Design and Construction
The 45CS was penned by Georg Nissen, the experienced German yacht designer, in collaboration with the Contest yard. The brief was demanding: create a hull that sails with genuine performance, yet remains entirely manageable for a cruising couple. Contest's vacuum injection method addresses both sides of that equation simultaneously, producing a laminate that is lighter and stiffer than traditional hand-layup construction. Structural bulkheads are foam-cored sandwich panels fully laminated into hull and deck, with extra laminates at all high-load points including the keel attachment. The teak deck, where fitted, uses a vacuum-foil technique that maximizes bonding while minimizing weight — a detail that reveals the yard's engineering instincts rather than purely aesthetic priorities. The third-generation Conijn family has built over 3,000 boats from its facility in Holland, and the accumulated process knowledge shows in the systematic, organized approach to each hull.
Rig, Sails, and Deck Layout
The Selden mast is keel-stepped and integrated below decks, a structural choice that adds stiffness and reduces the risk of catastrophic rig loss at sea. The double-spreader configuration carries stainless standing rigging, and the adjustable backstay gives the helmsman meaningful control over mast bend and forestay tension. Particularly notable is the Selden hydraulic furling system for both jib and mainsail — a combination the review author credits with finally changing his opinion of furling-mast rigs. The North Sails main, cut for the Selden furling spar, delivered impressive shape in testing, with vertical battens keeping the leech well under control. All running rigging is led aft to the cockpit, making single-handing straightforward without cluttering the sidedecks. Harken and Lewmar hardware is used throughout the deck hardware and winch positions, with control placement described as well thought out and easy to reach.
Handling and Sea Manners
On a cold, rainy day with 18 to 25 knots offshore, the 45CS carried a reefed main and jib at better than seven knots while remaining stiff in the gusts and light on the helm. The combination of balanced spade rudder and bulb keel gives the boat its great handling and feel. The hull tracks predictably and steers easily — qualities the designer built in from the outset. The cockpit is centered and positioned forward relative to the stern, a layout decision that serves both helming visibility and the quality of the aft cabin below. Eight people can be accommodated in the cockpit without crowding the helmsman, and the simple winch arrangement makes tacking a two-person or even single-handed exercise.
Accommodations and Interior
Below decks, Contest worked with interior designer Birgit Schnasse to offer either a two-cabin or three-cabin layout, giving buyers meaningful choice. Light is a priority throughout: seven cabin-top windows, four main-cabin hatches, and one hatch each fore and aft flood the saloon. The galley runs along the port side aft rather than in the conventional U-shape, delivering a full-size refrigerator, twin stainless sinks, and a gimbaled three-burner gas stove without the cramped feel that U-shape layouts can produce. A chart table to starboard, positioned directly at the foot of the companionway steps, keeps the navigator close to the action while seated comfortably. The white oak sole and white wood paneling behind the shelving produce an interior that reads as clean and bright rather than traditionally yacht-dark. Stainless steel retaining bars on the shelves and small details like a cutting-board drawer in the galley betray the hand of experienced builders. The owner's cabin aft benefits directly from the forward-centered cockpit: where aft cabins on conventional layouts tend to be low and dim, the 45CS manages a spacious private head and genuine headroom in the aft cabin.
Build Quality and Yard Pedigree
Contest occupies a niche the reviewer compares explicitly to Najad in the world-cruising segment — a builder that combines custom-build disciplines with semi-production volume, leaving very few direct competitors in North America or globally. The yard's long-standing supplier relationships, in particular with Selden, Harken, and Lewmar, mean that the specified equipment is chosen for integration and reliability rather than cost minimization. The Conijn family name itself is embedded in the Contest brand: the company derives its name from the Conijn family, and the passion for the sport that drove three generations of the business is described as running visibly through the yard's culture. Production is intentionally limited — 20 to 30 boats per year — so each hull receives the attention of a small custom shop rather than an assembly line.
The Verdict
The Contest 45CS is a genuine dual-purpose yacht: fast enough to satisfy a performance-minded sailor, spacious and solidly built enough for extended offshore passages. The vacuum-injected hull, keel-stepped Selden rig, and hydraulic furling systems combine into a package that is both capable and manageable. The interior is among the brightest and most livable in its class, and the two-or-three-cabin configurability adds real flexibility for different crews and uses. Contest's limited annual production and three-generation pedigree underpin a level of build quality and fit-and-finish that larger yards simply cannot match at this volume.
Pros
- Vacuum-injected hull and foam-cored structural bulkheads deliver a light, stiff, strong structure
- Keel-stepped Selden mast with hydraulic furling for both jib and mainsail simplifies offshore sailing
- Cockpit layout suits both single-handing and social sailing with eight aboard
- Interior is exceptionally bright and well-organized, with genuine usability in the galley and at the chart table
- Owner's aft cabin avoids the typical darkness and compression of aft-cabin layouts
- Two or three cabin configurations available to suit different crew needs
- Yanmar 75 hp engine provides ample reserve power
- Harken and Lewmar hardware throughout; well-specified from the factory
Cons
- Furling-mast mainsail system demands careful sail selection to achieve the shape the rig is capable of
- Bulb keel draws nearly six and a half feet, restricting access to shoal anchorages
- Electric winches, while strongly recommended, are not standard equipment
