Contessa 26 Yacht

The Contessa 26 is an attractive easy to sail very popular boat and known as an ocean cruiser. My boat, Red Admiral, has had many extras added in order to make it both practical to sail short handed and comfortable to live with and these include an in boom reefing systemand a side shift bow thruster. Other improvements include, a new sea toilet, a sink and water tank, an electric auto bilge pump, new VHF radio with cockpit extension and a spray hood.She also has a Raymarine autohelm. The previous owner, who sailed her across the Atlantic in the Jester Challenge, had the bulkhead reinforced with kevlar and halyard fittings strengthened. There is also a self steering gear unit, although I've never used this.

Red Admiral has been serviced annually at the marina and anti-fouled again by workshops at the marina. I bought her in 2011 and the survey showed the presence of moisture in the hull, not uncommon in a boat of this age, but no blisters have appeared over the last seven years that I have owned her. A surveyor will be able to give appropriate advice.The boat has been taken out of the water and is viewable at Premier Marina, Fort Cumberland Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 9RJ, UK