Contest Yachts celebrates 60th anniversary at boot Düsseldorf

This year is a big one for Contest Yachts, the renowned Dutch family-owned performance bluewater specialist constructor. It’s ‘Year 60’ and it kicks off with the yard’s possibly unrivalled 49th attendance at the Dusseldorf boat show – that’s just one short of every single edition of boot Düsseldorf, which this year is celebrating its own big anniversary!

On display in Düsseldorf, they have shining examples of the 17-metre, four-cabin Contest 57CS and 13-metre Contest 42CS with two-cabin plus storage cabin option. Clearly, what began in 1959 with Ed Conijn recognising the potential for high-volume production of glass fibre performance sailing dinghies, has moved on a long way in these 60 years. Especially with the very recent delivery of the first new, 26-metre judel/vrolijk-designed flagship Contest 85CS, currently in the Mediterranean preparing for global adventuring.

The very first boats were the Olympic-class Flying Dutchman which sold in their hundreds. This success was then quickly followed by the first yacht, a boat to stand up in and sleep four, the 7.5-metre Contest 25. As with the Flying Dutchman, these sold well through both Europe and the USA. The business was born international.

Ed Conijn, who began sailing and adventuring with his father, was hooked early in life and bought his own first yacht while still a law student, having daringly successfully invested his allowance in the stock market. This nerve and flair persisted throughout his company tenure. He innovated continually in design and technology, being among the very first to build at such scale in glass fibre, and then again adopting vacuum infusion techniques.

Today the company is in third-generation governance, Ed having passed the torch to son Fritz in 1976, and then in turn Fritz to son Arjen in 2005. In these years, Contest Yachts has consistently challenged the yachting norm. Sometimes just tiny details, but frequently industry-changing, including being first to have every yacht built individually certified by Lloyd’s Register. At Contest Yachts, performance is defined as including reliability and security, all in equal measure.

Through now a full 60 years, the Conijn family has delivered not just on its own dreams but also on those of clients, truly building dreams together. On 13 April between 10.00 and 16.00, they are running a special celebratory open house at their yard and headquarters in Medemblik, Holland. It’s open to everyone, with a full day of yard tours, expert seminars and workshops, and in the evening a special Contest-owners dinner event.

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