Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments BFD 2024 Leaderboard

Contessa 26 50th Anniversary Rally in Lymington

by Contessa 26 Class 8 Aug 2016 18:46 BST 29-31 July 2016

The 50th anniversary of the much-loved Contessa 26 class was celebrated at a rally in Lymington over the last week-end of July.

Owners brought their Contessas from as far afield as Amble in Northumberland (Me-Mo) and Medemblik in Holland (Kleine Johanna), both doing almost 500 sea miles in the preceding weeks. There was a strong contingent from the West Country with Jasper and Sunion both being sailed single handed to Lymington and Nina Kristin flew in from Canada to represent her Contessa 'Bika'. Overall the Contessa 26 Association entertained 130 sailors representing 51 boats from the class.

First launched on 28th April 1966 and built by Jeremy Rogers, some 300 or more were built at his Lymington boatyard and a similar number were built under licence in Canada. The Contessa 26 became the first in a long line of Contessas built by Jeremy Rogers over the years. Jeremy and his family were there at the rally with his own recently restored 1966 vintage Contessa 26, 'Grayling' and he commented "I was delighted to see so many boats and crews there - I would never have believed way back in 1966 that we'd be celebrating 50 years like this today!

The Rally was blessed by good weather and the boats made an impressive and colourful sight all along the Dan Bran Pontoon in Lymington, moored two or three abreast and many dressed overall in flags celebrating the anniversary.

A BBQ on Friday was followed by a cruise in company to Hurst on Saturday and a dinner at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club in the evening where retiring Class Secretary David Houlton was presented with a beautiful half model of his boat 'Elinor', made by Jeremy Rogers. After a relaxed race around the cans to Yarmouth on Sunday the boats went their separate ways.

The weekend was a tremendous shared success with many opportunities for owners past and present to swop stories and ideas about their much loved vessels.

The next event is the National Championships which take place at Lymington over the weekend of 3-4 September where it is hoped there will be another record attendance. Details are on the Contessa 26 website, www.contessa26.net and those interested should contact Mike Harrison, email

Related Articles

RSYC Contessa Regatta 2024
Blustery conditions welcomed 27 Contessa yachts of all classes in Yarmouth Blustery conditions welcomed 27 Contessa yachts of all classes to the Royal Solent Yacht Club for the second RSYC Contessa Regatta sponsored by Jeremy Rogers Ltd and Louis Jadot. Posted on 4 Jun
RSYC Contessa Regatta 2024 open for entries
Discounted early bird entry available until midnight Friday 8th April The 2024 RSYC Contessa Regatta, hosted by the Royal Solent Yacht Club from Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June, is now open with a discounted early bird entry available until midnight Friday 8th April. Posted on 6 Mar
All-Contessa Regatta
Royal Solent YC sees winners receiving a Magnum/Jeroboam of champagne The first ever all-Contessa Regatta took place at Yarmouth's Royal Solent Yacht Club last weekend and despite challenging sailing conditions, a great time was had by all. The event was well attended with over 40 boats entered. Posted on 13 Jun 2023
All Contessa Regatta preview
Incorporating Contessa 26 and 28 Nationals, and Contessa 32 Point Series The inaugural RSYC Contessa Regatta, hosted by the Royal Solent Yacht Club from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th June, is now just three weeks away with an entry deadline of 5pm on Friday 2nd June. Posted on 19 May 2023
All-Contessa Regatta to be held at Yarmouth
Starts for Contessa 32s, Contessa 26s, and Contessa 28s The first ever all-Contessa Regatta will be held by the Royal Solent Yacht Club in Yarmouth and take place on the weekend of the 9-11th June. Posted on 26 Apr 2023
Jeremy Rogers MBE: 1937 - 2022
One of Britain's most successful yachtsmen passes away Jeremy Rogers, one of Britain's most successful yachtsmen, made a life out of sailing from an early age, from making model boats as a small child before making his mark in yacht racing. He was as skilled with his hands as he was at the helm of a boat. Posted on 18 Oct 2022
Contessa 26 Nationals at Lymington
Some excellent racing in predominantly light winds The Contessa 26 National Championships were hosted by Royal Lymington Yacht Club on 7 and 8 September. In a predominantly light airs event the club provided some excellent racing under PRO Malcolm Mckeag. Posted on 17 Sep 2019
Cowes Classics Week overall
Patience and perserverance at the final day It was a wrap today at Cowes Classics Week, as the five day event for the nineteen classes of classic cruisers, gaffers and one design keelboats, all designed before 1978, came to an end. Posted on 27 Jul 2018
Cowes Classics Week day 4
A cracking Solent breeze After yesterday's fluky conditions a stiff and steady easterly set into the Solent today for the penultimate race day of Cowes Classics Week. Posted on 26 Jul 2018
Cowes Classics Week day 3
Fickle wind and no wind Wednesday was a day of triumph for some and disappointment for others on the third day of Cowes Classics Week as the Course Race Officers struggled to find enough wind to set courses for the majority of the keelboat classes. Posted on 25 Jul 2018