Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1971–1974
A U. van Essen-designed masthead sloop with a high ballast ratio, built for stability and comfort in a compact hull
Designed by U. van Essen & Uus van Essen, built by Coniplex.
See her sail
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from Sailing Yabá
Is it for you?
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 32 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.
1.71 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.
365 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.
12.9 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.
53% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.
Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.
What the fleet has seen
Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.
The Contest 31 is a 9.5-meter masthead sloop designed by U. van Essen and built by Conyplex from 1971 to 1974. It features a fin keel with a rudder on skeg, a beam of 2.8 meters, a draft of 1.4 meters, and a displacement of 4762 kg.
The living fleet
Where the fleet has filmed this boat.
Seen once across one channel of the fleet.
The record
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Boats like this, on the water
Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.
The family
The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.
Keep asking
Search what's been said about the Contest 31, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.
The newsletter
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