The boatbuilder

Jeremy Rogers’ Lymington boatyard has been building small but seaworthy oceangoing GRP yachts since 1965. Choosing to ignore modern design trends, they have stuck to a formula that’s fostered loyalty from some of the sailing community’s most intrepid yachtsmen. Jeremy’s son Kit and his wife Jessie, who now run the business, took their Contessa 32 Assent to the Arctic and now help their clients equip yachts for sailing the world.

‘We have no typical customer profile. People buy a Contessa because they want a yacht that connects them with their environment, whilst protecting them from the worst of it.’ A long-keel, narrow beam and heavier than usual GRP construction give even the smallest Contessa, only 26ft long, an ability to ride out bad weather with ease, something many modern hulls struggle with.

‘It’s not about waterline length, but what shape exists below the waterline. That’s what fundamentally makes these designs safer and more stable offshore. The main compromise is space below, but that’s a trade-off Contessa owners make willingly. At sea, they benefit from a very comfortable and secure space that’s comfortable and easy to live in, even in the worst weather,’ says Jessie.