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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 <ref name="AGM2000-1" /><ref name="AGM2000-2" /> and a rule change in 2002
• allow loose footed sail; proposal in 2000 <ref name="AGM2000-1" /><ref name="AGM2000-2" /> and a rule change in 2002
• allow other material than aluminium for the boom; proposal in 2002 <ref name="AGM2002-1" /><ref name="AGM2002-2" /> and a rule change in 2003

The Contender Microsite on World Sailing has a section with the latest class rules.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Events

World Championships

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European Championships

1974	country|text=|GER}}, Kiel	Template:Flagathlete
1975	country|text=|SWE}}, Strömstad	Template:Flagathlete
1976	{{#invoke:flag|country|text=|GBR}}, Hayling Island	Template:Flagathlete
1977	country|text=|NED}}, Medemblik	Template:Flagathlete
1978	country|text=|ITA}}, Lake Garda	Template:Flagathlete
1979	country|text=|CHE}}, Lake Silvaplana	Template:Flagathlete
1980 ?	country|text=|GER}}, Travemunde
1983	country|text=|ITA}}, Porto Sant'Elpidio	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1985 ?	country|text=|DEN}}, Struer
1988	country|text=|NED}}, Medemblik	Template:Flagathlete
1989	country|text=|ITA}}, Imperia	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1992	country|text=|SWE}}, Båstad	Template:Flagathlete
1995	country|text=|GER}}, Warnemünde	Template:Flagathlete
1997	country|text=|DEN}}, Aarhus	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	<ref name="CONTENDERING 1998-03" />
2001	country|text=|FRA}}, Loctudy	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	<ref name="Loctudy" />
2002	country|text=|DEN}}, Hellerup	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2006	country|text=|AUT}}, Ebensee	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2008	country|text=|ITA}}, Punta Alta	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2010	country|text=|FRA}}, La Rochelle	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2012	country|text=|SWE}}, Gottskär	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2014	{{#invoke:flag|country|text=|GER}}, Kühlungsborn	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2016	country|text=|GBR}}, Highcliffe	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018	{{#invoke:flag|country|text=|ITA}}, Lake Garda	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2021	country|text=|GER}}, Warnemünde	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

<references> <ref name="AGM2000-1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="AGM2000-2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="AGM2002-1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="AGM2002-2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

<ref name="CONTENDERING 1998-03">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="Loctudy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> </references>

External links

Class associations

• International Contender Association
• British Contender Association
• Danish Contender AssociationTemplate:In lang
• Dutch Contender AssociationTemplate:In lang
• German Contender AssociationTemplate:In lang
• Italian Contender AssociationTemplate:In lang
• French Contender AssociationTemplate:In lang

Others

• International Contender Class Rules 2019<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• World Sailing Contender Microsite
• World Sailing