Several hundred people and up to 100 boats are expected to gather in Lymington this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Contessa 32.

Almost a sixth of the 650 Contessa 32s built are expected to descend on the Solent for a weekend that the class association promise will be filled with ‘parties, sailing and more parties’.

The yacht’s builder, Jeremy Rogers, said: ‘I could never have imagined 40 years ago that we’d be celebrating like this today.

‘It’s a very proud moment in my career and we look forward to the next 40 years of the Contessa 32.’

As part of the celebrations a new trophy, The Courtney Plate, has been donated to the class, which will be presented annually for a voyage in the long-keeled craft.

Willy Ker will be the plate’s inaugural winner for his rounding of Cape Horn in his boat Assent, which was also the smallest yacht to complete the 1979 Fastnet Race unscathed.

The trophy recognises that the boat is now more commonly used for cruising, whereas in its earlier years it was more of a racing vessel.

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