Contest 42

Dutch yacht designer Dick Zaal created this substantial offshore cruiser for builder Conyplex during the late 1970s and early 1980s, with just 32 hulls completed between 1977 and 1985. The Contest 42 represents classic European blue-water cruising philosophy, emphasizing seaworthiness and comfort over pure performance. Built with fiberglass construction, this masthead ketch features a fin keel with rudder mounted on a skeg, providing good directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability. At 41 feet overall with generous beam and substantial displacement of over 24,000 pounds, the boat offers excellent stability and load-carrying capacity for extended voyaging. The sail plan's 660 square feet provides adequate power while remaining manageable for short-handed sailing, particularly important given the ketch rig's flexibility in heavy weather. With nearly 44% of displacement in ballast, the boat exhibits reassuring stability characteristics well-suited to offshore passages. The comfort ratio of 35.97 indicates a motion that prioritizes seakindliness over speed, while the capsize screening value of 1.75 suggests good heavy-weather characteristics. Hull speed approaches 7.7 knots, respectable for a displacement cruiser of this era. This design appeals to sailors seeking a sturdy, comfortable platform for serious coastal and offshore cruising.

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