Design and Construction
Britton Chance designed the hull for dual service. The boat’s stated purpose is cruising and regatta sailing, and its proportions reflect that balance. She measures 9.75 meters overall, with an 8.55-meter—or 28-foot—waterline and a 3-meter beam. Displacement is 5,000 kilograms, and the fixed keel draws 1.75 meters.
These figures suggest a moderately loaded cruiser-racer rather than a lightweight daysailer. The relatively long waterline also gives the hull efficient proportions for its beam. Wauquiez produced the Chance 32 as a fiberglass cabin cruiser.
Published information about the construction is limited beyond the fiberglass hull and fixed keel.
Rig and Handling
The Chance 32 carries a sloop rig with 42.60 square meters of sail. Paired with the boat’s 5,000-kilogram displacement and 8.55-meter waterline, that sail area places her in the cruiser-racer territory where Britton Chance worked.
The sail plan is straightforward but generous for the boat’s length, signaling an intention to perform under sail as well as provide shelter for a cruising crew. The 1.75-meter fixed keel gives her a settled lateral plane for windward work, while the 3-meter beam provides the stability platform expected of a boat intended for both cruising and regattas. Although classified as a cabin cruiser, her regatta brief means the rig is sized to move the boat without resorting to oversized canvas.
Accommodations
The standard Chance 32 has two cabins. Within the envelope provided by the 9.75-meter hull and 3-meter beam, the accompanying saloon and galley must also fit.
This arrangement can accommodate a small crew or a couple with guests. The cabin-cruiser designation indicates that the boat was intended for living aboard while cruising, rather than merely for day racing.
Verdict
The Chance 32 wears its cruising-and-regatta brief honestly. It’s a Britton Chance design built by Wauquiez, with a fiberglass hull, moderate displacement, a long waterline for its overall length, a fixed keel, a capable sloop rig, and a two-cabin interior.
The available record identifies no known structural or systemic defects. Overall, the boat appears to be a conventionally built production cruiser-racer with a clear identity, though published construction details remain limited.
Pros
- Britton Chance design with a documented cruising-and-regatta purpose
- Fiberglass hull with a fixed keel and 1.75-meter draft
- Two-cabin standard layout
- Sloop rig carrying 42.6 m² of sail on a 5,000 kg hull
Cons
- Limited published construction details beyond the fiberglass hull and fixed keel
