Better known today for the Contessa 32, during his long career Jeremy Rogers has probably been responsible for the construction of more yachts than any other boat builder in Britain. He built his first dinghy at the age of ten, and he set up in business at the age of 22 after serving his apprenticeship as a traditional wooden boat builder. Much as he loves wooden boats, he was one of the first to appreciate the potential of GRP, and he went first of all into production of GRP dinghies, followed in 1966 by a modified GRP Folkboat called the Contessa 26. This was an instant success, as was the subsequent 32 footer, voted the London Boat of the Show in 1972.

By the late 70s and early 80s Jeremy’s company included five purpose-built factories in Lymington and a workforce of nearly 200 employees. Production included Contessas ranging in size from the traditional 26 to the Doug Peterson designed grand prix 35s, 39s and 43s, many of which were exported to a world-wide market eager for his innovative and beautifully finished yachts.

Apart from boat building Jeremy has made a significant contribution to the ocean racing world. In 1974 he skippered his Contessa 35, Gumboots, to take the then much coveted One Ton Cup trophy, but in so doing he and his crew took time out of one of the offshore races to rescue a family from a sinking life-raft - for this he was voted Yachtsman of the Year (and the racing rules were changed to allow compensatory time to yachts standing by to assist those in distress). In 1977 and 1979 he and his crew competed as members of the British Admirals Cup Team, and in ’77 not only did the team win, but Jeremy’s Contessa 43, Moonshine, was the top scoring boat! The notorious Fastnet Race of 1979 rendered the Admirals Cup of that year understandably insignificant, but Jeremy’s Contessa 39, Eclipse, came in second overall to Ted Turner’s Tenacious, which was twice her size! The following year Jeremy received his MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The 1979 Fastnet Race report cites many of Jeremy’s boats, which represented 10% of the fleet. However the one which received most praise for her stability and seaworthiness was the little Contessa 32. It was one of these, Assent, with a crew whose average age was 25, which was the only finisher in class V (whilst in Class IV none at all finished the race)! Little did Jeremy realise then that the Contessa 32 would also prove to be his best friend in the future.

The now largely forgotten economic slump of the early 1980s brought the downfall of the three main boat manufacturers in Britain, and the Rogers yard was one of them. Discouraged but determined to start again, Jeremy set up business in a farm building just outside Lymington along with a couple of his former employees. He took on industrial moulding work, such as firemen’s helmet shells, and any boat building work which came his way. After a couple of years, boats such as J/24s, Etchells 22s and a few one-offs quickly re-established his reputation. By 1988 the yard had moved to a factory in Milford-on-Sea, and in 1995 Jeremy purchased back the Contessa 32 moulds. He now produces a very limited number of these much-loved classics, adding to the 800 or so already sailing all over the world.