Founded in 1959 from humble but innovative beginnings, Contest Yachts, still in family ownership, has grown through volume building of Olympic sailing dinghies and family sailing cruisers to become a leading light today in series-built, performance bluewater sailing yachts. A top Dutch luxury brand recognised worldwide for first class, tailor-made sailing.
Company founder Ed Conijn - for international ease, the ‘Con’ of family name combines with ‘test’ to arrive at Contest
Contest 25 – first sailing cruiser and immediate export success, 300 sold into USA alone. Designed by Gerard Luyten.
The original tulip logo adopted to reflect the pride of Holland’s national product
Contest 29 – building on success of Contest 25, designer Luyten combined good headroom with balanced looks despite low freeboard
Contest 27MKII– still looking good today in modern dressed canvas work. First design of Dick Zaal.
Fritz Conijn (left), son of founder Ed, preparing to take over the helm four years later
Contest 31HT - Dick Zaal design and a good club cruiser-racer - 252 sold
Recognising high standards of build, all Contest yachts from 1972 certified by leading classification society Lloyds
Contest 48 - Dick Zaal-designed and one of the largest series-built yachts of her time and included a splendid, optional bath tub
The wing keel won the America's Cup and just months later, in collaboration with its creator, Contest carried the concept on
Contest was one of the first yacht constructors to adopt and refine vacuum resin injection techniques
Centre cockpits and wheel steering - longstanding key features of Contest sailing
Different plans and layouts provide for individual needs, here the Contest 55CS with interior design by Birgit Schnaase
The interior of the Contest 55CS ably shows the ever increasing quality of workmanship
For strength and insulation, balsa core runs from top to bottom - also bulkheads bonded to hull sides
The next generation - Fritz Conijn passes the helm to son Arjen (right), current head of the family firm
Arjen Conijn firmly at the helm of company and new Contest 45CS out on trials
New logo introduced by Arjen Conijn.
Development designs for the aft master suite aboard the new flagship Contest 62CS
The interior of the Contest 50CS shows clever use of volume detail to optimise space
Contest 62CS in build in the company's Medemblik construction halls - narrow mullions, maximum glazing
Vacuum resin injection in process in the Contest 62CS mould
Sense of scale - Contest 62CS checking out of the main construction hall
Contest Yachts celebrates 50 years in the business of building great boats
A Contest 50CS appropriately stands as centrepiece to the 50th anniversary celebrations
The Contest 57CS introduces the new generation wraparound coachroof and flush deck detailing
To praise from press and purchasers, the company develops its first ever motor yacht - the Contest 52MC
Modern styling and through-space thinking from Wetzels Brown for the 52MC co-joins inside and outside
Springing the cured 52MC deck and superstructure moulding from the female mould
A 52MC hull moulding makes its way from mould shop to finishing hall
A busy year that also saw the development of the next new flagship, the Contest 72CS
The biggest volume yet gave the interior designers tremendous scope for exceptional accommodation
Revisiting the entry point to Contest Yachts, the aft cockpit Contest 42CS went online
A variable module interior for the 42CS allowed a very wide range of accommodation plans
Similarly, deck and cockpit options uniquely allowed equally for cruising, shorthanding and racing
The first flagship Contest 72CS takes to the water to receive her rig
The Contest 72CS underway shows her wares well - tall rig, flush deck, big twin cockpit areas
The autumn shows opened the 72CS for the first time to public and press viewing and praise
The styling and finish of the 72CS caught the mood well
The Contest 42CS took to the water and her concept was instantly proven with easily handled, performance sailing
With the racier deck configuration, the early 42CS Beluga headed to the Caribbean for regatta successes
From her very first showing, the Contest 42CS has drawn widespread enquiry and fast selling success
The Contest 52MC makes her debut appearance at the Dusseldorf show
Georg Nissen's innovative sleek semi-planing hull for the 52MC acclaimed for smooth ride and efficiency
The 52MC shows her versatility, here with full flybridge yet still very low CoG for stability
The 52MC offers many cabin configurations, here a forward master suite, options include offset bed
The Contest 42CS in cruising mode test sailing with the jury of the European Yacht Of The Year.
Pressure on and speed climbing, the Contest 42CS flies the company's Dutch tulip logo with pride
Contest CEO Arjen Conijn proudly receives the 2014 European Yacht of the Year award for the 42CS
In June 2016, the Contest 67CS launches - the first product of the new design collaboration with judel/vrolijk & co.
After two years in final design and construction, the first-launched, new 26-metre Contest 85CS takes to the seas and a world circumnavigation.
A special year, Contest Yachts' 60th anniversary. Six decades, three generations of the one family ownership, and more than 3500 yachts to celebrate! A huge team of same-minded creators, constructors and clients made this all possible.
Global launch at Boot Düsseldorf of the beautiful three-cabin 17.5-metre Contest 55CS. Naval architecture and exterior by judel/vrolijk & co, interior by Wetzels Brown Partners. Clever innovations include conceal+reveal transom window.
The new and much praised Contest 55CS wins ‘Bluewater Cruiser of the Year’ at the prestigious British Yachting Awards hosted by the UK’s Sailing Today and Yachts & Yachting magazines.
In a unique collaboration with top motoring brand Bentley Motors, customisation reached new levels with a 59CS outfitted in the same style and materials as the owner’s Bentley Continental GT Coupé.
Introduction of two new models: Contest 49CS (twin aft cabin, lazarette, front owner's cabin) & Contest 50CS (aft owner's cabin, huge galley, bunk bed cabin, front guest cabin). 
