Design and Construction
The 67CS is a genuinely bluewater-minded vessel that Contest describes as easily driven and sea kindly, with handsome lines and exceptional quietness underway very highly technically specified and exceptionally quiet yacht. What sets this model apart is that she is the first Contest designed by judel/vrolijk & co the first Contest designed by Judel/Vrolijk in the yard’s near 60-year history. The builder frames her as one level higher in performance than past models because of that design lineage one level higher in performance to past models.
Rig and Handling
On the water the 67CS is fast with simple control both upwind and down, and remarkably stable — easily sailed by a short-handed crew. Her stability curve shows high initial stability and great sail carrying capacity, with a stability range exceeding 130 degrees, well beyond the CE norm. The test boat reviewed by Yachting World carried the full extra performance options: a Hall Spars carbon rig with SCR rigging and 3Di sails, size 88 primary winches, and a vertically battened in-mast mainsail the test boat had the full extra performance options of a Hall Spars carbon rig and SCR rigging, plus 3Di sails. A central mainsheet and outboard primary winches sit within easy reach of the helm, and the single blade rudder is paired with angled foot wells that give solid standing support at the wheel.
Accommodations
Contest's semi-custom approach permits wide-ranging personal choice in cabin configuration and completion, and the standard accommodation plan sleeps up to eight guests in as many as four cabins. The owner may choose a master suite forward or aft, with the galley and crew quarters optionally placed at either end. The owner's stateroom features a super-king bed with a high-quality mattress, full ventilation, excellent headroom, and a super-sized ensuite with an enclosed shower stall. Two identical VIP guest cabins offer equal-sized luxury berths. A high-low fold-out table serves dining and alternative uses, and the galley offers good scullery space with hatch ventilation and direct cockpit access for up-serving. The navigation station is large and well-proportioned, fitted with touch management screens. Notably, the helm layout has no helm seats; instead, angled foot wells provide ideal support while standing.
Equipment and Deck
A large lazarette and tender garage stow toys and stores with an easy-launch system and space-saving door hardware Large lazarette and garage for stores, toys and tenders with easy-launch system and new space-saving door hinging hardware. The navigation station's touch screens and the ergonomic deck safety features reflect a very highly technical specification level. The test boat's vertically mounted winches at the mast base and the outboard primary winches within helm reach show a thoughtfully laid-out sail-handling plan for short-handed operation.
The Verdict
The Contest 67CS is a serious bluewater performance cruiser that pairs judel/vrolijk & co's racing-derived hull thinking with Contest's semi-custom Dutch build discipline. She is stable, quiet, and genuinely manageable short-handed, with a flexible accommodation plan that suits both private and charter use. Her standout traits are the exceptional stability range, the easily driven hull, and a navigation and sail-handling layout built around ergonomic safety.
Pros
- Exceptional stability range beyond 130 degrees with high initial stability
- Easily driven, sea-kindly hull manageable by short-handed crew
- Semi-custom layout with master suite and galley configurable either end
- Very quiet, highly technical specification with ergonomic sea-safety features
- First judel/vrolijk & co design for Contest, a step up in performance pedigree
Cons
- No helm seats; relies on angled foot wells for helm support
- Largest performance potential realized only with optional carbon rig and 3Di sails
