Like a Contessa, but with 6ft headroom and an aft cabin | Dawn 39 test | Yachting Monthly

You might not have heard of the Dawn Class 39, but you will know her little sister the Contessa 32, and the family resemblance is striking says Rachael Sprot
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[@roncooper6302]

One of the best presentations I have seen. This lady really knows her stuff.

[@paulcooper5904]

Yes she really knows her stuff. She was my skipper on a 60ft Clipper ocean racer in 2021. She even made bread and scones while we're at sea!!

[@ianscott3180]

Many, many years ago I had a Contessa 26. Gawd was she a wet boat to sail. Gawd was she small. Gawd was she uncomfortable, Gawd was she badly equipped. Gawd how I loved that little boat. For all her faults I have never had the same affection for another boat that I have owned. Now retired and mostly day sailing I am looking for another one to potter with and perhaps pass on to my grandson as his first boat. Great video! Such a change from counting lockers and fridge space, thanks.

[@DarenMiles1963]

I used to own this boat but traded down to a Contessa 26 ....take a look you might find my refit intresting ....search All things contessa 26

[@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk]

Love this girl. Not a single Mmm or Arh. Always researched and presents better than the kings guard. Impressed!

[@ColinHarvey78]

Such a good review. Rachael really knows her stuff and her down to earth, practical, sensible and articulate delivery is everything you want. She doesn’t get carried away, sees both sides of the coin and delivers it all so very well.

[@TreDeuce-qw3kv]

One of the best boat reviews ever. Appreciated...👍👍 And she's a beauty.

[@MrGeoMarin]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos about older but special boats! Thank you very much for reviewing this bluewater cruiser.

[@andrewbeale2585]

Top notch review from Rachael, a review by an experienced and calm sailor for other sailors. Could not be better. And the boat is lovely, with the only issues as highlighted being deck access to the chain locker, and the lack of deck stowage which could be a pain on a long voyage. Thank you

[@rasmus_mattsson]

Beautiful boat and an amazing presentation, well done! As an owner of a S&S 1976 Bianca 36 I completely agree with the love for 70's boats, they look beautiful unlike most modern boats. And they sail beautifully if designed right. It's really nice to see that you take the time to look at some older designs as well and not just modern boats 🙂

[@puertola7186]

Thank you for the interesting boat info!

[@tomstopper5281]

What a beauty! I love a classic boat.

[@gersoncifuentes614]

Beautiful woman presenting a beautiful vessel.

[@SirCharles12357]

Very professional presentation!

[@brownnoise357]

Thanks for the journey down nostalgia lane, and the type of boat I used to drool over in my younger days. Radically different to what I need today, sad to say, if I want to stay under Sail with my next Sailboat. Luckily some more recent designs can fit what I need. Best Wishes and Fair Winds. Bob. 🤔👍⛵️✨️

[@deepeddysf]

Appreciate the finer points of the design, the context, history and owner interview. A very well done overview!

[@edwardfinn4141]

I clicked ‘like’ right away. Excellent review and video. Good boat.

[@sunlovesailing]

As usual Yachting Monthly does a great, thorough review. Surprised I didn’t know this boat! If we weren’t happy with our Crealock 37 I’d be looking one of these. Smart, classic bluewater hull shape, clever, well thought out, and looks a great sailor.

[@wardism74]

That’s my Golden Hind in the background, in the inner harbour!!

[@AthelstanEngland]

Good review. Lovely looking boat, that one in excellent condition. This lady speaks exactly like Toby! Same phrasing, approach. Note to the video editor. At 03:00 be good to have seen the bridge deck when being spoken about.

[@maurolimaok]

What a beautiful boat! Love the channel!

[@bos6782]

Great review, well done.

[@gillesdufaux5519]

Very well explained

[@danknox9986]

Enjoyed that. Well done.

[@nickwebb9290]

A superb review of an excellent yacht 👍

[@patrickhorgan8389]

Excellent presentation 👏

[@kenscrackofdoom599]

Fantastic presentation of a superb boat.

[@JeanLucRaoelina-nd4og]

Excellent reporting.

[@danknox9986]

Enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@wilbur218]

good review, nice boat. thanks

[@Tomm9y]

A great presentation of a wonderful boat. Usually I avoid YW reviews, but I was curious about the boat and then appreciateted the informative, pleasant style.

[@YachtingMonthly]

Well, glad you liked this *YM review! ;)

[@q.e.d.9112]

YW? Wash your mouth out😅.

[@rolfsvensson5777]

I have to say the boat and presentation super! I like a bigger boat for crossings but nice coastal boat!

[@MrRugbylane]

More of this please.

[@knickebien1966]

16:15 My skull hurts just from looking at those through deck bolts. Were it mine, I would put a velcro pad over those to avoid cranial trauma.

[@Claudioanveres]

Great presentation indeed! But i am not sure about this boat interior design..

[@parenthlete]

Does the water tank in the keel negate some of the weighted keel when it’s empty or it’s too small a difference to matter?

[@normanboyes4983]

Hopefully - if it’s empty you are 8n harbour and about to top it up, otherwise you are in the dwang.

[@ArazQizilbash]

Let the so-called experts who promote yachts on various yacht channels and magazines watch this presentation for educational purposes, maybe they will learn something.

[@thylacine1962]

Yachting Monthly, great chanel indeed. Contesa boats? Not so. Bolt on keel = fall off & kill. NO THANKS. Most modern yachts have very few real safety features. Sad but true.

[@jaywhitestone4626]

Agree with your sentiments, but if you rule out bolt-on keels, isn’t Kraken the only single manufacturer making an integral keel today? Even in the used boat world, you’d have to expand your search to go decades back, and you’ll still eliminate the overwhelming majority of boats. So you either have >$1m for a Kraken, or just a handful of older, well-built boats waiting for your major refit

[@thylacine1962]

@@jaywhitestone4626 Kracken, Passport, Hylas, Island Packet, Outbound all still make integral keel yachts. They are just ones i remember off the top of my head. There are others. Swing keels (not lifting keels)are much safer too. There are many manufacturers there. There are better options available than Bolt on, if safety is your number 1 priority & cost is not a factor. Too many people have died since the introduction of bolt ons from keels in the 1980's till now ripping away from the hull, but most boat manufacturers forget to mention that when selling their products to customers who are not aware of this. Safest is integral, swing or catamarans with hull keels, not dagger boards. I think eventually bolt ons will be outlawed, as so many have died from them in the last 40 years. Some thing to consider Jay. Safe sailing my friend.

[@jaywhitestone4626]

@@thylacine1962 true on both the Passport and Outbound; thanks for the correction. Both IPY & the (At least some) new Hylas models have switched to keel bolts. In the case of the new Hylas, a few other safety / cost trade-offs

[@thylacine1962]

@@jaywhitestone4626 thanks for the Hylas update, . I didn't know. But IP still make an integral yacht. Personaly Im up for the swing keel. Where I am in South Australia there are so many shallow sailing grounds that are so beautiful and well worth a visit. Safe sailing Jay.

[@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk]

So.. How many fatalities from fixed keel vs bolt on as a percentage? To shear a modern “bolt on keel” requires design flaw. Stats record only one person a year dying from a sheared keel and if those odds scare you(30 in the last 3 decades) considering how many sailors and boats there are I would stay at home and wrap yourself in cotton wool if I was you. 😆

[@dwk8081]

where can i buy one ...