BoatsContest Yachts 50CS

Contest Yachts 50CS

Fractional Sloop · Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder · 2003–2019

A George Nissen-designed fractional sloop with a high comfort ratio, built for stable and capable offshore cruising

Designed by George Nissen & Georg Nissen.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder

See her sail

The Contest Yachts 50CS, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 36 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 36
CoastalBluewater

1.78 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.78
LightHeavy

227 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 227
EasygoingPowered-up

19.0 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 19.0
TenderStiff

35% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 35%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Heavier than ~91% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~88% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1839 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Contest Yachts 50CS, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Contest Yachts 50CS is a 15.0 m fractional sloop designed by George Nissen and built by Contest Yachts from 2003 to 2019. It has a fin with bulb and spade rudder hull, a 4.6 m beam, a 2.1 m draft, and a displacement of 17,499 kg. The model has an optional winged keel with a draft of 1.95 m. Its main sail area is 67.2 square meters, and its genoa sail area is 57.2 square meters. A Contest 50CS was displayed at boot Düsseldorf 2026.0:24

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
34.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.0
Displacement / length
227.2
Comfort ratio
36.4
Capsize screening
1.78
Hull speed
8.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2273
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Mixed Iron/Lead
Production
Years built
2003–2019
Units built
53
Designer
George Nissen, Georg Nissen
Builder
Contest Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, 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.

Hallberg-Rassy 4814.99 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser featuring a stiff 42% ballast ratio and a stable, comfortable motion at-sea motion
Hallberg-Rassy 48 - A Yacht Delivery from Bremen to Ellos. Wonderful trip on a fabulous boat!from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Orion 5015.09 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Gary Mull-designed staysail ketch built for offshore stability with a heavy displacement and skeg-mounted rudder
Transatlantic Crossing Part 2 | Ep 2620:12from Distant Shores TV
Hallberg-Rassy 4914.96 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile staysail ketch or sloop offering a high comfort ratio and a stable fin keel with skeg-hung rudder
Beware of ORCAS! Part 2: Sailing SOUTH through Orca Territory to Portugal | Ep 2760:21from Distant Shores TV
Hallberg-Rassy 4614.78 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser built for stability and comfort with a high ballast ratio and skeg-hung rudder
Hallberg-Rassy 46 - A Yacht Delivery across the North Sea to Bergen in Norway. Great boat!0:30from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Dufour Yachts 4815.29 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 15.29-metre performance cruiser with a 4.85-metre beam and a 2.35-metre draft for offshore stability
Dufour 48 - Preview of the 2025 Genoa Boat Show0:12from SVN solovelanet
Oyster Marine 48514.78 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA robust cutter-rigged blue water cruiser developed from the 461, featuring a skeg-hung rudder for offshore security
This sailing technique saved my butt (Why does nobody teach this?)16:22from Be The Captain

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Contest Yachts 50CS-2A center-cockpit cruiser featuring a Wetzels Brown interior and the option for a fully electric propulsion systemContest Yachts 49CSA modern aft-cockpit cruiser by judel/vrolijk featuring a high-comfort interior and an optional all-electric drivetrainContest Yachts 42CSA Georg Nissen-designed performance cruiser featuring a stiff, high-ballast hull and a modern fractional rigContest Yachts 44CSA masthead sloop with a skeg-mounted rudder and a 36% ballast ratio, built for stable and capable offshore cruisingContest Yachts 45CSA 13.7-metre center-cockpit cruiser with a fin-and-bulb keel, optimized for a balanced motion and offshore capabilityContest 55CSA Georg Nissen and Dick Zaal designed cutter with a wing keel, built for comfortable long-distance blue water cruising

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