Contest 42 S Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Contest 42 S represents a pivotal era for the Dutch shipyard Conyplex, bridging the gap between the traditional heavy-displacement cruisers of the 1970s and the more refined, performance-oriented semi-custom yachts that define the brand today. Designed by the renowned Dick Zaal and introduced in the early 1980s, the 42 S was engineered as a robust, center-cockpit blue water cruiser capable of traversing oceans with a high degree of safety and comfort. Unlike many of its contemporaries that favored lighter, flatter hulls for speed, the Contest 42 S retained a deep-V section and a significant ballast ratio, ensuring a steady motion in a seaway. The build quality remains a hallmark of this model; the hull is constructed of solid laminate, while the deck utilizes a balsa core for stiffness and insulation, all finished to the exacting standards that have made Contest Yachts a staple of northern European boatbuilding excellence.