Contender (dinghy)

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

[edit on Wikidata]

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.

## Contents

* 1 Background
* 2 Class rule changes
* 3 Events
* 3.1 World Championships
* 3.2 European Championships
* 4 References
* 5 External links
* 5.1 Class associations
* 5.2 Others

## 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. http://offshore.ussailing.org/Portsmouth_Yardstick/Current_Tables/Centerboard_Classes.htm.
2. ↑ "Portsmouth Number List 2017". Royal Yachting Association. http://www.rya.org.uk/racing/Pages/portsmouthyardstick.aspx.
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. http://contenderclass.org/the-class/history.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "AGM Minutes - 2000 - page 1". International Contender Association. http://contenderclass.org/the-class/agm-minutes/170-agm-2000-p1.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "AGM Minutes - 2000 - page 2". International Contender Association. http://contenderclass.org/the-class/agm-minutes/185-agm-2000-p2.
7. ↑ "AGM Minutes - 2002 - page 1". International Contender Association. http://contenderclass.org/the-class/agm-minutes/168-agm-2002-p1.
8. ↑ "AGM Minutes -2002 - page 2". International Contender Association. http://contenderclass.org/the-class/agm-minutes/186-agm-2002-p2.
9. ↑ "Contender class rules". World Sailing. http://www.sailing.org/28191.php.
10. ↑ "1970 World Championships event info". World Sailing. http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15720&regattaid=15720&evntid=29975.
11. ↑ "1972 World Championships event info". World Sailing. http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15719&regattaid=15719&evntid=29974.
12. ↑ "1976 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1976.html.
13. ↑ "1977 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1977_worlds/worlds_1977.html.
14. ↑ "1980 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1980_worlds/80WorldsResults.pdf.
15. ↑ "1980 World Championships results". World Sailing. https://site-isaf.soticcloud.net/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15713&regattaid=15713&evntid=29968#results__15713.
16. ↑ "1982 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1982 Worlds/final_results_1982.pdf.
17. ↑ "1983 World Championships event info". World Sailing. http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15710&regattaid=15710&evntid=29965.
18. ↑ "1984 World Championships report and results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1984_Worlds/1984-Riva-Worlds-Reports_&_Overall_Results.pdf.
19. ↑ "1986 World Championships event info and results". World Sailing. http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=15707&regattaid=15707&evntid=29962.
20. ↑ "1993 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://contenderworld.de/results/worlds/1993_worlds/wc-1993.html.
21. ↑ "1995 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1995.html.
22. ↑ "1996 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1996.html.
23. ↑ "1997 World Championships report and results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1997.html.
24. ↑ "Contendering 1998-11". British Contender Association. http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/contendering/nov98.pdf.
25. ↑ "1998 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1998.html.
26. ↑ "1999 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc1999.html.
27. ↑ "Contendering 2001-02". British Contender Association. http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/contendering/feb2001.pdf.
28. ↑ "2000 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2000.html.
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Contendering 2002 Spring". British Contender Association. http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/contendering/spring2002.pdf.
30. ↑ "2003 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2003.html.
31. ↑ "2004 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2004.html.
32. ↑ "2005 World Championships report and results". British Contender Association. https://www.sailcontender.org.uk/reports-a-results/2005-reports-1/14-world-championship-2005-travemunde.
33. ↑ "2006 World Championships report and results". British Contender Association. https://www.sailcontender.org.uk/reports-a-results/2006-reports-3/45-2006-worlds-fremantle-australia.
34. ↑ "2007 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2007.html.
35. ↑ "2008 World Championships results". German Contender Association. http://www.contenderworld.de/results/worlds/wc2008.html.
36. ↑ "2009 World Championships event info and results". World Sailing. https://members.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=fleetevent&rgtaid=10812&evntid=20850.
37. ↑ "2010 World Championships report and results". Sail World. http://www.sail-world.com/USA/40th-Contender-World-Championships
a-new-Champion/65388.
38. ↑ "2011 World Championships event info and results". World Sailing. http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?view=eventoa&rgtaid=13079&regattaid=13079&evntid=25410.
39. ↑ "2012 World Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/162843.
40. ↑ "2013 World Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/171121.
41. ↑ "2014 World Championships report and results". Sail World. http://www.sail-world.com:80/USA/Contender-World-Championship-2014--Bulka-wins-after-protest/118669.
42. ↑ "2015 Event web site". Dutch Contender Association. http://worlds2015.contenderzeilen.nl/.
43. ↑ "2015 World Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/184701.
44. ↑ "Results Contender - Gold". http://kzrvhollandia.nl/wp-content/uploads/uitslagen-2468/Contender.html.
45. ↑ "2016 World Championships report and results". Sail World. http://www.sail-world.com/144300.
46. ↑ "Contender World Championship manage2sail". http://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/abe38d2b-06e5-4735-baf0-e172f65298d5#!/results?classId=f474d8f9-993b-49ca-937c-95addd6a511f.
47. ↑ "2017 World Championships event info". McCrae Yacht Club. http://www.mccraeyc.com.au/index.php/regattas/upcoming-regattas/2018-contender-worlds.
48. ↑ "2019 Worlds in Quiberon". International Contender Class Association. https://contenderclass.org/the-class/class-news/92-major-events.
49. ↑ "2019 Worlds in Quiberon, Results". Contender France. http://contenderfrance.org/images/articles/W19/results/Wdef.pdf.
50. ↑ "2020 World Championships event in Medemblik cancelled". Dutch Contender Association. https://www.contenderzeilen.nl/index.php/contender-worlds-2020.
51. ↑ "2021 Worlds in Warnemünde". International Contender Class Association. https://www.contenderclass.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=95&Itemid=326.
52. ↑ "Contented Worlds Official Results". http://www.sportspage.com.au/yacht_clubs/rfbyc/ContenderWorlds2023/Contender_World_Championship.htm.
53. ↑ "Contender Worlds Event Micosite". https://rfbyc.asn.au/50th-contender-world-championship/.
54. ↑ "Contender World Championship manage2sail". https://manage2sail.com/en-US/event/75509fda-1133-40bf-be5e-c34f05e73ad2#!/results?classId=c531056e-89ae-4ed5-aff2-292cae69d211.
55. ↑ "1989 European Championships results". Contender Italia. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10223555352142720.
56. ↑ "Contendering 1998-03". British Contender Association. http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/contendering/mar98.pdf.
57. ↑ "Contendering 2002 Spring". British Contender Association. http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/contendering/spring2002.pdf.
58. ↑ "2002 European Championships results". World Sailing. https://www.sailing.org/news/19164.php.
59. ↑ "2006 European Championships report and results". British Contender Association. https://www.sailcontender.org.uk/reports-a-results/2006-reports-3/90-europeans-06-report.
60. ↑ "2008 European Championships report final day and results". British Contender Association. https://www.sailcontender.org.uk/reports-a-results/2008-reports/182-europeans-08-final-day.
61. ↑ "2010 European Championships results". FF Voile. http://www.ffvoile.fr/ffv/sportif/ClmtCompetDet.asp?clid=59636.
62. ↑ "2014 European Championships results". Segelclub Kuehlungsborn. http://segelclub-kuehlungsborn.de/?p=439.
63. ↑ "2014 European Championships report". Yachts and Yachting. https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/178184/Contender-Europeans-in-Kuhlungsborn.
64. ↑ "2016 European Championships report and results". Yachts and Yachting. https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/192135/Contender-Europeans-at-Highcliffe-overall.
65. ↑ "2018 European Championships". Circolo Vela Arco. http://www.circolovelaarco.it/regate-icagenda-menu/39-contender-european-championship.
66. ↑ "European Championships Gold Fleet". Circolo Vela Arco. http://www.circolovelaarco.it/images/REGATE/REGATE_2018/CONTENDER/Risultati_CONTENDER_-_GOLD.pdf.
67. ↑ "European Championships Silver Fleet". Circolo Vela Arco. http://www.circolovelaarco.it/images/REGATE/REGATE_2018/CONTENDER/Risultati_CONTENDER_-_SILVER.pdf.
68. ↑ "2021 European Championships". manage2sail. https://www.manage2sail.com/nl-NL/event/WarnemuenderWoche2021#!/results?classId=3e27bcb2-dfff-4f9f-9294-ff69b9201d9b.

## External links

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Contender (dinghy) (category)

|

### Class associations

* International Contender Association
* British Contender Association
* Danish Contender AssociationScript error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.
* Dutch Contender AssociationScript error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.
* German Contender AssociationScript error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.
* Italian Contender AssociationScript error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.
* French Contender AssociationScript error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.

### Others

* International Contender Class Rules 2019[1]
* World Sailing Contender Microsite
* World Sailing

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Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contender (dinghy). Read more

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1. ↑ [25142.pdf "International Contender Class Rules 2019"]. World Sailing. https://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/CNT2019CR20190618-[25142].pdf.

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Engineering:Contender_(dinghy)&oldid=789082"
*[GBR]: Great Britain
*[AUS]: Australia
*[USA]: United States
*[NZL]: New Zealand
*[GER]: Germany
*[NED]: Netherlands
*[ITA]: Italy
*[DEN]: Denmark