For the first time, the judges of the European Yacht of the Year Awards visited the Club de Mar in Palma. It is the marina where the really big yachts are moored - superyachts measuring 30, 60 or 88 metres (not feet!), and where a Wally almost sinks visually at the dock.
Contest's new 63 CS also looked rather compact here. However, it was certainly an eye-catcher. Her sheer hull lines are so focussed and elegant that your eyes automatically linger longer. Painted midnight blue, the freeboard appears less high than it actually is. The clear deck step and the short cabin superstructure lend her timeless, unaffected class.
And that's how she sailed. Even in the light morning breeze, under Code Zero she was already unstoppably following her course to windward, slightly heeled, with a fine feeling at the perfectly balanced rudder. The surface of the water still looked glassy when we set sail for the first beat - and yet the log quickly showed four or five knots of speed. An exhilarating feeling that only a few luxury-class boats can offer in comparable conditions.
Contest 63 CS: A sparkling medal below deck too
However, the Contest 63 CS can also handle more pressure wonderfully. In winds of around 12 to 15 knots, she logged eight to nine knots on the cross, and under gennaker it was usually around ten knots on the beam; and she is no stranger to double-digit figures either.
She undoubtedly benefited from the performance rig with 3Di sails from North, which was particularly convincing in light to medium conditions with optimum sail stability and easily controllable profile depth.
The Contest did not disappoint below deck either. It is the other side of a medal that sparkles in every respect. The Dutch have created an interior that appears quite minimalist, visually unobtrusive and incredibly harmonious. At the same time, it does not lack cosiness or comfort.
We will soon be expanding on these initial impressions in a comprehensive test report. In the meantime, let the pictures speak for themselves. In terms of length, this is not even a mini-maxi, but the Contest 63 CS actually conveys the feeling of a superyacht. In this respect, it fits perfectly at the end of the pier in the Club de Mar.
