The Contest 34S is with a steady, comfortable ride offshore.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
7.0 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 27.1′, the Contest 34S tops out around 7.0 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √27.1′ LWL = 7.0 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
Ballast / Displacement
40.6%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
382
Heavy displacement — a slow, steady, seakindly hull.
Comfort Ratio
37.1
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.71
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Hull Speed
7.0kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
37.1
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.71
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Contest 34S sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cs 34
Mirage 33
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Contest 34S.
| Contest 34S | Comfort 34 | Cs 34 | J33 | Mirage 33 | X 342 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 33.5 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 33.5 |
| LWL | 27.1 | 28.7 | 27.7 | 28.0 | 26.8 | 26.7 |
| Beam | 11.0 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 11.0 | 11.7 | 10.8 |
| Displacement | 16 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Ballast | 6 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Sail Area | — | 492 | 533 | 561 | — | — |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | — | — | 132 | — | 150 | — |
| SA/Disp | — | 15.5 | 17.9 | 22.3 | — | — |
| Bal/Disp | 40.6 | 42.3 | — | — | 37.6 | 46.7 |
| Comfort | 37.1 | 22.9 | 22.0 | 17.3 | — | — |
| Capsize | 1.71 | 2.03 | 2.06 | 2.19 | — | — |
| Hull Speed | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.1 | — | — |