There seems to be an incorrect but common perception that the Association is only interested in racing. Emphatically this is incorrect. The Contessa 32 is a superb cruising boat as evidenced by the many voyages recorded over the years; she is a real blue-water cruiser, whose formidable reputation for seaworthiness has been tried and tested by some of the most rugged of long-distance sailors. But that's not all! She is particularly easy to handle and suited to short-handed cruising. Many Contessa 32s are cruised singlehanded or short handed by family crews.

While racers growl at each other trying to keep a paint thickness clearance from a rusty can dancing around on a 3 knot tide, the cruising folk will be exploring new anchorages or revisiting old favourites... and maybe getting together to share a bottle of wine and yarns of voyages past.  All of which leads to the thought that it is more fun to sail in company with other like minded sailors.

To support Contessa cruising, each year a full programme of cruising events is planned with, typically, four main events based in the Solent plus an increasing range of regional activities. Via the web site cruising information will be available and cruising link-ups operated and informal cruiser meets arranged both during the week and at weekends.