1985 Contessa 33

 The Contessa 33 was one of the best designs of her generation.  A superb racer/cruiser which is how her owner used her...cruising with his family and racing with a crew.  STAR BIRD is now for sale at a very reasonable price. 

  Contessa sailboats are relatively unknown in the US, notwithstanding that Tania Aebi circumnavigated the globe in 1985 at age 18 in a Contessa 26'.

STAR BIRD is a 1985 COntessa 33 a quality European (British) boat, which at ther time of its introduction redefined the appellation "racer/cruiser.

The original owner of STAR BIRD lived in Maryland, was an avid racer who  took delivery of her in England on the Solent and entered her in 7 days of racing at Cowes Race Week , Isle of Wright. 

He raced her against 34 entries which included some of England and Europe's best, many of whom were also sailing Contessa 33s.  Despite 20 foot tides, 6 knot currents, and 35 + knot winds he finished as high as second and no worse than 6th. 

The Contessa 33 was designed by Rob Humphries and built by Contessa Yachts /Jeremy Rogers, Ltd.  The interior is designed with ingenious use of space giving the interior a light and airy feel. She is a boat that can be cruised in comfort and is easily handled by a couple or family while also having the advantage of being able to produce good results in regattas and club races.

All the lines are all led back to the cockpit to make handling her quite easy.  The  side decks are wide making movement forward and aft comfortable.  It has a   fractional rig which, with the right sail selection, is perfectly balanced in all conditions.

With her sharply raked stern, which folds down to make a swim platform, she looks fast both in the water or on land.

STAR BIRD has a PHRF rating of 144.

The owner, who is the second owner of STARBIRD,  has just purchased  a brand new boat and does not want to be a two boat owner. 

ALL REASONABLE OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED!

The Contessa 33 has a traditional lay-out. 

The forward cabin has a V-berth in the bow which can be converted into a  comfortable double with an infill piece.  There is plenty of stowage beneath the berths and a large locker with a hinge down door at the forward end.  There are overhead reading lights above each side.  There are long elasticized pockets on the hull sides above the berths for additional stowage. Headroom is about 5'6" .

Separating the forward cabin from the main saloon is the head which spans the width of the boat. An electric toilet is fitted to port facing forward with an open fronted hanging locker alongside the hull. 

To starboard there is a washbasin set in a fiddled counter with a pull out shower.  There is  a shelved locker with sliding doors above it for toiletries.  For privacy there is a privacy door between the head and the forward cabin and another door between the main saloon and the head. . 

The main saloon has about 6' of head room and is simply laid out with an L shaped settee to port and a straight settee starboard.  There are pilot berths behind each settee which are useful for small children or additional stowage. There is tankage beneath each settee.  Fresh water to starboard and fuel to port.

In the center of the main saloon is is a two-leaf, fiddled, light American Ash table bolted to the cabin sole with a hatch beneath it for access to the bilge and bottle storage in the center.  The interior joiner work is light American Ash giving the cabin a light and airy feeling. 

The galley is to starboard and features a 2 burner propane stove with oven, deep stainless steel sink, a large ice box with 12 volt refrigeration and below counter storage. There is a cabinet above and over the counter with sliding doors for food and dish storage. The sliding doors, drawer and cabinet fronts are white laminate.

To port is a forward facing chart table with a hinged top attached to a low bulkhead at the aft end of the port settee.  There are 2 drawers below the chart table and room for electronics in the panel against the port side of the hull.  There is stowage for charts in a hinged chart tray attached to the overhead of the adjacent quarter berth.  

The quarter berth is aft of the chart table, to port of the main companionway and accommodates two adults. 

STAR BIRD is powered by an 18 hp, freshwater cooled, 2 cylinder, Volvo diesel - model 2002.  The engine is connected to a stainless steel propeller shaft. The shaft passes through the hull via a PSS drippless shaft seal. 

Engine access is excellent and is achieved by removing the engine box, below the main companionway.  The steps to the cockpit are attached to the engine box. The engine has been well maintained and runs well but engine hours are unknown

Sails & Sailing Gear

• North Kevlar main - 2007
• North symmetrical spinnaker - 2007 or 2008
• North Dacron Radial jib
• North asymmetrical spinnaker - 2015
• KVH Sailcomp 103AC provides heading, wind shift and off course steering
• Dutchman sail flaking system
• Selden Furlex 200s jib furler
• Selden rigid boom vang
• Aluminum spinnaker pole
• Selden Carbon fiber retractable sprit
• 2 #43 Lewmar 2 speed winches on a unique inboard mounting at the forward end of the cockpit
• 2 #24 Lewmar 2 speed winches port & starboard on the cabin top
• two Lewmar #10 single speed winches port & starboard on the cabin top
• 1 #8 Lewmar winch on the mast for reefing
• Long inboard genoa car tracks on each side deck 
• Adjustable back stay
• Fractional rig

• 2 burner propane stove with oven
• Refrigeration
• A deep stainless steel sink
• Hot & cold running water
• Good storage above and below the galley counter top

• Raytheon tiller pilot
• Carbon fiber retracting spirt for asymetrical spinnaker
• Fold down stern swim platform
• Electric toilet
• 12 Volt hot water heater
• Drippless stuffing box
• Ergonomic cockpit layout - easily handled by one person
• Two pilot berths for small children or gear storage
• KVH Sailcomp - provides heading, wind shift and off course steering
• NEXUS depth& boat speed.instrument 
• NEXUS wind speed & direction instrument
• Beautiful swan neck tiller
• Tiler extension
• 25# CQR anchor with chain & rope rode
• Nicro solar powered cabin ventilator
• Victron Energy 20 amp battery charger
• small solar panel
• Miscellaneous life jackets, winch handles, fenders, dock lines, etc.
• Windex
• Forward facing Nav station with adjacent separate chart storage
• AM/FM/CD stereo

Potential purchasers should assume that any items on the vessel at the time of viewing, but not specifically listed on this specification sheet, are not included with the sale of the yacht. These specifications are believed to be correct but cannot be guaranteed. Specifications are provided for information purposes. Data was obtained from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by owner or brokers. Buyer assumes responsibility to verify all speeds, consumptions, capacities and other measurements contained herein and otherwise provided, and agrees to instruct his/her agents or his/her surveyor to confirm such details prior to purchase. This vessel is subject to sale, price and inventory changes or withdrawal from market without notice.