Contessa 34

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Introduced in 1982, this Doug Peterson-designed cruiser-racer was based on the ill-fated OOD34 which suffered, perhaps unfairly, for her safety record in the 1979 Fastnet. This version had a more cruising-orientated interior and improved stability, thanks to a shallower but heavier keel and a cut-down rig. Even so, she was a sharp performer. Below decks, there were three alternative layouts with up to 10 berths. The injection moulding construction and an interior designed by Terence Conran, of Habitat fame, created a clean and bright décor. She is a strong yacht but several were bought as charter and sailing school boats, so these ones may have had a tough life.

LOA 10.26m (33ft 8in), LWL 8.53m (38ft), beam 3.38m (11ft 1in), draught 1.52m
(5ft 6in), displacement 9,000lb (4,082kg). Price guide: £30,000 to £40,000. YM Test Report March 1983.