training weekend on 25 April kindly hosted by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club

The first of the series was hosted by the Hamble River Sailing Club and had 4 fun races in a wide variety of conditions. Saturday was light and very, very shifty with 5-8kts from the North, but the race committee managed to complete the two scheduled races with Lecas and Andaxi taking a win each and Connie (with guest helm Robin Milledge) taking second in both, leaving Lecas the overnight leader on countback from Connie. Sunday was breezier with a steady 12-15kts and gusts of up to 25kts. With the wind from the North-West and the Spring Championships taking place nearby, course options were limited - but Drumbeat were victorious in the first race (avoiding the IRC boats with panache) and Connie took the second (up and down Southampton water to avoid the other fleets). With four different winners in each race, it came down to the number of second places which gave Connie her first event win in current ownership and an early lead in the inshore series.

The second inshore was hosted by Portsmouth Sailing Club which saw some tough competition developing among the top boats with Andaxi taking two wins challenged by another two wins from Jemima of Farley (sailing only two of the races) leaving the event leader board showing Andaxi ahead of Carinosa chased by Connie's growing 2026 success story.

The inshore season continued with the annual Cowes to Poole and back weekend featuring competitive cake baking during racing for which special prizes are always awarded. This year saw a wide range of results for the top boats with Connie scoring a 9th going west and a 1st coming back and Carinosa showing a similar variation of fortune. In the end the most consistent came out on top with the class captain's Coric taking the overall win from Starstreak in second.

This leaves the season leader board showing Andaxi, Connie and Carinosa in the top 3 on 16, 17 and 32 points respectively. Many of the regular racing teams have yet to make their mark on this year's season points but the upcoming Contessa Regatta at Yarmouth on 27 June the return to Yarmouth and the Western Solent for the annual Taittinger Regatta on 25 July is certain to change that dramatically as the early leaders take on the increasing fleet numbers leading up to Cowes Week.

The annual Island Sailing Club Round the Island race on 11 July is always sure to attract a popular Contessa following. The entry list already shows a 25 strong fleet of Contessa 32's which promises some hot competition around the race track. Still time to sign up if you are still thinking about it!

Cowes Week 200, the double centenary of the world's most famous sailing regatta and the celebration of the 50th Contessa 32 start at Cowes is sure to be a very big week to remember with 17 class entries and counting. It is a real testament to the popularity of the class and the great support of its members that the Cowes Week drinks and dinner at the Sir Max Aitken Museum sold out literally within minutes of being open for sale by class social secretary Mel McQueen.

Aside from inshore racing it is important to mention the Contessa 32's active in offshore racing outside the shelter of the Solent. Assent and international competitor Lecas who sailed all the way from Belgium again (they also attended the nationals in Cowes last year) competed in a very frustrating and rather windless RORC Myth of Malham race all the way to the Eddystone light off Plymouth and back. Lecas had to retire due to crew commitments back home but Assent was able to persevere to the end and finish in 2 days and 13 hours racing two handed; an impressive performance.

The biennial 2026 Classic Channel Regatta 7-16 July run by Classic Channel Regatta Ltd with the Royal Dart, Guernsey Yacht Clubs and the Loguivy Canot Club is attracting a number of Contessa 32 entries including class captain John McNaughten's Coric and others. This event features Dartmouth Classics followed by passage racing to St eter Port and on to Lézardrieux and the Classic Tour de l'Île de Bréhat Race.