Bentley Continental GT V8 Inspires Luxury Yacht Design

Bentley Motors has collaborated with Contest Yachts to create a matching sailing yacht inspired by a client’s Bentley Continental GT V8 Coupe.

Bentley Motors has collaborated with Dutch yacht builder Contest Yachts on the design and styling of the client’s new 60ft Contest 59CS yacht so that it matches both the exterior and interior of their bespoke Bentley Continental GT V8 coupe.

Launched in 2020, the 60ft Contest 59CS sailing yacht is an elegant sub-60ft performance bluewater adventure cruiser that, much like the Continental GT V8, has been specifically planned to be owner-operated to experience the thrill of directing the action.

Working together, the two companies based the yacht’s design around the Continental GT V8 coupe’s interior, which features “Hotspur” red leather, contrasting Linen beige hide, and a light-colored wood veneer, and took inspiration for the exterior hull color from the Light Sapphire of the GT.

Taking these elements into consideration, and making sure to include Bentley’s signature diamond-in-diamond stitching and paneling throughout the design, Bentley and Contrast Yachts emulated the luxurious feel of the Bentley cabin to create a seamless transition for the owner as they move from vehicle to yacht.

While many owners would be familiar with Bentley’s Mulliner division, which create customized vehicles as per owner’s requests, the Bentley Design Services now extends Bentley’s design services to include projects outside of the automotive world, as demonstrated with this latest collaboration.

Brett Boydell, Head of Bentley Design Collaborations, notes, “This project was an opportunity for Bentley Design Services to showcase some of their many skills in a truly unique collaboration. Bentley cars embrace qualities of craftsmanship and styling that are only achieved at the highest level of nautical design.”

“Our family has been building premium class sailing and motor yachts for more than 60 years,” Arjen Conijn Contest Yachts CEO and Co-Owner also shared. “We are well-known for our thorough approach to customization, which allows us to fulfill the expectations and preferences of every customer. This project is the ultimate example of this approach – working with Bentley to turn a customer’s dream into reality.”