Rafted up © Barry Pickthall / PPL Web: www.pplmedia.com
August 2016: The Contessa 26 is 50 years old this summer and owners had a party in Lymington to celebrate Jeremy Rogers building (and restoring) so many boats.
“We had so much fun, it was an absolutely brilliant event! To be honest I am finding it hard to come down,” was how Fiona Rogers, of the Jeremy Rogers family boatbuilding company in Lymington described the 50th anniversary of the Contessa 26, at Lymington over the 29 to 31 July. In the end 46 of the venerable glassfibre cabin cruisers turned up to enjoy festivities under stunning sunshine with a barbecue on the Friday and dinner at the Royal Lymington YC on the Saturday. And it sounded superb fun!
“Everyone was saying this is how sailing should be – how can we just make this last forever!” Fiona beamed. “There were no stuffed shirts around and we did some pretend racing. They really are the greatest bunch of people.” (See Quay people photo opposite)
Main image: Quay people on the quay: Contessa 26 sailors gather in Lymington for the 50th
Contessa 26 50th anniversary Rally Lymington / Yarmouth © Barry Pickthall / PPL
Three different layouts were available for the 26