Engineered for Control: Ronstan and Bamar on the Contest 63CS
A bespoke combination of Ronstan deck hardware and Bamar hydraulic sail control systems delivers precision, performance and effortless handling aboard the award-winning Contest 63CS.
Built in Medemblik in the Netherlands, the 19-metre Contest 63CS has quickly established itself as one of the standout luxury performance cruisers in its class. Recognised as the Luxury European Yacht of the Year 2025, the yacht combines exceptional sailing performance with superyacht-level engineering, refined design and outstanding attention to detail.
For hull #006, however, the owner wanted to take the specification a step further, creating a yacht that could be sailed efficiently and comfortably by a small crew, with precise sail control across a wide range of conditions.
Ronstan and Bamar were specified for deck hardware, furling systems and hydraulic controls, creating an integrated solution designed around the owner’s requirements.
Custom Ronstan systems for precise sail handling
A defining feature of the yacht’s deck specification was its custom mainsheet traveller system, developed around Ronstan Series 55 track and car components.
Rather than using a conventional traveller arrangement, the system featured two custom Series 55 cars linked together, each fitted with Ronstan Orbit Lashing Blocks. Working in conjunction with a 150mm Orbit Lashing Block mounted on the boom, the configuration provided an exceptionally strong and efficient mainsheet solution.
The arrangement delivered smooth operation, excellent load management and precise mainsail control, while demonstrating the flexibility of Ronstan’s modular hardware range in meeting the requirements of a bespoke yacht specification.
Ronstan Series 42 genoa tracks were also fitted with coupled cars featuring ball-bearing sheaves. This allowed both headsail sheets to be adjusted using the same control line, simplifying sail handling and providing greater convenience for a smaller crew.
An additional detail could be found in the genoa lead arrangement, where a slightly raised sheave on the aft car prevented the sheets from rubbing against one another.
Ronstan Orbit blocks throughout
Ronstan Orbit blocks were used extensively throughout the Contest 63CS, with components selected to manage the significant loads associated with a yacht of this size while maintaining low friction and efficient line handling.
At the mast base, 125mm Orbit Stand-Up Blocks guided the halyards and reefing lines. Their needle-bearing construction made them particularly well suited to handling static halyard loads while maintaining smooth operation.
Additional 125mm Orbit Lashing Blocks were used for gennaker sheets and check stays, while further Orbit blocks guided the mainsheet and other control lines throughout the yacht.
The result was a carefully considered hardware package in which every component has a specific role, supporting efficient sail handling and helped preserve the clean, uncluttered deck layout.
Bamar hydraulic systems: complete sail control
Complementing the Ronstan deck hardware was a comprehensive Bamar furling and hydraulic control package, designed to provide precise adjustment of the sails from a central operating position.
One of the standout features was the custom Bamar hydraulic boom vang, finished entirely in white to match the yacht’s superstructure, mast and boom. The bespoke finish ensured that the system integrated seamlessly with the yacht’s overall aesthetic.
Additional hydraulic cylinders ro operate the backstay, outhaul and Cunningham, allowed the crew to make precise adjustments to the mainsail profile and tension, even under demanding sailing conditions.
All hydraulic functions were managed through a central control panel, where individual systems could be selected and operated pressure monitored. This provided the crew with straightforward access to the yacht’s key sail controls from one convenient location.
Integrated Bamar furling systems
The Bamar specification also included a complete set of furling systems for the headsails, comprising furlers for the jib and cutter jib, together with a furling padeye integrated into the bowsprit for a Code Zero or furling gennaker.
All furlers were fully integrated into the deck, positioning the sails as low as possible while keeping the associated motors and electronics concealed below deck. This maintained the yacht’s clean exterior lines without compromising functionality.
A further detail was the use of Bamar 2:1 halyard adapters, which halved the tension applied to the halyard. This reduced compression loads within the mast while making the lines easier to manage.
Importantly, all furling systems could be operated directly from the helm, allowing the yacht’s sail configuration to be controlled from a single central position.
Integrated engineering for effortless performance
The Contest 63CS hull #006 is an excellent example of how carefully specified hardware and control systems can transform the sailing experience.
By combining Ronstan’s high-performance tracks, cars and Orbit blocks with Bamar’s bespoke hydraulic cylinders and integrated furling systems, the yacht benefited from a fully considered approach to sail handling.
Every element was selected to work as part of a complete system, delivering reliable performance, precise adjustment and ease of operation, whether sailing short-handed offshore or enjoying a coastal passage.
For IMP, the project highlights the capabilities of Ronstan and Bamar, two leading international brands whose products combine engineering excellence, innovation and practical performance for today’s most demanding yacht specifications.
