The David Sadler designed Contessa 32 was first built in 1971 in Lymington, England and was still being built in limited numbers as recently as 2025. More than 800 have been produced in all. "Wind River" is hull number 65 of 87, laid down by J.J.Taylor of Toronto in 1985 and first registered in 1986 in St.Catharines, Ontario. Contessa 32s are renowned for their toughness and seaworthiness, with many ocean crossings and circumnavigations to the credit of both English and Canadian-built vessels. "Wind River" has had 3 owners. The first sailed her to Florida and the second to the Maritimes, before the current owner brought her to the west coast from Toronto in 2004. Since then she has cruised the Pacific Northwest, California, Mexico, the South Pacific and New Zealand. Numerous upgrades and modifications were carried out to prepare her for these adventures.