Design and Construction
Conyplex built the Contest 30 Mk I with solid fiberglass hull and deck, offering different keel alternatives during its run. At 30.02 feet overall, 24.87-foot waterline, and 9.28-foot beam, she displaces 8,818 pounds and carries 4,079 pounds of lead ballast. Her length-to-beam ratio of 3.23 makes her slimmer than 62 percent of similar designs, with a wetted surface near 258 square feet and an immersion rate of about 804 pounds per inch. Theoretical hull speed is 6.7 knots.
Rig and Handling
The masthead rig carries a mainsail-and-jib area of 362.5 square feet. Halyards run 22.9 meters at 10 mm; genoa and jib sheets 9.2 meters at 12 mm; mainsheet 22.9 meters at 12 mm. The kicking strap and clew outhaul measure 6.6 meters at 10 mm, with a 3.3-meter Cunningham. The slim hull tracks calmly under that modest rig.
Accommodations
The slim length-to-beam ratio argues against generous transverse volume below, leaving a compact period-30-footer envelope rather than a modern beamy cruiser's space.
Known Issues
The design was produced with different keel alternatives, so a prospective owner must identify which keel configuration a given hull carries. The solid fiberglass hull and deck show no cited deterioration pattern.
Refits and Ownership
As a 1966-origin design from Conyplex, she predates the builder's later certification and infusion eras. Ownership considerations are limited to rigging dimensions and the keel-alternative question.
The Verdict
The Contest 30 Mk I is a slim-beamed Dutch fiberglass sloop of the mid-sixties, designed by Uus van Essen and built by Conyplex. Her proportions favor seakindly tracking over volume.
Pros
- Slim hull (L/B 3.23) narrower than 62 percent of similar designs
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck
- Moderate 362.5 sq ft working sail area
Cons
- Keel alternatives not specified, requiring hull-by-hull identification
- Compact interior from narrow beam
- Early-series construction predates later quality programs
