News
Contessa 26s gathering in Lymington today for the 60th Anniversary celebrations.
60 years ago this weekend, the first Contessa 26 took to the water in Lymington from the Jeremy Rogers boatyard. Today, the yard is still going strong and we had a guided tour from Simon Rogers, the current MD.
The Association is aiming to keep a publicly available list of all known Contessa 26s.
There are various lists in existence and we would like to get somewhere closer to a definitive offering. To this end we would be very grateful if all Contessa 26 owners could send current information to enable us to update the records. Please see the Open Register page for data fields we aim to publish.
Please use our online form to submit boat details, or email
Thank you.
Our celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the launch of the first Contessa 26, and thus the whole Contessa family, are scheduled to kick off with a Contessa weekend in Lymington, 24th-26th April, 2026.
Members, Friends & Families, and all Contessa Owners — Past and Present — are invited to join us.
Highlights include a tour of the Jeremy Rogers boatyard on the Saturday afternoon followed by a dinner at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. There will be plenty of opportunity to have a look at members’ boats, for technical chat and sailing stories.
The 2026 Nationals will be held again at the Royal Solent Yacht Club, from 26th to 28th June.We hope to make this event extra special in this the 60th anniversary year for our boats.. Let's try to get as many as possible taking part!
Some intensely close racing took place in the Western Solent between Friday 16 - Sunday 18 May during the 2025 Royal Solent Yacht Club Contessa Regatta with 27 boats competing.
Sponsored by Jeremy Rogers Ltd with Maison Louis Jadot and supported by Hall Hunter Ltd, racing included the Inshore Series 2 for the Contessa 32 class and Nationals for the Contessa 26, Contessa 28 and Contessa 29 classes with the competition between teams tight until the final race.
Contessa yachts of all classes converged on the Royal Solent Yacht Club for the second RSYC Jeremy Rogers Contessa Regatta. On Friday evening, sailors were invited the RSYC for a very welcoming drinks reception sponsored by Louis Jadot followed by supper including delicious local soft fruit provided by island grower Hall Hunter. On Saturday there were three very lively races set in 18-27 knots of breeze which suited these highly competitive classes competing for the Contessa 26 Nationals, Contessa 28 Nationals and Contessa 32 Inshore Points Series. Saturday night started with a rum punch ‘pontoon’ party, followed by dinner before the Contessa crews hit the dancefloor with customary enthusiasm. Sunday’s blue skies and calmer conditions saw two races in champagne conditions. A lawn full of contented sailors witnessed prize giving in front of the spectacular back drop of the western Solent. Our very own Fiona Rogers, Jeremy’s widow presented Magnums of Louis Jadot Moulin-à-Vent Château des Jacques to the winners of each class, which included a ‘Concourse d’elegance’ for the prettiest Contessa (this year the Contessa 26 Musketeer). The overall regatta winner, Contessa 32 Collateral received a Jeroboam of the same.