The announcement came with plenty of surprise. The yacht builders in Holland have quietly and modestly converted their popular 17-metre blue water yacht. The new boat is a further development of the 55CS (YACHT 20/2020 test), with the hull and hull appendages unchanged on the new model. The relatively deep single rudder and an L-keel with ballast bomb at a draught of 2.55 metres are standard. The design comes from the Judel Vrolijk & Co Design studio in Bremerhaven.
As an innovation, Contest has installed more and larger hull windows in the new model. There are also significant changes on deck. For example, the working cockpit with the two steering columns is slightly lower on the new model than on the previous model. This means that the helmsman is slightly lower but no longer so exposed at the wheel. However, the guest cockpit further forward is still clearly recessed and thus offers good protection and a safe feeling, especially on longer passages on the high seas.
The solid hardtop is available on request
Contest now also offers the 56CS with a hardtop bimini over the cockpit. The fixed roof is equipped with a large window at the rear so that the helmsman's view of the mainsail is not restricted. The hardtop can also be combined with a fixed windscreen to create a wide-span dodger - an exciting option for use as an ocean-going yacht on long trips. However, the exhibition boat in Düsseldorf is not equipped with the hardtop option. Compared to the previous model, the rig of the new 56CS is around 55 centimetres higher and can therefore carry more sail area. In addition, the furling system for the genoa is now mounted below deck.
The Contest shipyard has also put a lot of development work into the model revision, particularly with regard to the interior fittings. In collaboration with the designers at the Wetzels Brown Design studio in Amsterdam, the look in particular has been modernised. But there have also been changes to the layout: A fourth double cabin with Pullman berths aft is now possible.
At the trade fair in Düsseldorf, the shipyard representatives communicated a price of 2,100,000 euros (net) for the new ship in the unusually extensive and also very high-quality equipped basic version. Including 19% VAT, the price is just under 2.5 million euros.
Technical data Contest 56CS
- Designer: Judel Vrolijk & Co.
- Interior Design: Wetzels Brown
- Hull length: 17.00 m
- Overall length with bowsprit: 18.10 m
- Waterline length: 15.83 m
- Width: 5.02 m
- Weight: 24.96 tonnes
- Standard draught: 2.55 m
- Mast height above waterline : 26.60 m
- Mainsail: 91,80 m2
- Genoa (106%): 74.0 m2
- Motorisation: 150 hp / Yanmar turbo diesel
- Fuel capacity: 835 litres
- Fresh water capacity: 706 litres
