Zenith is a lovely example of the ever-popular Contessa 32. Benefitting from constant improvement and upgrading over her life, she is presented for sale in excellent condition and a pre-season service period ashore for normal maintenance plus new propellor shaft, Aquadrive coupling and stern gland.

Zenith is well equipped with shore power, hot and cold water, diesel fired heating, full sail wardrobe including recent main and Genoa plus 3 spinnakers. Afloat at Lymington Yacht Haven and available for viewing by appointment. Please contact us for more information.

One of the first of the new-generation hulls from Jeremy Rogers – a modern Contessa 32 for around a tenth of the new-build price.

Nearly every Contessa 32 for sale is a 1970s or '80s boat. Zenith is not. When Jeremy Rogers returned to boatbuilding, hers was among the very first hulls of the new generation – modern moulding at the Lymington yard where she still lies today – with an interior fitted out in mahogany by M J Slack, renowned for its superior quality and a clear step above the production interiors of the earlier boats. New Contessa 32s remain in build today from £420,000 including VAT.

She has been in her current ownership for six years, and is being sold only because her owner is moving up in size. In that time, almost every system aboard has been renewed.

Engine and drivetrain – effectively new. Beta 25hp and gearbox installed 2020 (approx. 355 hours), last full service December 2025. In 2025 the entire stern gear was renewed: new propeller shaft, Aquadrive flexible coupling and Tides Marine shaft seal. Batteries, charger and solar trickle charging replaced in 2020.

Rig and sails – renewed 2024. New standing rigging and rigging screws, most running rigging replaced, new Spinlock clutches, single-line reefing to reefs 1 and 2 and double-line reefing to reef 3. Sanders fully battened Vectron mainsail (three reefs) on a Tides Marine low-friction luff track; Sanders Vectron 130% furling genoa (2021) on a replaced furling unit (2023). Storm jib and trisail in orange Dacron plus three spinnakers. The inventory also includes a brand new, never-fitted Sea Feather windvane self-steering gear – a genuine offshore wardrobe, ready for serious passage-making.

Navigation and comfort. Raymarine EV1 autopilot and Axiom 9 plotter with Navionics Platinum UK charts (2022); Icom VHF (2021). Webasto diesel heating (2024), new upholstery, curtains and cockpit cushions, hot and cold pressurised water, shore power, and hatches and portlights replaced throughout (2020).

Fresh antifoul and anodes, December 2025. There is no refit list with this boat: the work a buyer would normally budget for over the next decade has already been done.

The design needs no introduction – the Contessa 32's reputation was written in the 1979 Fastnet, and the class remains active enough to hold its own start at Cowes Week. What rarely appears for sale is a modern example. Buy a 1970s boat for £25,000 and feed the yard for years, buy new for £420,000, or buy Zenith and go sailing.

Upgrades and improvements in the current ownership include:

2020

New BETA 25HP engine and gearbox

Replaced engine space sound proofing

Replaced batteries and battery charger

Fitted solar panel and regulator for trickle charge

Replaced hatches and port lights throughout

Replaced stack pack cover for mainsail

2021

Replaced Sea toilet

Fitted new VHF Icom

New Sanders Vectron 130% furling genoa

2022

Raymarine EV1 autopilot including control head, tiler pilot, course computer and heading sensor

Raymarine Axiom 9 chart plotter/multi function display with Navionics platinum UK chart

2023

Replaced Genoa furling unit

New cockpit cushions

2024

Sanders fully battened mainsail in Vectron with 3 reefs, 4 battens

Tides Marine low friction luff track fitted to mast for mainsail

Storm Jib in orange Dacron

Trisail in orange Dacron

Replaced stainless steel standing rigging and rigging screws

Replaced most running rigging

Fitted new Spinlock rope clutches

Single line reefing fitted to reefs 1 and 2. 2 line system for reef 3

New curtains

New interior upholstery

Webasto diesel fired heating fitted

2025

Removal of rudder to remove propellor shaft in order to renew stern gland

New Aquadrive flexible coupling

New propellor shaft

New Tides Marine shaft seal/stern gland

Last ashore December 2025 - new antifoul and anodes

Last full engine service December 2025

In this transaction we are acting as Brokers only. We are informed that this sale is not related to the Owner's business, trade of profession. Whilst every care has been taken in their preparation, the correctness of these particulars is not guaranteed. The particulars are intended only as a guide and the do not constitute a term of any contract. A prospective buyer is strongly advised to check the particulars and where appropriate to have the vessel fully surveyed and inspected, sea trialled and opened up.