Design Brief & Intent
The Chance 32 was engineered to exploit the IOR handicap system, which favored heavy, deep-keeled hulls with exaggerated "diamond" profiles—narrow waterlines, bulging midship sections, and radically pinched sterns. Unlike many of its racing contemporaries of the early 1970s, which were delivered to buyers as stripped-out, spartan sailing machines, Henri Wauquiez insisted that the Chance 32 maintain the shipyard’s reputation for offshore comfort and exquisite joinery. To compete with successful production cruisers of the era, such as the Centurion 32 (designed by Holman & Pye) and the later Gladiateur 33, the interior of the Chance 32 was lavishly appointed in rich Burmese teak.
The layout was optimized for a racing crew of six while remaining highly functional for family cruising. The cabin arrangement features a classic forward V-berth, a marine head compartment, and a central saloon with a folding table. A convertible settee to port, a pilot berth, and an aft quarter berth provide additional sleeping accommodations. The galley is compact but seaworthy, equipped with a deep icebox and a two-burner stove, while the dedicated navigation station to starboard is exceptionally large for a 32-foot boat, reflecting the navigation-heavy requirements of 1970s offshore racing.
Variations & Configurations
The Chance 32 design is most widely known in two distinct builds: the North American Paceship Chance 32/28 (of which approximately 41 were built in Nova Scotia) and the European Wauquiez Chance 32 (limited to just 20 hulls). While they share the same fundamental hull lines, the Wauquiez builds are widely considered superior in structural integrity and cosmetic execution. The Canadian Paceship builds often utilized cast iron ballasted fin keels, whereas Wauquiez outfitted its builds with a deep, high-grade lead keel of 4,680 pounds, giving the boat a much stiffer profile and an impressive ballast-to-displacement ratio approaching 40%.
Both configurations utilized a high-aspect masthead sloop rig. The rig profile is highly characteristic of the era, pairing a comparatively small mainsail with a massive, high-load foretriangle. This design necessitates a large inventory of overlapping head sails (genoas) to generate drive in light-to-medium air, making sail changes a labor-intensive, crew-dependent affair.
Sailing Performance & Handling
At the helm, the Chance 32 is a study in IOR-induced contradictions. With a displacement of roughly 12,025 pounds and a deep-draft fin keel, the yacht excels when hard on the wind. Its high ballast ratio and pronounced "belly" provide immense initial stability, allowing the boat to stand up to its canvas and point remarkably close to the wind. In upwind conditions, it punches through chop with a sea-kindly, momentum-driven motion, tracking beautifully with minimal helm fatigue.
However, downwind performance is where the extreme geometry of the hull presents significant handling challenges. The narrow, pinched stern lacks the buoyancy and dynamic lift of modern wide-transom designs. When running downwind under spinnaker in heavy seas and strong winds, the boat is highly susceptible to rhythmic rolling, commonly referred to as "the IOR roll".
This dangerous handling trait was dramatically illustrated during the Semaine de Marseille race in the mid-1970s. Legendary French skipper Michel Malinovsky was racing a Chance 32 with Henri Wauquiez on board. Running downwind at night under spinnaker in 25 knots of wind near La Cassidaigne, the boat began to oscillate violently, ultimately broaching so severely that the mast hit the water and Wauquiez was submerged to his neck in the lifelines. Forced to cut the rigging to save the boat, Wauquiez was so shaken by the inherent downwind instability of the design that he phoned his shipyard the very next day and ordered an immediate halt to all Chance 32 production. As a result, the Wauquiez Chance 32 remains an exceedingly rare model, while the shipyard pivoted to more stable, predictable designs.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Because of its abrupt production halt, finding a Wauquiez-built Chance 32 on the modern brokerage market requires patience. They represent a highly niche, value-oriented entry point into premium yacht ownership. While modern cruisers of similar length command much higher prices due to their voluminous interiors, the Chance 32 trades at a substantial discount, reflecting its age, complex handling characteristics, and the physical effort required to sail it.
For classic yacht enthusiasts, the boat offers exceptional value because the build quality of the hull and deck is superior to the mass-produced boats of the same era. Prospective buyers should, however, account for the economics of refitting a classic of this vintage. Many surviving examples still carry their original, raw-water-cooled diesel engines—typically old Volvo Penta MD2B or MD11C units. Replacing these aging propulsion plants can easily exceed the market value of the vessel, making repowering history a critical factor in any purchasing decision.
Known Issues & Triage
- Downwind Instability and Rudder Authority: The pinched-stern IOR shape causes the rudder to lose grip when the boat heels excessively during a downwind broach. Owners sailing short-handed must be highly conservative, reefing early and avoiding large spinnakers in following seas.
- Deck Coring Rot: Like most fiberglass production boats of the 1970s, the decks of the Chance 32 are balsa-cored. Decades of water intrusion through improperly sealed stanchion bases, chainplates, and deck organizers can lead to localized delamination and soft spots.
- Mast Step and Rigging Loads: The massive foretriangle puts immense load on the masthead rig, forestay, and chainplates. The structural integrity of the keel-stepped mast foot, the bulkhead attachments, and the chainplate knees must be thoroughly surveyed for stress fracturing or water-induced rot.
- Keel-to-Hull Joint: Although Wauquiez built incredibly robust hand-laid fiberglass hulls, the deep fin keel exerts considerable leverage on the keel sump. Heavy groundings can result in structural damage to the transverse floor frames.
The Verdict
The Wauquiez Chance 32 is a highly specialized vintage keelboat that appeals to traditionalists who value superb upwind performance, heavy-weather stiffness, and the warm, woody aesthetic of classic French joinery. It is not a beginner’s boat, nor is it a light-handed modern coastal hopper. It is a physical, rewarding, and structurally robust cruiser that demands active sail trimming and respect when running before the wind.
Pros
- Exceptional pointing ability and performance when sailing close-hauled.
- Renowned Wauquiez construction quality featuring robust, hand-laid fiberglass hulls and premium lead ballasted keels.
- Beautiful, high-quality Burmese teak interior finish that far outclasses standard production racers of its era.
- High initial stability and a stiff, dry ride in heavy chop.
Cons
- Pronounced downwind instability and susceptibility to rhythmic rolling under spinnaker in heavy seas.
- Extremely physically demanding rig with a small mainsail and giant, high-load overlapping head sails.
- Extremely rare production run with only 20 Wauquiez hulls ever built, making parts and sistership support scarce.
- Original raw-water-cooled diesel engines are nearing the end of their service lives and are expensive to replace.
