Contest Yachts
Based in Medemblik in the Netherlands on the edge of the IJsselmeer, Contest Yachts is a privately owned, third-generation family firm.[1] now 60-plus years old, designing and constructing highly personalised, semi-custom-built luxury bluewater yachts. Spanning 13 to 26 metres (42-85ft) in length, the range currently includes nine sailing yachts and one motor-power yacht. A repeat winner of the European Yacht of the Year[2] title, the award was most recently received in 2021 for the newly launched 17-metre Contest 55CS[3].
History
What began in 1959 as a marine engineering adventure first branded Conyplex[4] with founder Ed Conijn[5] recognising the potential for high volume production of GRP (glassfibre) performance sailing dinghies, has led to today’s fleet of individually tailored, semi-custom-built yachts completed to the highest Dutch standards, the Netherlands being widely recognised as home to the world’s best boat builders[6][7]. And Ed Conijn[8] followed by subsequent generations of kin, Fritz and now Arjen, have all delivered not just on their own yachting dreams but on those of their clients, under the headline ‘building dreams together’[9].
The company’s first boat was the two-man, trapeze-crewed Flying Dutchman that went on to the Olympics[10]. Sailing weekenders and family cruisers followed with the Contest 25, 29, 31HT and then ever more, bigger yachts[11] with innovation frequent for practical advancement.
Small yachts at the time conventionally featured an aft deck until the company's founder Ed Conijn said why not reconfigure the structural build and open the whole aft end to full-length cockpit. Then thinking why should small craft not have the wheel steering of larger yachts, out went the tiller steering, freeing again even more cockpit seating and foot space. Then in a bold interior design step, along came the full-sized bath in the owner’s ensuite of the Contest 48, at that time an unusually large family cruiser and a one-off paving the way to today’s custom specification of each built boat in the Contest range[12]. The shipyard then pioneered the still persisting centre-cockpit raised saloon movement with the launch of the Contest 42[13] in 1977, and subsequently then later introduced uncluttered flush decks to the sector.
Innovation was not only in design detail but structural. With advances in glassfibre technologies, Contest yachts was among the first in the industry to adopt vacuum resin infusion moulding technologies[14], ensuring consistencies and repeatability of composite forms, be they hull and deck or bulkheads and other internal elements, with greater strength, stiffness and lighter weight. The ratio between the two being of great significance when seeking optimal performance, reliability and longevity.
This all can seem so far back and basic when looking at more recent additions to the range: the Contests 42CS[15][16][17], which won European Yacht of the Year in 2015, and 67CS[18][19], flagship 85CS[20], and motor cruiser 52MC[21][22] (respectively 13, 21, 26 & 16 metres). And most recently the 2021 European yacht of the Year[23], the 17-metre Contest 55CS[24][25]
Historically, the fifty-foot sector is Contest Yachts stronghold, described at times as the heart of the business[26], Contest having built at this length for 45 years. And in late 2021 two new models at this length were announced, the centre cockpit Contest 50CS[27] and the aft cockpit Contest 49CS[28], this last the yard’s first aft cockpit yacht at this length, and a disruptor to the sector, innovating new ideas in cabin space and planning.
Contest Yachts has also for more than 45 years designed, engineered and constructed its yachts, and each yacht individually built, under the full consultation, surveillance and certification of Lloyd’s Register[29][30], a world leading marine compliance and classification authority. Contest Yachts' in-house engineers and designers also work in close collaboration with external naval architects judel/vrolijk & co[31] and interior designers and stylists Wetzel Brown Partners[32]. Previously for many years naval architecture was mostly from the studios of Dick Zaal[33] and Georg Nissen[34][35].
In 2021 Contest Yachts also engaged in a one-off collaboration with Bentley Motors[36] creating a unique Contest 59CS[37] yacht interior[38] to match the cabin design of a customer’s Bentley Continental GT V8 coupe. The bespoke nautical trim was created by craftspeople at Bentley Design Services working side-by-side with Contest Yachts.
Contest Yachts - 2021 Model Range[39]
| Sailing Yachts | Length | Designer |
| Contest 85CS | 26m | Judel/Vrolijk |
| Contest 72CS | 22m | Georg Nissen |
| Contest 67CS | 21m | Judel/Vrolijk |
| Contest 62CS | 19m | Georg Nissen |
| Contest 59CS | 18m | Judel/Vrolijk |
| Contest 55CS | 17.5m | Judel/Vrolijk |
| Contest 50CS | 15.5m | Judel/Vrolijk |
| Contest 49CS | 15.2m | Judel/Vrolijk |
| Contest 42CS | 13m | Judel/Vrolijk |
| Motor Yachts | ||
| Contest 52MC | 16m | Georg Nissen |
Contest Yachts - pre 2021 models[40]
| Contest 25 | 1959 - 1969 | G. Luytenhull |
| Contest 25 | 1974 - 1980 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 25OC | 1982 - 1985 | Jac. de Ridder |
| Contest 27 | 1969 - 1975 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 28 | 1976 - 1981 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 29 | 1964 - 1976 | G. Luyten |
| Contest 30 | 1974 - 1978 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 31 | 1971 - 1974 | U. van Essen |
| Contest 31HT | 1972 - 1983 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 32CS | 1978 - 1985 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 33 | 1970 - 1975 | U. van Essen & Dick Zaal |
| Contest 34 | 1976 - 1980 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 34S | 1986 - 1987 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 35 | 1981 - 1983 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 35S | 1988 - 1998 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 36 | 1974 - 1981 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 36S | 1984 - 1994 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 37 | 1995 - 1997 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 38S | 1980 - 1992 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 38 | 1999 - 2000 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 40 | 1979 - 1983 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 40A/40B | 1970 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 40S | 1993 -1997 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 41 | 1985 - 1991 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 42 | 1977 - 1984 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 42S | 1998 - 2002 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 43 | 1989 - 1996 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 44 | 1997 - 2000 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 44CS | 2000 - 2006 | Georg Nissen |
| Contest 45CS | 2005 - 2020 | Georg Nissen |
| Contest 46 | 1987 - 1996 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 48 | 1976 - 1978 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 48S | 1992 - 1993 | Dick Zaal |
| Contest 48CS | 1996 -2002 | Dick Zaal & Georg Nissen |
| Contest 50CS | 2003 - 2019 | Georg Nissen |
| Contest 55CS | 1998 - 2011 | Georg Nissen |
| Contest 57CS | ||
| Georg Nissen |
References
- ↑ "SAIL MAGAZINE - Yard history". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "European Yacht of the Year website". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Contest 55CS wins European Yacht of the Year - Luxury category". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sailboatdata references Conyplex and range". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Solidworks cites Conyplex in client reference". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "e-Architect - The Netherlands - the world's best boat builders". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Edmiston - Dutch best built yachts". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Ed Conijn founds Conyplex later named Contest yachts". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Onboard Online media - comment on building dreams together". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Yachting Monthly - Conyplex, the Flying Dutchman, and Olympic fame". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sailboatdata - referencing increasing size and range". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Contest yachts range". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sailboat Guide - Contest 42 data". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Fibreglast - vaccuum infusion explained". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Yachting World magazine - Contest 42CS review" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Boat Tube - Contest 42CS review". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Yachting World referencing Contest 42CS EYOTY". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Yachting World - Contest 67CS most impressive yacht at this size". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sailing Today magazine - Contest 67CS review". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Yachting World magazine - Contest 85CS review". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Motor Boat & Yachting magazine - Contest 52MC video review". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Motor Boat & yachting - Contest 52MC printed review" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "European Yacht of the Year winners 2021". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sailing Today magazine - Contest 55CS review". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Yachting News - Contest 55CS review". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Boats.com - 50 feet as heart of business". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sailworld Cruising announces launch of Contest 50CS". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sail World report Contest 49CS as freshest ever aft cockpit design". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Lloyd's Register presents Contest Yachts as show case study". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Lloyd's Register website". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "judel/vrolijk & co portfolio". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Wetzels Brown Partners website". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Dick Zaal Yacht Design website". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Georg Nissen Yacht Design website". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SailboatData references Georg Nissen". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Bentley Motors announce collaboration with Contest yachts". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Yachting World magazine - reporting Contest 59CS with Bentley interior". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Boat International magazine - reporting on unique Bentley interior". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Contest Yachts model range 2021-2". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Contest Yachts - the 'Classics' - models pre 2021". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
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