In the Contest 49CS, our first twin aft-cabin yacht at this length, we have developed something new, different and yet reassuringly consistent with Contest credentials. A natural step up from the Contest 42CS, and equal new step into the Contest range for sailors preferring their master suite forward and family or guest cabins in the back.

And what cabins these are, they’re huge for the 50ft (15.5m) sector. Yet still there’s a very impressive tender garage, spacious aft deck, and loads of storage throughout the cabins which enjoy the latest design-styling from the Wetzels Brown studio.

It’s with naval architects judel/vrolijk & co’s balancing of modern topside height and max beam carried well aft, that this conventionally impossible scale of twin aft cabin arrangement with standing headroom throughout has been achieved. And with super performance, too, through the full spectrum of heavy and light weather. Dependable in handling and easy to control, sailing nine knots to windward at 30° apparent. And as with all Contest yachts, remarkably quiet below decks under sail and motor.

With the Contest 49CS and 50CS sisterships sharing the same hull design and styled coachroof, the similarities are strong. Yet what this dual design has permitted is exceptional. A new approach to interior layout without losing the admired, award-winning practicality and benefits of the central Contest concept, a forward steering position and deep protected leisure cockpit. Achieved again in the 49CS, and missing in most other brands’ twin aft cabin designs where aft cockpits force helm stations aft into the stern, making for vulnerability, and impinging on headroom below in those cabins.

The Contest 49CS is so different. Twin helm stations, with central plinth-mounted mainsheet winch, are safely forward, with flat, single level expanse of aft deck behind. Great for security, great for beanbag lazing at the back end, too.  And also giving top-down access to the huge lazarette, which with opening transom also accommodates the tender, and serves as excellent bathing platform. Steps down fold out of the pushpit which has hinged seating in its corners, lifting to access cleats and fairleads.

Deck detailing and features largely mirror the sistership, as does selection of rig and sail plan. Principally, carbon or aluminium spars, manual or electric winches, and in the integral bowsprit optional below-deck furlers for genoa and asymmetric sails. More will be found reading the 50CS model information – see next page. Importantly, though, in this creative, hybrid design interpretation we’ve retained the genuinely advantageous feature of our long-favoured and famed centre leisure cockpit separated from the steering and sheet handling behind. A unique achievement.

In conventional twin aft cabin yachts, everything inside at the stern is conventionally relatively low. Not so at all with the 49CS. We’ve good height throughout meaning the keeping of Contest’s spacious, high-end equipped, double-sided corridor galley with expansive refrigeration, stowage, and excellent access to service points.

The mirror image aft cabins similarly benefit with generous headroom and standing height walkway between twin beds, also around the optional double bed alternative. The saloon and navigation areas, with hull and panoramic top windows, also remain the same as aboard the 50CS, with forward the super-size master suite.