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
International maritime signal flag 'Charly'
A Contender on reach at the 1998 worlds
Development
DesignerBen Lexcen
LocationAustralia
Year1967
DesignOne-Design
RoleFleet racing
Boat
Crew1
Draft1,447 mm (57.0 in)
TrapezeSingle trapeze
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionGRP
Wood
Composite (Wood/GRP)
Hull weight83 kg (183 lb)
LOA4,875 mm (191.9 in)
Beam1,500 mm (59 in)
Hull appendages
Keel/board typeCentreboard
Rudder(s)skeg hung
Rig
GeneralBermuda rig
I foretriangle height4,345 mm (171.1 in)
J foretriangle base1,250 mm (49 in)
P mainsail luff3,050 mm (120 in)
E mainsail foot2,700 mm (110 in)
Mast length6,427 mm (253.0 in)
Sails
Mainsail area10.8 m2 (116 sq ft)
Racing
D-PN90.1[1]
RYA PN970[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 BronzeRef
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 ThirdRef
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
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  1. "International Contender Class Rules 2019" (PDF). World Sailing. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
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