The strikingly good-looking Contest 55CS is a game-changing 55ft beauty. Refined elegance with go anywhere, anytime potential. A true home from home, wherever, however. This European Yacht of the Year award-winning, 17-metre Contest 55CS combines in full our long-standing reputation as top-of-the-line bluewater performance builder, matching with today's increasingly more time-limited lifestyle.

Across the yachting community, ever more emphasis is being placed on interior accommodation space and styling. At Contest we achieve this without compromise to performance, safety and sea sense. And we have additionally gone to new lengths to show just how aesthetics and practicality really can make perfect partners.

Also, how for different types of ownership, a yacht can equally circle the world with still the very best of comfort and space enjoyed by those 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, local, global, calm and stormy!

Safety is key. The more visual examples begin with the two-cockpit plan. Leisure area forward, ropework and pilotage aft, separated yet simply shared with central walkway exiting onto large aft deck space. Below, the lazarette and tender garage. Stepping round to side decks, security includes high guardrails, with beautifully detailed boarding gate to each side. Appearance is flush and uncluttered yet with plenty of hand- and footholds sensibly set. This is a Contest wisdom not seen on many of the open-plan, Med-styled yachts.

Loads are very considerable on a yacht this size. Solutions here go beyond the conventional with the adoption of laminated fibre ‘chainplates’ integrally bonded within our single-shot vacuum infusion moulding process. This engineering technology comes straight from grand prix racing yachts, beneficially spreading the load through the hull itself, not just relying on the straps and frames of old. Clever: very stiff, very safe and terrific upwind with no sag in the rig.

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 bowsprit with integral furling. The tall, powerful rig makes her a good fast sailor in light winds, meaning more time sailing than motoring. And, importantly, however sailed, the good pairing of powerful rudder and optimised moderate draft keel provides the exact right feedback to the hand on the helm for an awareness of the yacht’s tolerances.

There’s great opportunity in the planning to personalise. With owner’s suite typically aft, the forward sleeping cabins can each be laid out variously. In the forward VIP suite, island or vee berth, with differing heads and showers. In the guest arrangement forward of the mast, bunks or three-quarter double, with mattresses all according to preference.

Wood grains, décor and ancillaries are absolutely down to the individual. And decisions can be assisted by Contest’s long standing interior design associates, Wetzels Brown. The joinerwork and soft furnishing is as always executed beautifully. The finest quality hand finishing and sweeping, radiused forms reflecting the best of Dutch craftsmanship.