Design and Construction
Zaal's hull is a round-bilge form in solid GRP, carrying a short-keel configuration. The numbers tell the story of a heavy cruiser: a displacement that sources differ on (one record lists 13.6 tonnes) against a 4-meter beam and 13.32-meter LOA, with a waterline of 10 meters that gives a length-to-beam ratio of 3.26 and a displacement-length ratio of 305 — a figure that places her firmly among what period reviews termed "heavy cruisers." Ballast is 4,250 kg, though the source flags that figure with a question mark. Her immersion rate of about 258 kg/cm (or 1,449 lbs/inch) means she sits heavily and changes trim slowly, consistent with the Motion Comfort Ratio of 35.7 noted by reviewers. Writing in yachtdatabase, reviewers recorded a capsize screening value of 1.75 and a theoretical displacement-hull speed of 7.7 knots comfort and capsize figures that round out a profile of a stable, load-carrying offshore hull rather than a light-air sprinter.
Rig and Handling
The ketch rig carries 78.15 square meters of sail area on dimensions that include a 10-meter IY and 8.40-meter PY, with a 4.90-meter J and 2.50-meter EY — a split rig that favors manageable sail handling and balance offshore. With a sail-area character suited to her mass, the 42 is built to be driven steadily rather than quickly. The short keel and round bilge suggest predictable tracking and a hull that, given the immersion and comfort figures, absorbs sea state with the composure expected of a heavy-displacement cruiser. Her 52 hp Volvo Penta MD21a provides auxiliary power appropriate to moving that displacement.
Accommodations
Below, the Contest 42 is a genuine cruising home: nine berths and two heads serve a crew or family comfortably, with 1.96 meters of headroom throughout. There is no pilothouse, so the accommodation is organized around a conventional deck-saloon and forward or aft cabins within the 13-meter hull. The nine-berth count is generous for a 42-foot ketch and reflects a layout prioritizing guest capacity and sea-keeping livability over minimalist racing trim.
The Verdict
The Contest 42 is a serious Dutch-built Zaal ketch from the late 1970s: a heavy-displacement, round-bilge cruiser with a split rig, solid GRP construction, and a voluminous nine-berth interior. She is built for offshore stability and livability rather than speed, and her low production count makes her a comparatively uncommon find. The questioned ballast figure and the short production window are worth noting, but the design's comfort and capsize numbers speak to a thoughtfully conceived passage-maker.
Pros
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and comfort ratio (35.7) with a 1.75 capsize screen
- Round-bilge solid GRP hull with short keel for stable tracking
- Nine berths and two heads with 1.96 m headroom — true cruising capacity
- Ketch rig with 78.15 m² sail area for manageable offshore handling
Cons
- Ballast of 4,250 kg carries a source question mark
- Only 30 built (1977–1982), so scarce on the market
- No pilothouse; conventional layout only
