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 Berthon International

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-meter fractional sloop designed by Georg Nissen and built by Contest Yachts between 2003 and 2019. This center-cockpit cruising yacht has a fin with bulb and spade rudder hull, a 4.6-meter beam, a 2.1-meter draft, and displaces 17,499 kg.0:58 An optional winged keel reduces the draft to 1.95 meters. The 2016 Contest 50CS, *Miss Millie of Valletta*, features dark blue topsides, a white superstructure, and teak decks.1:11 Its rig includes a three-spreader mast with rod rigging, in-boom furling, and a Reckman furler for the foresail.2:33 Electric winches control the main sail plan.4:31 The interior is finished in teak with Antico flooring and Alcantara upholstery, offering a forward V-berth, a starboard twin cabin, and an aft owner’s cabin with a private head.5:19 Systems include air conditioning, a generator, a water maker, and a washing machine.5:41

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Contest Yachts 50CS on video

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.

1seen for sale

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

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
Hallberg-Rassy 48 MKII14.99 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15-metre masthead sloop optimized for long-range passage-making with a high comfort ratio and a 2.35-metre draft
[OFF MARKET] Hallberg-Rassy 48 MkII “ELK” Yacht for Sale | Ready To Go | Tour with Alan McIlroyfrom Berthon International
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
From Troubles to Tranquility using REGEN! Transatlantic Crossing Part 3 | Ep 2635:12from 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
Caliber Yachts 47 LRC14.81 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA long-range cruiser with a 52.92-foot overall length and a high comfort ratio for extended offshore passages
Summer Sailing in the San Juan Islands - Part 1. Episode 111:56from Sailing Wind Therapy
Bestewind 5014.97 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Dykstra-designed fractional sloop built for offshore comfort with a high displacement-to-length ratio
[OFF MARKET] Beister 13.50 (BERTINA) - Yacht for Sale - Berthon International Yacht Brokers0:08from Berthon International

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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