The result is a substantial monohull that deliberately shifts toward speed without giving up liveaboard volume.
Design and Construction
The 40 S measures 39 feet 5 inches overall, with a 32-foot 10-inch waterline, a 12-foot 5-inch beam, and a displacement of 24,200 pounds. Zaal’s design carries a lead-ballasted fin keel, with a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 38.46 and a displacement-length ratio of 397. Those figures describe a heavy, seakindly hull form.
A 6-foot 3-inch draft and the 32-foot 10-inch waterline give a hull speed near 7.4 knots. The skeg-hung rudder and masthead-sloop rig, carrying 767 square feet of sail area, complete a conservative offshore configuration.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop produces a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 13.98. That’s modest by racing standards but adequate for a 24,200-pound cruiser.
A capsize ratio of 1.71 and a comfort ratio of 40.82 describe a boat tuned for offshore stability. The skeg-hung rudder also provides protection in following seas.
Accommodations
Despite its lower profile, the 40 S remains full-bodied and spacious below. The layout includes plenty of stowage, a large aft cabin with en suite heads, and a forward guest suite.
The galley is large but secure, while the chart table is sized for planning ocean passages. Together, these features preserve the liveaboard volume expected of the marque even as the hull design places more emphasis on performance.
Known Issues
The available material identifies no structural defects or recurring faults specific to the Contest 40 S. A buyer should therefore rely on standard pre-purchase survey practice.
Verdict
The Contest 40 S develops the marque’s cruising philosophy in a more performance-oriented direction. It is lower, finer, and quicker than its predecessors, yet retains a lead-ballasted solid hull and a livable interior.
Pros
- Lower, finer hull than its predecessors, designed with sustained speed in mind
- Spacious interior with an en suite aft cabin and forward guest suite
- Secure galley and chart table suited to ocean-passage planning
Cons
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits acceleration in light air
- Low production run means the history of each hull matters more
