The Contest Shipyards History
There has always been something special about a Contest boat. As the yard launched its first motoryacht in January, this family-run concern is a textbook case of continuity on the one hand and forward-thinking innovation on the other. Now well into its second half-century, Contest Yachts has always set new standards in terms of design excellence, build quality, and superior seamanship. And the future looks set to be even more exciting than the past…
Contest Yachts was founded in 1959 by Ed Conijn, who rightly identified a clear market niche in the Netherlands for building first class boats from the latest generation of polyester materials. The first product was an open two-man leeboard boat called the Flying Dutchman, an instant success that served as the basis for the racing class of the same name. Over 600 examples of this enormously popular yacht were eventually built, giving an incredible foundation to Contest Yachts.