2004 Contest 55 CS, EUR 485 000

Designed as a true blue-water cruising yacht, the Contest 55CS combines excellent sailing performance with comfort, safety and the ability to be handled by a relatively small crew. The original concept was developed by Doug Peterson and further refined by Georg Nissen, resulting in a capable and elegant offshore cruiser with the quality, balance and seakeeping characteristics for which Contest yachts are well known.

High Hopes has been in the ownership of her current owners since October 2018 and is now offered for sale by her third owner. The yacht was originally commissioned by her first owner, a Belgian owner who had her built by Contest and specified her with an extensive range of options, including a teak interior, watermaker, white mast and boom, halfwinder, spinnaker pole, large Anderson winches, washing machine, generator, davits and hydraulic sail-handling systems.

The yacht was originally named Dicke Neck by her first owner and was later renamed High Hopes by the second owner. She has been regularly used for both weekend sailing and longer cruising, with cruising grounds including the IJsselmeer, Wadden Sea, Zeeland, Baltic Sea, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. Longer voyages have included Mallorca and the Alcudia area, Stockholm, Bergen in Norway, Alderney and several Baltic cruises via Copenhagen and Gothenburg. While she has not undertaken an ocean crossing, she has been extensively used for longer coastal and offshore cruising.

High Hopes is equipped with a Reckmann hydraulic furling mainsail system and hydraulic Reckmann genoa furler, making sail handling straightforward both offshore and when sailing shorthanded. Her spacious accommodation offers three double cabins, including a generous aft owner's cabin with en-suite facilities and a centrally positioned double bed, while the two forward guest cabins share a second heads compartment.

Over the years, the current owners have continued to invest in High Hopes with great care and attention. She has been equipped with a set of high-quality sails, completely renewed standing rigging and renewed running rigging where required. The hull has been professionally repainted, while the electrical system has been modernised with a lithium battery bank and associated charging technology. The navigation equipment and onboard electronics have also been extensively renewed. Comfort has been further enhanced with a new sprayhood, bimini, cockpit and exterior cushions, luxury interior upholstery and cushions and mattresses in the aft owner's cabin. A new liferaft has also been fitted as part of the recent safety upgrades.

The current owners have clearly cared for High Hopes as a yacht to be enjoyed, while also taking the opportunity to renew and improve her for the years ahead. She is now offered to her next owner with many important systems and areas already renewed, providing a foundation for continued cruising and new adventures.