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Contessa 33
Designer: Rob Humphreys  ·  Builder: Contessa Yachts Ltd (Uk)  ·  First built: 1984
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About the Contessa 33

Designed by Rob Humphreys and built by Contessa Yachts Ltd in the UK starting in 1984, this 33-footer represents a refined approach to coastal cruising and club racing. With only 20 hulls produced, the Contessa 33 remains a relatively rare find that combines British craftsmanship with modern sailing characteristics. The boat's fin keel and spade rudder configuration, coupled with a fractional sloop rig carrying 481 square feet of sail area, delivers responsive handling and solid upwind performance. Her moderate displacement of 8,988 pounds strikes an effective balance between cruising comfort and sailing ability, while the SA/Displacement ratio of 17.86 indicates spirited performance in moderate conditions. Built for sailors seeking quality over quantity, the Contessa 33 excels in coastal waters and makes an excellent choice for weekend cruising or club racing. The hull's 6.76-knot theoretical hull speed and comfortable 20.45 comfort ratio suggest she's equally at home on extended coastal passages or day sails. Her capsize screening value of 2.14 indicates good stability characteristics for nearshore and coastal sailing. The fiberglass construction and compact 18-horsepower auxiliary engine make her practical for marina life, while Rob Humphreys' design pedigree ensures sailing performance that rewards skilled helmsmanship.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.67 ft / 9.96 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.42 ft / 7.75 m
Beam 11.08 ft / 3.38 m
Max Draft 5.82 ft / 1.77 m
Displacement 8,988.00 lb / 4,077 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 481.00 ft² / 44.69 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Rob Humphreys
Builder Contessa Yachts Ltd (UK)
First Built 1984
Number Built 20
Associations Yacht Brochures (Original Scanned Manufacturers's brochures)
Related Sailboats ["X 99" · "Cs 33" · "Cc 33 2" · "J32" · "Cal 33"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 144
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 17.86
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 244.28
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 20.45
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.14
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.76 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.31
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,006.38 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 17.87
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 37.60 ft / 11.46 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.10 ft / 3.38 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 39.50 ft / 12.04 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.80 ft / 4.21 m
SA Fore 208.68 ft² / 19.39 m²
SA Main 272.55 ft² / 25.32 m²
SA Total (100%) 481.23 ft² / 44.71 m²
Est. Forestay Length 39.20 ft / 11.95 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model 2000
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 18
Fuel Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
Water Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
How It Compares

vs. Cc 33 2, Cs 33, J32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Contessa 33 ★
32.7 ft
Cc 33 2
32.6 ft
Cs 33
32.7 ft
J32
32.6 ft
LWL
Contessa 33 ★
25.4 ft
Cc 33 2
26.2 ft
Cs 33
26.4 ft
J32
28.8 ft
Beam
Contessa 33 ★
11.1 ft
Cc 33 2
10.5 ft
Cs 33
10.7 ft
J32
11.0 ft
Displacement
Contessa 33 ★
8 lbs
Cc 33 2
9 lbs
Cs 33
10 lbs
J32
10 lbs
Ballast
Contessa 33 ★
—
Cc 33 2
3 lbs
Cs 33
4 lbs
J32
3 lbs
Sail Area
Contessa 33 ★
481 sq ft
Cc 33 2
511 sq ft
Cs 33
503 sq ft
J32
518 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Contessa 33 ★
144 s/nm
Cc 33 2
—
Cs 33
150 s/nm
J32
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Contessa 33 ★
17.9
Cc 33 2
18.4
Cs 33
17.4
J32
17.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Contessa 33 ★
—
Cc 33 2
—
Cs 33
42.5 %
J32
38.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Contessa 33 ★
20.5
Cc 33 2
22.7
Cs 33
23.3
J32
21.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Contessa 33 ★
2.14
Cc 33 2
1.99
Cs 33
1.98
J32
2.05
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Contessa 33 ★
244
Cc 33 2
—
Cs 33
242
J32
186
Hull Speed
Contessa 33 ★
6.8 kts
Cc 33 2
6.9 kts
Cs 33
6.9 kts
J32
7.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Contessa 33 ★
2.3
Cc 33 2
2.5
Cs 33
2.3
J32
3.0
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