Contender

 

I believe we met at Chew when I was not allowed out due to lack of water, (I chickened out).

 

The standard thinking on rake is more is better (without losing sail area or leach tension) and this has been proved many times by multple world champs, anyone argueing with this is either very brave or a sailing star, I won't be raising my boom as I am neither. One star who doing something different is Ben McGrane who has gone for a short leach and more roach and he is taking alot of podiums, although he knows his sailing onions, which helps. So there is is an option for comfort and speed but its the minority.

 

One nice thing about the Contender is that can choose your kit. A competative boat can found cheaply, Older Wavelengths with carbon sticks and a Wavelength sail can win events. The same goes for Bob Hoare and Chris Somner boats which are the later iterations of the wavelength. Obviously Bonnezi's are sought after but come up very rarly, but to say that they are faster is not acurate. They have the reputation because Andrea has been so successful and now most of the top sailors use them. The plastics are equal to them but without the legacy. Stu Jones is arguabley our most consistant winner and he sails a Somner boat.

 

Things to consider; its a dog in the light and a joy in anything over f2. Its very stable and will get out in conditions that other fleets would'nt. You will want a low boom at some point and you will get stuck. The Centreboard is long so not great for low water. The International events are awesome, relaxed and competative.

 

If you want a try mines at chew ready to go.