Well I've gone and done it, I've parted with the readies and bought myself a new dream. Enough of the armchair adventures it's time to get my hands dirty. My original thoughts were to get a Folkboat which met all the criteria, budget, small enough to sail single handed, and a go-anywhere-job. The Folkboat ticked all these boxes. After looking over a number of them I decided that going the wooden route was not for me. From past experience they require and deserve many hours of maintenance (and I do love the smell of varnish) but at this stage in life sailing is the goal.The romantic in me lost this time around.
With plastic in mind and a little research the Contessa 26 came to the forefront. Their dedicated site www.co26.com proved invaluable. I have always admired their lines, they do look the business on water and as a derivatve of the Folkboat meet all the original criteria. The room down below (or lack of) is restricted and other craft of the same size can give you more with standing headroom, but not the excellent sailing abilities this class can throw at you. It's all compromise. So the search began.
Ellen Rose was the third Contessa 26 I looked at. This is what she looked like on my first viewing, on a wet November morning.
More pics I went for it.
