ONBOARD Classnotes
International Contender B
BY VANESSA BIRD
en Lexcen is probably one of the most famous Australians in yachting history. It was his 1983
12-Metre Australia II, with its winged keel, that took the America’s Cup away from the Americans. The other design for which he is known is the 15ft 9in (4.8m) International Contender. Designed in 1967, this high-performance dinghy was just as innovative. It was one of the first trapeze singlehanders to be mass-produced, and is now sailed in 17 countries worldwide, with over 2,400 on the water.
Designed under his original name Bob Miller (he changed his name at the age of 38 to avoid confusion after he left his sailmaking company Miller & Whitworth), the prototype Contender had its roots in the Australian 18ft Skiff class. Lexcen was a keen Skiff sailor, and had already produced a number of successful designs for the class. The first prototype Contender, or
‘Miller’s Missile’ as it was known, was constructed of a simple box section, had a fully battened bermudan mainsail and was rigged with a trapeze. Lexcen had designed it as a possible replacement for the International Finn at the Olympic Games. Miller’s Missile subsequently developed into Dorothy, a smaller version of the Flying Dutchman, and it was this that he took to the IYRU’s trials in La Baule, France.
HIGH POWER-TO-WEIGHT The Contender, with its high power-to-weight ratio, performed well, despite light conditions, but it was decided that another set of trials was needed before a decision was made. Lexcen again tweaked his design, increasing the Contender’s freeboard and its sail area, and at the trials at Medemblick in the Netherlands it triumphed and was the unanimous first choice. Backing from the IYRU and international status proved a major boost for the class, but it was the
72 CLASSIC BOAT MARCH 2012
ALL IN A NAME The prototype was called Dorothy after Lexcen’s wife. However, he had to change the name when a sailcloth manufacturer sponsored him to take the boat to the IYRU trials at La Baule, France. ‘Contender’ was one of the sailcloths the company produced.
THE PRICE? Secondhand wooden Contenders can be found for as little as £500, but for a newer, composite boat, expect to pay up to £9,000. New boats are available from Chris Somner, who has been building them since 2006, or Gosling Dinghy Craft of Sidmouth, Devon.
hard work of the launch committee, and in particular Freddie Gale back in Australia, that helped ensure the class got off to the best start possible. Gale and his colleague Mike Baker helped promote the Contender around the world, especially in Europe. The first World Championships were held in the UK in 1970 at Hayling Island, and since then have been hosted around the world, rotating between America and the North and South hemispheres, and attracting up to 150 boats. Despite its popularity, the Contender has never made it to the Olympics – a surprise to many, who consider the Contender a challenging and very skilful boat to sail. It’s not one for the beginner, but with a bit of experience can be very exhilarating. A highly responsive rig, which includes a flexible topmast that depowers the rig in gusty conditions, allows you more time to concentrate on sailing and keeping the boat upright rather than tweaking. However, because the mast is raked quite far aft you have to be nimble in order to squeeze between the boom and deck – a knack that needs to be learned quickly when tacking and gybing! Once mastered, however, the Contender is very speedy, quick to rise up on the plane and lots of fun.
Contender: exhilarating with a bit of experience
BUILD YOURSELF Plans are also available from the ISAF for amateur construction in wood. Building in GRP by amateurs is not permitted, but GRP hulls built by licensed builders may be fitted out. Plans costs as little as £20, but there is also a licence (which you need to pay in order to race) costing around £120.
BUYING SECONDHAND Such was the quality of build that Contender hulls, particularly GRP, have aged quite well. Rig tensions are only about 300lb (91kg), which is relatively low, so generally the hulls aren’t stressed too much. One weak area, however, is the joint between the hull and decks, as this can leak.
www.sailcontender.org.uk www.contenderclass.org
INTERNATIONAL CONTENDER LOA
15ft 9in (4.9m) BEAM
4ft 9in (1.5m) DRAUGHT
4ft 6in (1.4m) SAIL AREA
116sqft (10.8m2
DISPLACEMENT 183lb (83kg)
DESIGNER Bob Miller (Ben Lexcen) )
VANESSA BIRD
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