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Contessa 32 Gigi immortalised by John Kretschmer’s book Cape Horn to Starboard. She is being restored by builders Jeremy Rogers Yachts
Jeremy Rogers Yachts will be showcasing the well known Contessa 32 Gigi, at the London Boat Show in December following a major restoration.
Gigi was bought in 1982 by American Ty Techera who had been diagnosed with cancer and had decided to fulfil a lifelong dream and take his last sailing trip around Cape Horn. Techera engaged John Kretschmer to skipper the yacht and in 1984 the pair undertook their journey.
Kretschmer later immortalised the voyage from New York to San Francisco in his book Cape Horn to Starboard.
Jeremy and Fiona Rogers recently found Gigi lying neglected in Galveston, Texas and bought her with the intention of bringing her back to the UK to undergo a complete refit. The refit is underway and will be completed in time for a preview at the December Earls Court event.
Visitors to the show will have the opportunity to meet the Rogers to talk about the restoration of Gigi and John Kretschmer will also be present at the show to spend time talking about his adventures in the boat.
Jeremy Rogers, the renowned Lymington based boatbuilder and 1974 Yachtsman of the Year, began building Contessa 26s in 1966. The Contessa 32 was produced in 1970 with her first appearance at the London Boat Show in 1971, and quickly became a popular cruiser after an early boat, Sunmaid IV, won the Boat of the Show award at the 1972 London Boat Show.
Jeremy Rogers Yachts is still building yachts at the Lymington Yard, and I gather orders can be placed at the boat show for new yachts or re-fits of existing Contessas.
I am very interested in purchasing a new or newly restored CO32. Can you please let me have details of what is available.
Is GIGI going to be available for sale?
Thanks for your interest, but Gigi will not be for sale! She is our family boat. She is an example of what we can do to restore an old Contessa 32 to as-new condition, and as such she will be on display at the Earls Court Boat Show from 1st to 9th December.
We can supply a new Contessa 32 or re-furbish an old one at our yard. Do get in touch once you've had a look at our website: http://www.jeremyrogers.co.uk . Also you might like to look at the Contessa 32 Class Association website, where they have a good brokerage page: http://www.co32.org
Hoping this has been helpful, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Hi,
Found your article about Gigi and Ty Techera. I used to work with Ty and lost touch several years ago. Did not know about the cancer. Hope he is doing well. Would like to get in touch if you know his whereabouts. Please feel free to forward my contact details.
SKIP
GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU…HOPE ALL IS GOING WELL……JEREMY HAS TAKEN WONDERFUL CARE OF GIGI…I AM GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR ALL HE HAS DONE….
TAKE CARE
TY
Ahoy, we are Kiwi sailors with a 5 year old currently working in Oman. We are drawn to the co32 as a posssible yacht for our future. We want to hear from anyone looking to sell their 1990's or newer co32 during the year 2010. Thinking of you as you are on the water and us on permanent desert (no rain here since we arrived in August).
Sue, Stephan and Nicki