Contender (dinghy) explained

Insignia:Image:Contender.svg
Insignia Size:120x60px
Insignia Alt:International maritime signal flag 'Charly'
Image Boat:Contender sailing dinghy.jpg
Image Caption:A Contender on reach at the 1998 worlds
Designer:Ben Lexcen
Location:Australia
Year:1967
Design:One-Design
Role:Fleet racing
Crew:1
Trapeze:Single trapeze
Draft:1447mm
Hull Type:Monohull
Construction:GRP
Wood
Composite (Wood/GRP)
Loa:4875mm
Hull Weight:83kg (183lb)
Beam:1500mm
Keel Type:Centreboard
Rudder Type:skeg hung
Rigs:Bermuda rig
I:4345mm
J:1250mm
P:3050mm
E:2700mm
Mast Length:6427mm
Sailarea Main:10.8m2
D-Pn:90.1[1]
Rya-Pn:970[2]
Status:world sailing

The International Contender is a single-handed high performance sailing dinghy, designed by Bob Miller, latterly known as Ben Lexcen, (Australia) in 1967 as a possible successor to the Finn dinghy for Olympic competition.[3] [4]

The Contender is recognised as an International Class by World Sailing, the governing body of sail boat racing, which administers the class rules.

Background

"Single-handed" means sailed by only one person. The boat has a trapeze which allows the sailor to use their weight more effectively. The design of the boat does not favour sailors within a narrow or extreme size or weight range, past champions have ranged from 60 kg to more than 90 kg. While physical fitness, agility and strength are advantageous, good technical sailing skills and experience can count for more.

Sailors wishing to master the Contender must learn how to trapeze and steer the boat at the same time, and how to move about the boat while keeping it level. As part of race tuning, the Contender mast is commonly raked well aft, which results in restricted space between the boom and deck. Tacking consequently requires technique and practice to avoid getting stuck under the boom. Sailing the boat level at all times (except in very light winds) is fastest and reduces capsizes, which can happen fast if the boom dips into the water. There is a trade-off between raking the mast far aft and keeping the kicker (boom vang) tight at all times (which is faster) and the higher probability of capsizing due to this less forgiving set up. Unlike older and heavier dinghy designs, the Contender requires the centerboard to be lowered at least somewhat to avoid quick capsizes when reaching and running in a breeze.

Class rule changes

The class rules are overseen by the International Contender Association. Proposals for changes to the rules are written down and presented to the class members during the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Before a rule change is taken into effect, the proposal needs to be approved by 2/3 of the member attending the AGM. If the proposal is approved, a next voting round will be done using a postal ballot. If a majority approves, the proposal will go to World Sailing for their approval. If this passes, the rules are updated and effected.Notable changes to the class rules are for instance:

The Contender Microsite on World Sailing has a section with the latest class rules.[5]

Events

World Championships

Ref
1970 Hayling Island[6]
1972 Medemblik[7]
1973 Imperia
1975 Brisbane
1976 Palo Alto[8]
1977 Kiel[9]
1979 Takapuna
1980 Hayling Island and
[10] [11]
1981 Toronto
1982 Medemblik[12]
1983 Belmont NSW[13]
1984 Riva del Garda[14]
1985 Struer
1986 Santa Cruz[15]
1987 Hamburgsund
1988 Brisbane
1989 Travemünde
1990 Hayling Island
1991 Marsalanowrap
1992 Melbourne
1993 Medemblik[16]
nowrap1994 Attersee am Attersee
1995 Rowayton[17]
1996 Weymouth[18]
1997 Sydney[19]
1998 Cagliari[20] [21]
1999 Kiel[22]
2000 Medemblik[23] [24]
2001 Kingston[25]
2002 Melbourne
2003 Plymouth[26]
nowrap2004 Riva del Garda[27]
2005 Travemünde[28]
2006 Fremantle[29]
2007 Medemblik[30]
2008 Kingstonnowrap[31]
2009 Sønderborg[32]
2010 Brisbane[33]
2011 Weymouth[34]
2012 St. Petersburg[35]
2013 Gravedonanowrap[36]
2014 Belmont[37]
2015 Medembliknowrap[38] [39] [40]
2016 Santa Cruz[41]
nowrap2017 Sønderborg[42]
2018 McCrae[43]
2019 Quiberon[44] [45]
2020 MedemblikEvent cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[46]
2021 WarnemündeEvent replaced by European championship COVID-19 pandemic[47]
2022 Melbourne[48] [49]
2023 Kerteminde[50]

European Championships

Ref
1974, Kiel
1975, Strömstad
1976nowrap, Hayling Islandnowrap
1977, Medembliknowrap
1978, Lake Gardanowrap
1979, Lake Silvaplana
1980 ?, Travemunde
1983, Porto Sant'Elpidionowrapnowrap
1985 ?, Struer
1988, Medemblik
1989, Imperia[51]
1992, Båstad
1995, Warnemünde
1997, Aarhus
2001, Loctudy
2002, Hellerup[52]
2006, Ebensee[53]
2008, Punta Altanowrapnowrapnowrap[54]
2010, La Rochellenowrapnowrapnowrap[55]
2012, Gottskär
2014nowrap, Kühlungsbornnowrap[56] [57]
2016, Highcliffe[58]
2018nowrap, Lake Gardanowrap[59] [60] [61]
2021, Warnemündenowrapnowrapnowrap[62]

References

  1. Web site: Centerboard Classes . US Sailing . 31 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120816160142/http://offshore.ussailing.org/Portsmouth_Yardstick/Current_Tables/Centerboard_Classes.htm . 16 August 2012 .
  2. Web site: Portsmouth Number List 2017. Royal Yachting Association . 22 July 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170630075649/http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/technical/Web%20Documents/PY%20Documentation/PN%20List%202017%20(Web%20Version).pdf . 30 June 2017.
  3. Book: Henshall, David . 2010 . 'Hooked On! The International Contender Story . Matador . 978-1-84876-318-0.
  4. Web site: The history of the contender class . August 11, 2017 . International Contender Association. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170813103037/http://contenderclass.org/the-class/history . August 13, 2017.
  5. Web site: Contender class rules . August 21, 2017 . World Sailing .
  6. Web site: 1970 World Championships event info . August 11, 2017 . World Sailing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806220944/http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15720&regattaid=15720&evntid=29975 . August 6, 2017.
  7. Web site: 1972 World Championships event info . August 11, 2017 . World Sailing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806222057/http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15719&regattaid=15719&evntid=29974 . August 6, 2017.
  8. Web site: 1976 World Championships results . August 11, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810203329/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1976.html . August 10, 2017.
  9. Web site: 1977 World Championships results . August 11, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810203533/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1977_worlds/worlds_1977.html . August 10, 2017 .
  10. Web site: 1980 World Championships results . August 11, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810203929/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1980_worlds/80WorldsResults.pdf . August 10, 2017.
  11. Web site: 1980 World Championships results . August 24, 2020 . World Sailing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200824205036/https://site-isaf.soticcloud.net/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15713&regattaid=15713&evntid=29968 . August 24, 2020.
  12. Web site: 1982 World Championships results . August 11, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810204223/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1982%20Worlds/final_results_1982.pdf . August 10, 2017.
  13. Web site: 1983 World Championships event info . August 11, 2017 . World Sailing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810204640/http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15710&regattaid=15710&evntid=29965. August 10, 2017.
  14. Web site: 1984 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810204403/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1984_Worlds/1984-Riva-Worlds-Reports_%26_Overall_Results.pdf . August 10, 2017.
  15. Web site: 1986 World Championships event info and results . August 11, 2017 . World Sailing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806181002/http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15707&regattaid=15707&evntid=29962 . August 6, 2017.
  16. Web site: 1993 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230172957/http://contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1993_worlds/wc-1993.html . December 30, 2016.
  17. Web site: 1995 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230173033/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1995.html . December 30, 2016.
  18. Web site: 1996 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230172842/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1996.html . December 30, 2016.
  19. Web site: 1997 World Championships report and results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230232851/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1997.html . December 30, 2016.
  20. Web site: Contendering 1998-11 . August 26, 2017 . British Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170826080401/http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/contendering/nov98.pdf . August 26, 2017.
  21. Web site: 1998 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230180651/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1998.html . December 30, 2016.
  22. Web site: 1999 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230173358/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1999.html . December 30, 2016.
  23. Web site: Contendering 2001-02 . August 26, 2017 . British Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170826081710/http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/contendering/feb2001.pdf . August 26, 2017.
  24. Web site: 2000 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230171955/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2000.html . December 30, 2016.
  25. Web site: Contendering 2002 Spring . August 26, 2017 . British Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170826084759/http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/contendering/spring2002.pdf . August 26, 2017.
  26. Web site: 2003 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230171857/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2003.html . December 30, 2016.
  27. Web site: 2004 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230232720/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2004.html . December 30, 2016.
  28. Web site: 2005 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . British Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810200009/https://www.sailcontender.org.uk/reports-a-results/2005-reports-1/14-world-championship-2005-travemunde . August 10, 2017 .
  29. Web site: 2006 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . British Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810202555/https://www.sailcontender.org.uk/reports-a-results/2006-reports-3/45-2006-worlds-fremantle-australia . August 10, 2017.
  30. Web site: 2007 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230232834/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2007.html . December 30, 2016.
  31. Web site: 2008 World Championships results . August 26, 2017 . German Contender Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161230232241/http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2008.html . December 30, 2016.
  32. Web site: 2009 World Championships event info and results . August 11, 2017 . World Sailing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806222450/https://members.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=fleetevent&rgtaid=10812&evntid=20850 . August 6, 2017.
  33. Web site: 2010 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . Sail World . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170813055452/http://www.sail-world.com/USA/40th-Contender-World-Championships---a-new-Champion/65388 . August 13, 2017.
  34. Web site: 2011 World Championships event info and results . August 11, 2017 . World Sailing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806181818/http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=13079&regattaid=13079&evntid=25410 . August 6, 2017.
  35. Web site: 2012 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . Yachts and Yachting . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170806142154/http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/162843 . August 6, 2017.
  36. Web site: 2013 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . Yachts and Yachting . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806140924/http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/171121 . August 6, 2017.
  37. Web site: 2014 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . Sail World . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140228182326/http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Contender-World-Championship-2014--Bulka-wins-after-protest/118669 . February 28, 2014 .
  38. Web site: 2015 Event web site . August 11, 2017 . Dutch Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160103051734/http://worlds2015.contenderzeilen.nl/ . January 3, 2016.
  39. Web site: 2015 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . Yachts and Yachting . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806180330/http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/184701 . August 6, 2017.
  40. Web site: Results Contender - Gold .
  41. Web site: 2016 World Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . Sail World . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160506200752/http://www.sail-world.com/USA/2016-Contender-World-Championships---Big-wind,-big-fun/144300 . May 6, 2016.
  42. Web site: Contender World Championship manage2sail. www.manage2sail.com.
  43. Web site: 2017 World Championships event info . August 20, 2017 . McCrae Yacht Club . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216092414/http://www.mccraeyc.com.au/index.php/regattas/upcoming-regattas/2018-contender-worlds . February 16, 2017.
  44. Web site: 2019 Worlds in Quiberon . May 16, 2020 . International Contender Class Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200516122706/https://contenderclass.org/the-class/class-news/92-major-events . May 16, 2020.
  45. Web site: 2019 Worlds in Quiberon, Results . May 16, 2020 . Contender France. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200516164810/http://contenderfrance.org/images/articles/W19/results/Wdef.pdf . May 16, 2020.
  46. Web site: 2020 World Championships event in Medemblik cancelled . June 14, 2020 . Dutch Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200614084818/https://www.contenderzeilen.nl/index.php/contender-worlds-2020 . June 14, 2020.
  47. Web site: 2021 Worlds in Warnemünde . June 14, 2020 . International Contender Class Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200614085515/https://www.contenderclass.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=95&Itemid=326 . June 14, 2020.
  48. Web site: Contented Worlds Official Results. 21 January 2023.
  49. Web site: Contender Worlds Event Micosite. 21 January 2023.
  50. Web site: Contender World Championship manage2sail. www.manage2sail.com.
  51. Web site: 1989 European Championships results. September 7, 2020 . Contender Italia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200907201428/https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10223555352142720 . September 7, 2020 .
  52. Web site: 2002 European Championships results . May 31, 2020 . World Sailing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200531140150/https://www.sailing.org/news/19164.php#.XtO46577Ta4 . May 31, 2020 .
  53. Web site: 2006 European Championships report and results . August 11, 2017 . British Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810202837/https://www.sailcontender.org.uk/reports-a-results/2006-reports-3/90-europeans-06-report . August 10, 2017 .
  54. Web site: 2008 European Championships report final day and results . August 11, 2017 . British Contender Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810202939/https://www.sailcontender.org.uk/reports-a-results/2008-reports/182-europeans-08-final-day . August 10, 2017.
  55. Web site: 2010 European Championships results . May 31, 2020 . FF Voile . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200531132207/http://www.ffvoile.fr/ffv/sportif/ClmtCompetDet.asp?clid=59636 . May 31, 2020.
  56. Web site: 2014 European Championships results. May 25, 2020 . Segelclub Kuehlungsborn . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170315174347/http://segelclub-kuehlungsborn.de/?p=439 . March 15, 2017 .
  57. Web site: 2014 European Championships report. May 25, 2020 . Yachts and Yachting . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200525200321/https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/178184/Contender-Europeans-in-Kuhlungsborn . May 25, 2020 .
  58. Web site: 2016 European Championships report and results. May 25, 2020 . Yachts and Yachting . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181114142950/https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/192135/Contender-Europeans-at-Highcliffe-overall . November 14, 2018 .
  59. Web site: 2018 European Championships. May 16, 2020 . Circolo Vela Arco . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190909014545/http://www.circolovelaarco.it/regate-icagenda-menu/39-contender-european-championship . September 9, 2019 .
  60. Web site: European Championships Gold Fleet. May 16, 2020 . Circolo Vela Arco . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180828044923/http://www.circolovelaarco.it/images/REGATE/REGATE_2018/CONTENDER/Risultati_CONTENDER_-_GOLD.pdf . August 28, 2018 .
  61. Web site: European Championships Silver Fleet. May 16, 2020 . Circolo Vela Arco . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200516125559/http://www.circolovelaarco.it/images/REGATE/REGATE_2018/CONTENDER/Risultati_CONTENDER_-_SILVER.pdf . May 16, 2020 .
  62. Web site: 2021 European Championships. Jun 10, 2023 . manage2sail .

[63] [64] [65] [66]

[67] [68]

External links

Class associations

Others

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