Contest Yachts adds new distributors

Contest Yachts adds new distributors to international sales network

Contest Yachts of Holland, renowned constructor of high quality, semi-custom built performance bluewater yachts, has appointed three new European distributors: Luxury Sails in Poland, Nautigamma in Italy and Diamond Yachts in Germany to strengthen presence in these important growing markets. “We are delighted to work with our new colleagues in these exciting markets,” says Contest Yachts’ CEO Arjen Conijn. “We have a great range of yachts now spanning 13 to 22 metres and an active development programme in which we’ve just completed tooling for our latest 20 metre judel/vrolijk Contest 67CS, set to launch in 2016. Our story is strong and our new distributors are well placed to tell it and sell it. The time is right. We are expanding.”

Antonio Dalmas of Nautigamma says, “We have many years experience with good cruising sailboats and I have tried for a long while to find the right shipyard with the right combination of high quality build and innovation with a readiness to customise for individual owners. In my opinion, from my experience, for our clients in Italy, Contest is the best solution.” Konrad Tarasiewicz of Luxury Sails, Poland says, “Our economy is one of the few in Europe growing despite the global recession and the forecast for the next years is very promising. Also, many who established their businesses after the collapse of communism are now starting to retire and look towards luxury items. We like the very personal nature of the way Contest work and the very high standards of production and customisation and see great opportunities to sell Contest’s luxury bluewater yachts into this market.” In Germany, Dines Pontoppidan of Diamond Yachts, says, “Contest is a perfect match for our portfolio of prestigious brands of sailing yachts. Contest has been a big name in our market and we intend even better success. With the high quality Dutch approach to performance bluewater cruising, we can see great potential both in the North as well as in the Med. Then on top of this, the Contest 52MC motor cruiser is an exciting product for a growing number of owners who have been sailing all their lives but now, a little older, are changing over to motor yachts. Last but not least, we are proud also to become part of the Contest Brokerage operation with its extremely professional approach to used boat sales and a big pool of exclusive preowned yachts.”

These three new appointments grow the company’s international distributor network to 16 across Europe, Asia and North America.