2020 Contest Yachts 55CS

The strikingly good-looking Contest 55CS is a totally new, game-changing, go-anywhere, fifty-five-feet beauty.

Aimed straight at the heart of the style conscious, couples-family-and-friends luxury cruising sector, the newly launched 17-metre Contest 55CS combines our long-standing reputation as top of the line bluewater performance builder with today's increasingly time limited lifestyle.

Refined elegance with the same go anywhere, anytime potential. A true home from home, wherever and however. Across the yachting community, increasing emphasis is being placed on interior accommodation space and styling, sadly sometimes to the detriment of safety and sea sense. That's never the case at Contest Yachts, and in the Contest 55CS we have gone to new lengths to show just how aesthetics and practicality really can make perfect partners. How for different types of ownership a yacht can be equally set to circle the world and still offer the very best of comfort and space whether lazing at anchor or plugged into marina life.

This way the Contest 55CS provides for ever more enjoyable time aboard. A safe, comfortable, speedy and easily run yacht with space and systems both above and below decks to enjoy life on the water to the full… and that's all waters!

As the new game changer in the mid-fifty-feet sector, the Contest 55CS continues our close collaboration with naval architects judel/vrolijk & co and interior designers Wetzels Brown Partners. The new model also brings much of the superyacht styling and featuring of the very well-reviewed 26-metre Contest 85CS and 21-metre Contest 67CS to a size previously more constrained. Just look at that coachroof sweeping back into the expansive twin cockpit plan. This degree of equivalency, outside and in, is new to the industry at this length. Especially in a yacht so sleek, yet also so accommodating.

Options in sailing systems, set-up and management are many. Carbon or aluminium spars, cutter or sloop, in-mast or slab-reefing, and for downwind sails a carbon sprit with integral furling. Decks are topped with thick, vacuum bonded sustainable teak, and the deck plan incorporates a walk-through cockpit for the simplest and most surefooted working and sidedeck access. While lazing at anchor, that clear aft deck and foredeck, with a choice of shades and covers, make good resting spaces after enjoying a swim and splash or play with toys from that transom bathing platform and revealed grand garage-store.

For 45 years and more, all Contest yachts have been built under Lloyd's watchful standards and certification. It's a partnership always looking for further structural optimisation and which now in the Contest 55CS sees the introduction of carbon stiffening elements to our highly regarded, unique vacuum infused moulding methods for tightly controlled, lighter, stronger and space saving engineering. For Contest and Lloyd's, integrity is key, as is exactness. This improves performance afloat, in longevity, in residual values ​​- in what can be achieved. It is an enabler, promoting and underwriting new thinking, and the Contest 55CS continues the yard's 60-year history of innovation.

In the flow of that evolution, the Contest 55CS also now includes such featuring as a spectacular wide transom window in the aft suite, revealing for the occupants delightful seascape views at anchor as the transom garage door hydraulically lowers to become both bathing platform and launchpad for tender and water toys. And throughout, there is more and more light with a new approach to deck hatches and a choice in number and size of hull windows. There are options in galley and forecabin glazing, too. The yacht's lighting systems and detailing also show fresh thinking in design installation.

Throughout, the sense of openness is instant. Yet equally evident is Contest's hallmark sea safety with the many handrails plus clever hand-holding lips to cabinetry, all ergonomic in use. And that joinery and its finish is to the yard's always exceptionally high standards. As are the soft furnishings and architectural hardware, with all this, of course, adjusted to individual owners' tastes and needs. And, again, underwriting that, there are many varied cabin plan options for the personal best match. That's the Contest way. The industry catchphrases this as semi-custom construction. We call it building dreams together… and every sailor has a different dream.