Design and Construction
Conyplex built the Contest 41 as a monohull with a solid-fiberglass hull, fin keel, and skeg-hung rudder. As a bare laminate, the hull requires only minimal maintenance through the sailing season and provides a simple substrate to survey below the waterline.
The boat carries 9,120 pounds of lead ballast against a displacement of 27,225 pounds, giving a ballast ratio of 33.5 percent. Its length-to-beam ratio is 3.25, while a displacement-length ratio of 355 places it firmly among heavy cruisers; only 14 percent of comparable designs are heavier.
Wetted surface is about 462 square feet, and draft ranges from 6.27 to 6.57 feet depending on load. The immersion rate is about 1,430 pounds per inch, so changes caused by additional cruising gear are felt gradually rather than abruptly. Together, these figures describe a hull intended more for stability than sprint speed.
The capsize screening value is 1.68, low enough that the design could be accepted for ocean racing by that formula alone. Its Motion Comfort Ratio of 40.7 indicates more comfortable motion than 92 percent of similar sailboats.
Rig, Handling, and Power
The Contest 41 has a masthead-sloop rig. Its rig inventory is modest: it carries more rig than only 38 percent of similar sailboats, leaving it slightly underrigged for its size. With the ISO 8666 reference sail, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 14.1; with a 135 percent genoa, it rises to 17.1. By that measure, the boat is faster than just 12 percent of its peers in light wind.
The fin keel provides splendid maneuverability in close quarters, but gives up some directional stability compared with a long-keel arrangement. As a result, the boat requires more active helming on a windward leg.
Conyplex offered different engine alternatives for the 41, with a 75 hp Volvo Penta diesel as the named option. Shaft-drive transmission is standard across the model. The 75 hp engine produces a calculated maximum speed of about 7.0 knots, compared with a theoretical displacement-hull speed of 7.6 knots.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below deck, the Contest 41 has two cabins and seven berths, with above-average headroom for its class. The 12.67-foot beam and heavy-cruiser proportions produce an interior roomier than 58 percent of similar designs. That’s useful rather than class-leading space, well suited to a couple or small family on passage.
Freshwater capacity is 750 liters, and the fuel tank holds 350 liters. Both support extended cruising without frequent replenishment.
Ownership Considerations
With fewer than 100 boats built, every Contest 41 is a low-volume product. That limits fleet knowledge and spares commonality. On the other hand, the minimum-maintenance fiberglass hull helps keep ongoing ownership straightforward.
The Verdict
The Contest 41 is a thoughtfully proportioned heavy cruiser from Dick Zaal’s pen. It trades light-air pace and hands-off tracking for composure in a seaway and straightforward hull upkeep. It’s a sensible choice for a buyer who values motion comfort and offshore credibility more than regatta performance.
Pros
- Motion Comfort Ratio exceeds that of 92 percent of similar designs
- Solid-fiberglass hull requires minimal seasonal maintenance
- Capsize screening value could qualify for ocean-racing acceptance by formula
- Generous 750-liter water and 350-liter fuel capacities
Cons
- Fin keel provides less directional stability than a long keel
- Slightly underrigged and faster than only 12 percent of peers in light wind
- Low production volume limits fleet knowledge and spares commonality
