The season begins - Contender class fixtures for 2023

by Ed Presley 3 Mar 2023 17:20 GMT

Contender Nationals at Brightlingsea © William Stacey

Following a decent return to action in 2022 the Contender fleet have a bumper year planned for 2023. With a return to international competition for the UK fleet at the Attersee Europeans and a Brilliant Nationals at Brightlingsea SC it is a hard'ish act to follow, but things look rosy.

Graeme Wilcox of Netley became the man to beat in '22 winning every event he entered apart from one, the Inland champs at Rutland that fell to Stuart Jones who tends to win that one without trying too hard. Graeme is the national champ as well as the Travellers winner and now with a target on his back. A new boat should make that repeat slightly easier.

Looking at 2023 there are new venues, new faces and superb world championships to look forward to. We start the year with a chance to brush off the winter funk with tuning day free from the pressure of racing. Burton SC will host the Contender as they run various practice manoeuvres and learn from each other on the Saturday followed by a traditional three race day on the Sunday.

Allen Contender Travellers at Highcliffe - photo © Sarah Desjonqueres

The Traveller trophy will once again visit Oxford sailing club, Hayling island before the Northern champs take place at Yorkshire dales, all venue's we know and love.

Into the summer the class returns to the Contender strongholds of Poole yacht club and Hythe and Saltwood sailing club, with a new venue this year of Shoreham that is perfect to use as practice before the year's major international event takes place.

The World Championships are in Keterminde in Denmark, July 1-8th the class expects to see 140 boats on the start line. The UK as always will send a strong team of around 30 boats, please come and join us if you can, these events are incredibly well run, and the sailing is of a standard that is bound to improve anyone's game.

For the truly keen, the Contenders will have their own start at Kiel Week place taking just before the Worlds, another sailing adventure to tick off the list.

Allen Contender Travellers at Highcliffe - photo © Sarah Desjonqueres

Returning to the UK, we take advantage of the strong Contender fleet at Weston SC at the end of July before moving down the road to Lee-on-Solent in early August.

On the 26th of August the BCA will be running a training day for all new and intermediate sailors. This event will take place at Oxford sailing club. The event will be open to all, but will be aimed at developing the skills of those new to the class or looking to improve. The training is free to all BCA members and will be run by an experienced coach, with input from Contender hot shots to get that boat specific info. Please contact the class via the website if you are interested.

This will set all UK sailors up nicely for the UK Nationals at Exe sailing club, on 7-10th September. As the big events conclude there are still two gems of Contender sailing left to close out the year, Castle Cove and Rutland always offer a big fleet and close racing.

Please come and join us, if you own a Contender and have been hoping to improve you will receive a warm welcome. Demo sails are available at all of the events mention or at clubs around the country, please get in touch to try one out, via www.sailcontender.org.uk