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:

  • allow other materials than aluminium for masts; proposal in 2000 [5][6] and a rule change in 2002
  • allow loose footed sail; proposal in 2000 [5][6] and a rule change in 2002
  • allow other material than aluminium for the boom; proposal in 2002 [7][8] and a rule change in 2003

The Contender Microsite on World Sailing has a section with the latest class rules.[9]

Events

World Championships

Main article: Contender World Championship

European Championships

Year Location First Second Third Ref
1974  Germany, Kiel  David Pitman (GBR)
1975  Sweden, Strömstad  David Pitman (GBR)
1976  Great Britain, Hayling Island  Joachim Harpprecht (GER)
1977  Netherlands, Medemblik  Paul Wells (USA)
1978  Italy, Lake Garda  Tony Smith (GBR)
1979  Switzerland, Lake Silvaplana  Geoff Whitfield (GBR)
1980 ?  Germany, Travemunde
1983  Italy, Porto Sant'Elpidio  Keith Paul (GBR)  Joachim Harpprecht (GER)
1985 ?  Denmark, Struer
1988  Netherlands, Medemblik  Barry Watson (AUS)
1989  Italy, Imperia  Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)  Carlo Magnoni (ITA)  Roberto Lorenzi (ITA) [10]
1992  Sweden, Båstad  Graham Scott (GBR)
1995  Germany, Warnemünde  Graham Scott (GBR)
1997  Denmark, Aarhus  Ian Renilson (GBR)  Frank Suchanek (GER)  Jason Beebe (AUS) [11]
2001  France, Loctudy  Ian Renilson (GBR)  Christian Brandt (GBR)  Stuart Jones (GBR) [12]
2002  Denmark, Hellerup  Graham Scott (GBR)  Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)  Giovanni Bonzio (ITA) [13]
2006  Austria, Ebensee  Christoph Homeier (GER)  Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)  Giovanni Bonzio (ITA) [14]
2008  Italy, Punta Alta  Giovanni Bonzio (ITA)  Marcus Hamilton (AUS)  Andrea Bonezzi (ITA) [15]
2010  France, La Rochelle  Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)  Bjarke Johnsen (DEN)  Simon Mussell (GBR) [16]
2012  Sweden, Gottskär  Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)  Graham Scott (GBR)  Jesper Nielsen (DEN)
2014  Germany, Kühlungsborn  Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)  Max Billerbeck (GER)  Jesper Nielsen (DEN) [17][18]
2016  Great Britain, Highcliffe  Simon Mussell (GBR)  Jesper Nielsen (DEN)  Jan Von Der Bank (GER) [19]
2018  Italy, Lake Garda  Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)  Marco Ferrari (ITA)  Antonio Lambertini (ITA) [20][21][22]
2021  Germany, Warnemünde  Jesper Armbrust (DEN)  Max Billerbeck (GER)  Soren Dulong Andreasen (DEN) [23]

References

  1. ^ "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Portsmouth Number List 2017". Royal Yachting Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  3. ^ Henshall, David (2010). 'Hooked On! The International Contender Story. Matador. ISBN 978-1-84876-318-0.
  4. ^ "The history of the contender class". International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "AGM Minutes - 2000 - page 1". International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "AGM Minutes - 2000 - page 2". International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "AGM Minutes - 2002 - page 1". International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
  8. ^ "AGM Minutes -2002 - page 2". International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
  9. ^ "Contender class rules". World Sailing. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  10. ^ "1989 European Championships results". Contender Italia. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  11. ^ "Contendering 1998-03" (PDF). British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  12. ^ "Contendering 2002 Spring" (PDF). British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  13. ^ "2002 European Championships results". World Sailing. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  14. ^ "2006 European Championships report and results". British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  15. ^ "2008 European Championships report final day and results". British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  16. ^ "2010 European Championships results". FF Voile. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  17. ^ "2014 European Championships results". Segelclub Kuehlungsborn. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  18. ^ "2014 European Championships report". Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  19. ^ "2016 European Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  20. ^ "2018 European Championships". Circolo Vela Arco. Archived from the original on September 9, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  21. ^ "European Championships Gold Fleet" (PDF). Circolo Vela Arco. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  22. ^ "European Championships Silver Fleet" (PDF). Circolo Vela Arco. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  23. ^ "2021 European Championships". manage2sail. Retrieved Jun 10, 2023.

Class associations

Others

  1. ^ "International Contender Class Rules 2019" (PDF). World Sailing. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contender_(dinghy)
No tags for this post.