Contender (dinghy)
International racing sailing class
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
European Championships
References
^ "Centerboard Classes" . US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012 .
^ "Portsmouth Number List 2017" . Royal Yachting Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017 .
^ Henshall, David (2010). 'Hooked On! The International Contender Story . Matador. ISBN 978-1-84876-318-0 .
^ "The history of the contender class" . International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ a b "AGM Minutes - 2000 - page 1" . International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
^ a b "AGM Minutes - 2000 - page 2" . International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
^ "AGM Minutes - 2002 - page 1" . International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
^ "AGM Minutes -2002 - page 2" . International Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017.
^ "Contender class rules" . World Sailing. Retrieved August 21, 2017 .
^ "1970 World Championships event info" . World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1972 World Championships event info" . World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1976 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1977 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1980 World Championships results" (PDF) . German Contender Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1980 World Championships results" . World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020 .
^ "1982 World Championships results" (PDF) . German Contender Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1983 World Championships event info" . World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1984 World Championships report and results" (PDF) . German Contender Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1986 World Championships event info and results" . World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "1993 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "1995 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "1996 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "1997 World Championships report and results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "Contendering 1998-11" (PDF) . British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "1998 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "1999 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "Contendering 2001-02" (PDF) . British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "2000 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ a b "Contendering 2002 Spring" (PDF) . British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "2003 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "2004 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "2005 World Championships report and results" . British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2006 World Championships report and results" . British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2007 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "2008 World Championships results" . German Contender Association. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "2009 World Championships event info and results" . World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2010 World Championships report and results" . Sail World. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2011 World Championships event info and results" . World Sailing. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2012 World Championships report and results" . Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2013 World Championships report and results" . Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2014 World Championships report and results" . Sail World. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2015 Event web site" . Dutch Contender Association. Archived from the original on January 3, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2015 World Championships report and results" . Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "Results Contender - Gold" .
^ "2016 World Championships report and results" . Sail World. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "Contender World Championship manage2sail" . www.manage2sail.com .
^ "2017 World Championships event info" . McCrae Yacht Club. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017 .
^ "2019 Worlds in Quiberon" . International Contender Class Association. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020 .
^ "2019 Worlds in Quiberon, Results" (PDF) . Contender France. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020 .
^ "2020 World Championships event in Medemblik cancelled" . Dutch Contender Association. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020 .
^ "2021 Worlds in Warnemünde" . International Contender Class Association. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020 .
^ "Contented Worlds Official Results" . Retrieved 21 January 2023 .
^ "Contender Worlds Event Micosite" . Retrieved 21 January 2023 .
^ "Contender World Championship manage2sail" . www.manage2sail.com .
^ "1989 European Championships results" . Contender Italia. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020 .
^ "Contendering 1998-03" (PDF) . British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "Contendering 2002 Spring" (PDF) . British Contender Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017 .
^ "2002 European Championships results" . World Sailing. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020 .
^ "2006 European Championships report and results" . British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2008 European Championships report final day and results" . British Contender Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 .
^ "2010 European Championships results" . FF Voile. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020 .
^ "2014 European Championships results" . Segelclub Kuehlungsborn. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2020 .
^ "2014 European Championships report" . Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020 .
^ "2016 European Championships report and results" . Yachts and Yachting. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2020 .
^ "2018 European Championships" . Circolo Vela Arco. Archived from the original on September 9, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020 .
^ "European Championships Gold Fleet" (PDF) . Circolo Vela Arco. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2020 .
^ "European Championships Silver Fleet" (PDF) . Circolo Vela Arco. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020 .
^ "2021 European Championships" . manage2sail. Retrieved Jun 10, 2023 .
External links
Class associations
Others
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