Images © Contest Yachts

Our design of a new type of keel for the new Contest 44 in 2000 was a great success. Many articles have appeared in the boating magazines about its sailing performance. For this particular keel we decided to break with the "traditional"" winged keel we normally design for the Contest yachts. Our America's Cup involvement has helped in the definition of this new-look Contest keel, sporting a pronounced bulb with winglets. Our numerical research has revealed an important gain in performance, particularly in light air.

We have now also designed a new keel according to this concept for the Contest 50.

In 2002 we assisted in a project carried out by the Netherlands Applied Research Laboratories TNO, aimed at the optimization of the structural design (using FEM analyses) of the new Contest 50. The yard wanted to lighten the structure by a significant amount. Our task comprised the assessment of the loads to be used in the FEM analyses, the design of various details (chain plates, etc), the coordination of the plan-approval work by Lloyds Register, and other topics.

For more information see also www.contestyachts.nl