Contender (dinghy)

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]

Contender

A Contender on reach at the 1998 worlds
Development
Designer	Ben Lexcen
Location	Australia
Year	1967
Design	One-Design
Role	Fleet racing
Boat
Crew	1
Draft	1,447 mm (57.0 in)
Trapeze	Single trapeze
Hull
Type	Monohull
Construction	GRP Wood Composite (Wood/GRP)
Hull weight	83 kg (183 lb)
LOA	4,875 mm (191.9 in)
Beam	1,500 mm (59 in)
Hull appendages
Keel/board type	Centreboard
Rudder(s)	skeg hung
Rig
General	Bermuda rig
I foretriangle height	4,345 mm (171.1 in)
J foretriangle base	1,250 mm (49 in)
P mainsail luff	3,050 mm (120 in)
E mainsail foot	2,700 mm (110 in)
Mast length	6,427 mm (253.0 in)
Sails
Mainsail area	10.8 m2 (116 sq ft)
Racing
D-PN	90.1[1]
RYA PN	970[2]
Class is a member of World Sailing

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

Games	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Ref
1970 Hayling Island	Dick Jobbins (GBR)			[10]
1972 Medemblik	Peter Hollis (AUS)			[11]
1973 Imperia	Peter Hollis (AUS)
1975 Brisbane	David Pitman (GBR)
1976 Palo Alto	David Pitman (GBR)	Paul Wells (USA)	Peter Newlands (NZL)	[12]
1977 Kiel	David Pitman (GBR)	Geoff Whitfield (GBR)	Richard Gladwell (GBR)	[13]
1979 Takapuna	Peter Newlands (NZL)
1980 Hayling Island	Peter Newlands (NZL) and  Geoff Whitfield (GBR)		Brian Bennett (NZL)	[14][15]
1981 Toronto	Peter Newlands (NZL)
1982 Medemblik	Tony Smith (NZL)	Peter Newlands (NZL)	Keith Paul (GBR)	[16]
1983 Belmont NSW	Tony Smith (NZL)			[17]
1984 Riva del Garda	Barry Watson (AUS)	Keith Paul (GBR)	Joachim P. Rosler (GER)	[18]
1985 Struer	Barry Watson (AUS)
1986 Santa Cruz	Mark Starratt (USA)	Barry Watson (AUS)	Pieter Visser (NED)	[19]
1987 Hamburgsund	John Webb (GBR)
1988 Brisbane	Steve Daniel (GBR)
1989 Travemünde	Steve Daniel (GBR)
1990 Hayling Island	John Hardman (GBR)	John Browett (GBR)	Steve Daniel (GBR)
1991 Marsala	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Christopher Burrough (GBR)	Graham Scott (GBR)
1992 Melbourne	Barry Watson (AUS)
1993 Medemblik	Stuart Jones (GBR)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Steven Grimes (AUS)	[20]
1994 Attersee am Attersee	Graham Scott (GBR)
1995 Rowayton	Graham Scott (GBR)	Stuart Jones (GBR)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	[21]
1996 Weymouth	Ian Renilson (GBR)	Neil Wilson (GBR)	Jason Beebe (AUS)	[22]
1997 Sydney	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Ian Renilson (GBR)	Nigel Walbank (GBR)	[23]
1998 Cagliari	Stuart Jones (GBR)	Graham Scott (GBR)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	[24][25]
1999 Kiel	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Stuart Jones (GBR)	Ian Renilson (GBR)	[26]
2000 Medemblik	Gabriel Wicke (GER)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Ian Renilson (GBR)	[27][28]
2001 Kingston	Arthur Brett (AUS)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Nigel Walbank (GBR)	[29]
2002 Melbourne	Arthur Brett (AUS)	Tim Holden (GBR)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	[29]
2003 Plymouth	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Tim Holden (GBR)	Stuart Jones (GBR)	[30]
2004 Riva del Garda	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Marcus Hamilton (AUS)	Giovanni Bonzio (ITA)	[31]
2005 Travemünde	Jan von der Bank (GER)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Giovanni Bonzio (ITA)	[32]
2006 Fremantle	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Marcus Hamilton (AUS)	Tim Hill (AUS)	[33]
2007 Medemblik	Marcus Hamilton (AUS)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Jan von der Bank (GER)	[34]
2008 Kingston	Marcus Hamilton (AUS)	Marco Versari (ITA)	Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)	[35]
2009 Sønderborg	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Jonathan Neate (AUS)	Jacob Lunding (DEN)	[36]
2010 Brisbane	Jono Neate (AUS)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Christoph Homeier (GER)	[37]
2011 Weymouth	Bjarke Johnsen (DEN)	Graham Scott (GBR)	Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)	[38]
2012 St. Petersburg	Antonio Lambertini (ITA)	Giovanni Bonzio (ITA)	Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)	[39]
2013 Gravedona	Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)	Simon Mussel (GBR)	Mark Bulka (AUS)	[40]
2014 Belmont	Mark Bulka (AUS)	Jono Neate (AUS)	Matthew Mulder (AUS)	[41]
2015 Medemblik	Simon Mussell (GBR)	Mark Bulka (AUS)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	[42][43][44]
2016 Santa Cruz	Mark Bulka (AUS)	Jason Beebe (AUS)	Simon Mussell (GBR)	[45]
2017 Sønderborg	Jason Beebe (AUS)	Mark Bulka (AUS)	Jesper Nielsen (sailor) (DEN)	[46]
2018 McCrae	Mark Bulka (AUS)	Jason Beebe (AUS)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	[47]
2019 Quiberon	Max Billerbeck (GER)	Graham Scott (GBR)	Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)	[48][49]
2020 Medemblik	Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic			[50]
2021 Warnemünde	Event replaced by European championship COVID-19 pandemic			[51]
2022 Melbourne	Mark Bulka (AUS)	Simon Barwood (AUS)	Lindsay Irwin (AUS)	[52][53]
2023 Kerteminde	Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)	Christoph Homier (GER)	Mark Bulka (AUS)	[54]

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)	[55]
1992	Sweden, Båstad	Graham Scott (GBR)
1995	Germany, Warnemünde	Graham Scott (GBR)
1997	Denmark, Aarhus	Ian Renilson (GBR)	Frank Suchanek (GER)	Jason Beebe (AUS)	[56]
2001	France, Loctudy	Ian Renilson (GBR)	Christian Brandt (GBR)	Stuart Jones (GBR)	[57]
2002	Denmark, Hellerup	Graham Scott (GBR)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Giovanni Bonzio (ITA)	[58]
2006	Austria, Ebensee	Christoph Homeier (GER)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Giovanni Bonzio (ITA)	[59]
2008	Italy, Punta Alta	Giovanni Bonzio (ITA)	Marcus Hamilton (AUS)	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	[60]
2010	France, La Rochelle	Andrea Bonezzi (ITA)	Bjarke Johnsen (DEN)	Simon Mussell (GBR)	[61]
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)	[62][63]
2016	Great Britain, Highcliffe	Simon Mussell (GBR)	Jesper Nielsen (DEN)	Jan Von Der Bank (GER)	[64]
2018	Italy, Lake Garda	Søren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)	Marco Ferrari (ITA)	Antonio Lambertini (ITA)	[65][66][67]
2021	Germany, Warnemünde	Jesper Armbrust (DEN)	Max Billerbeck (GER)	Soren Dulong Andreasen (DEN)	[68]

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. "AGM Minutes - 2000 - page 1". International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
6. "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. "1970 World Championships event info". World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
11. "1972 World Championships event info". World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
12. "1976 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
13. "1977 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
14. "1980 World Championships results" (PDF). German Contender Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
15. "1980 World Championships results". World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
16. "1982 World Championships results" (PDF). German Contender Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
17. "1983 World Championships event info". World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
18. "1984 World Championships report and results" (PDF). German Contender Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
19. "1986 World Championships event info and results". World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
20. "1993 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
21. "1995 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
22. "1996 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
23. "1997 World Championships report and results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
24. "Contendering 1998-11" (PDF). British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
25. "1998 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
26. "1999 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
27. "Contendering 2001-02" (PDF). British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
28. "2000 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
29. "Contendering 2002 Spring" (PDF). British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
30. "2003 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
31. "2004 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
32. "2005 World Championships report and results". British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
33. "2006 World Championships report and results". British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
34. "2007 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
35. "2008 World Championships results". German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
36. "2009 World Championships event info and results". World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
37. "2010 World Championships report and results". Sail World. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
38. "2011 World Championships event info and results". World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
39. "2012 World Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
40. "2013 World Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
41. "2014 World Championships report and results". Sail World. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
42. "2015 Event web site". Dutch Contender Association. Archived from the original on January 3, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
43. "2015 World Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
44. "Results Contender - Gold".
45. "2016 World Championships report and results". Sail World. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
46. "Contender World Championship manage2sail". www.manage2sail.com.
47. "2017 World Championships event info". McCrae Yacht Club. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
48. "2019 Worlds in Quiberon". International Contender Class Association. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
49. "2019 Worlds in Quiberon, Results" (PDF). Contender France. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
50. "2020 World Championships event in Medemblik cancelled". Dutch Contender Association. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
51. "2021 Worlds in Warnemünde". International Contender Class Association. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
52. "Contented Worlds Official Results". Retrieved 21 January 2023.
53. "Contender Worlds Event Micosite". Retrieved 21 January 2023.
54. "Contender World Championship manage2sail". www.manage2sail.com.
55. "1989 European Championships results". Contender Italia. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
56. "Contendering 1998-03" (PDF). British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
57. "Contendering 2002 Spring" (PDF). British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
58. "2002 European Championships results". World Sailing. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
59. "2006 European Championships report and results". British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
60. "2008 European Championships report final day and results". British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
61. "2010 European Championships results". FF Voile. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
62. "2014 European Championships results". Segelclub Kuehlungsborn. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
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64. "2016 European Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
65. "2018 European Championships". Circolo Vela Arco. Archived from the original on September 9, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
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68. "2021 European Championships". manage2sail. Retrieved Jun 10, 2023.

External links

Class associations

• International Contender Association
• British Contender Association
• Danish Contender Association(in Danish)
• Dutch Contender Association(in Dutch)
• German Contender Association(in German)
• Italian Contender Association(in Italian)
• French Contender Association(in French)

Others

• International Contender Class Rules 2019^[1]
• World Sailing Contender Microsite
• World Sailing

1. "International Contender Class Rules 2019" (PDF). World Sailing. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.