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Contest 33
Designer: U. Van Essen/Dick Zaal  ·  Builder: Conyplex  ·  First built: 1970
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About the Contest 33

Built by Dutch yard Conyplex from 1970 to 1975, this well-regarded 32-footer represents classic European cruising yacht design from the era when quality construction and seaworthiness took precedence over interior volume. Designed by U. Van Essen and Dick Zaal, the Contest 33 embodies the Dutch tradition of building robust sailing yachts capable of handling challenging North Sea conditions. With a displacement of 11,574 pounds and ballast of 4,740 pounds, this masthead sloop offers the stability and comfort that made Contest yachts popular among serious cruising sailors. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides good tracking and directional stability, particularly valuable for offshore passages. Her relatively modest beam of 10.33 feet and traditional proportions result in a seakindly motion that reduces crew fatigue on longer voyages. The boat's comfort ratio of 28.67 and capsize screening formula of 1.83 indicate excellent suitability for coastal and offshore cruising, though perhaps at the expense of racing performance. With only 188 hulls produced during the five-year production run, the Contest 33 has developed a loyal following among sailors who appreciate her solid fiberglass construction and reputation for durability in demanding sailing conditions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.25 ft / 9.83 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.92 ft / 7.90 m
Beam 10.33 ft / 3.15 m
Max Draft 5.25 ft / 1.60 m
Displacement 11,574.00 lb / 5,250 kg
Ballast 4,740.00 lb / 2,150 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 420.00 ft² / 39.02 m²
Headroom 6.23 ft / 1.90 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer U. Van Essen/Dick Zaal
Builder Conyplex
First Built 1970
Last Built 1975
Number Built 188
Related Sailboats ["Pearson 323" · "Allegro 33" · "Laurin 32" · "Ericson 32 Scorpion" · "Chance 32"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 210
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 13.18
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 40.95
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 296.71
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 28.67
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.83
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.82 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.45
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 956.71 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 13.17
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 39.04 ft / 11.90 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.46 ft / 3.80 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 33.63 ft / 10.25 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
SA Fore 243.22 ft² / 22.60 m²
SA Main 176.56 ft² / 16.40 m²
SA Total (100%) 419.78 ft² / 39.00 m²
Est. Forestay Length 40.98 ft / 12.49 m
Mast Height (DWL) 44.00 ft / 13.41 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo Penta
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 25
Fuel Capacity 22 gals / 83 L
Water Capacity 44 gals / 167 L
How It Compares

vs. Allegro 33, Ericson 32 Scorpion, Laurin 32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Contest 33 ★
32.3 ft
Allegro 33
32.2 ft
Ericson 32 Scorpion
32.3 ft
Laurin 32
32.2 ft
LWL
Contest 33 ★
25.9 ft
Allegro 33
28.9 ft
Ericson 32 Scorpion
22.6 ft
Laurin 32
28.2 ft
Beam
Contest 33 ★
10.3 ft
Allegro 33
10.9 ft
Ericson 32 Scorpion
6.3 ft
Laurin 32
9.5 ft
Displacement
Contest 33 ★
11 lbs
Allegro 33
12 lbs
Ericson 32 Scorpion
4 lbs
Laurin 32
10 lbs
Ballast
Contest 33 ★
4 lbs
Allegro 33
6 lbs
Ericson 32 Scorpion
2 lbs
Laurin 32
4 lbs
Sail Area
Contest 33 ★
420 sq ft
Allegro 33
524 sq ft
Ericson 32 Scorpion
315 sq ft
Laurin 32
514 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Contest 33 ★
13.2
Allegro 33
15.8
Ericson 32 Scorpion
18.3
Laurin 32
17.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Contest 33 ★
41.0 %
Allegro 33
50.0 %
Ericson 32 Scorpion
56.5 %
Laurin 32
47.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Contest 33 ★
28.7
Allegro 33
26.4
Ericson 32 Scorpion
24.2
Laurin 32
26.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Contest 33 ★
1.83
Allegro 33
1.90
Ericson 32 Scorpion
1.51
Laurin 32
1.75
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Contest 33 ★
296
Allegro 33
227
Ericson 32 Scorpion
178
Laurin 32
201
Hull Speed
Contest 33 ★
6.8 kts
Allegro 33
7.2 kts
Ericson 32 Scorpion
6.4 kts
Laurin 32
7.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Contest 33 ★
1.5
Allegro 33
2.3
Ericson 32 Scorpion
—
Laurin 32
2.0
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