Contest 27 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

27.33' · 8.33 m

Displ.

5,180 lbs · 2,350 kg

First year

1969

The Contest 27 stands as a definitive example of the "overbuilt" philosophy that defined Dutch yacht construction during the 1970s. Designed by the prolific Dick Zaal for Conyplex (now Contest Yachts), the vessel was a significant step up from the company’s foundational Contest 25, offering a more robust offshore capability in a hull small enough for shorthanded coastal cruising. Launched in 1970, the Contest 27 was produced in two primary iterations: the MkI and the MkII. While both shared the same seaworthy hull form, the MkII featured a revised coachroof and interior refinements that reflected the evolving tastes of the European cruising market. According to the Dick Zaal Yacht Design archives, the model was engineered to provide a balance of stability and comfort that was often lacking in lighter, contemporary production boats of the same era.