Hi, I have just got myself a nice contender, in pretty good nick. Does anyone have any secret hints on getting tacks and gybes right. Also how can I find the sail number, as there is a build number on it.(Built in New South Wales), but the number on the sail is not right as it was brought as a second hand sail.

Cheers

Jp

Well done JP good choice - join the Contender group on Yahoo and you will find tips from the top sailors. Recently they have been giving tips to a newbie on how to trapeze.

What is the build number of the boat? You can contact the class secretary - I know he has a box with all the measurement certificates of UK boats. He can estimate your sail number from there if he does not have the exact boat. A question on the yahoo group may also get a response. The Aussies are pretty active on there, it is not just the Brits.

You could also mention, dear Contender443, that the plaque number is now recognised as a valid sail number. No need to obtain a GBR sail number any longer.

The plaque number on my boat is 150, which makes it pretty old indeed (but not quite as old as me).

Have a great time with your Contender, jp, and if you feel brave enough, you can always join Contender443 and the rest of the crowd at Medemblik for the 40th anniversary Worlds in July!

At the mo. you still need a GBR sail number as well, otherwise the RYA sulk!  But a lot of boats are now using the plack number on the sail.

My tip would be get the mast set up right (plenty of rake with about 30mm of pre-bend, then pull 25mm of the bend out with the lowers) otherwise the boat will trip over in gusts.

Tacking comes with lots of practice, theres lots of different techniques in the fleet, but bottom line is you need to be the quickset to get on the new wire.

http://www.wavelengthdesigns.com/content/view/19/39/ - Plenty of advice from far better sailors than me on links below.

http://www.wavelengthdesigns.com/content/view/19/39/ - http://www.wavelengthdesigns.com/content/view/19/39/

http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/ - http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/

http://ica.contenderworld.de/ - http://ica.contenderworld.de/

Danish champ Soren makes it looks very easy http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5341076536249820244&q=contender+denmark - HERE  

Is he using some sort of stiff wand like contraption on the trapeze adjuster of make it easier to hook on?

Yes he is using something like this

http://contenderworld.de/int/newbie_help/trap_handle_den.html - http://contenderworld.de/int/newbie_help/trap_handle_den.htm l

It makes it easier to grab thae handle on the way out and hook on one handed once you are out of the boat. Nice if you can do it but I removed these from my boat.

Soren's tacking is pretty impressive, I wonder why only a few of the British Contenders use this method?

It looks fast but it seems only a few Europeans use it to good effect.

Agility and flexibilty, that's why. Not many sailors can be tall/heavy enough to handle the boat well in strong winds and be agile enough to fit under the boom if the kicker's only off a notch.
Tony White, highly esteemed and experienced Contender sailor, always says you recognise Contenderers because they have the main tower etched in their forehead. (my own experience tells me you also recognise them by their aptitude to ingest vast quantities of beer, curry and chocolate, and a desperate lack of dancing skills)

I think Soren's wasted on a Contender: he's ready for a Musto Skiff!

I'm well aquainted with the tower! I know that quite a few Contenders have tried the method but have not seen the benefit over the more sedate but safe way.

maybe i'll give it a try. Tower on the buttock instead!!

He just throws it across and picks it up on his way through, although its done so quickly you can't see it.

By crouching backward you get the main bulk of your body in the biggest gap i.e. closest to the tower, therefore you can squeeze on a bit more kicker and rake, which Contenders like.

Can anyone see what he does with the main sheet?

And I don't understand the link that shows how his trapeze works. Can anyone interpret this picture?

Took the contender out yesterday for a spin, in a nice 3/4. Managed to stay up apart from once.

The build number is 368. So can I use this as the actual sail no.? As I said before it was built ion Australia. Also, to find the age, do I contact the class secretary?

Yeah, essentially the bit between the handle/adjuster and the ring you hook on to is made rigid by the tube so when you swing out you have some control over where the ring is and can move it to the most convenient place to hook on. You also get really good feedback that you are hooked on before commiting your weight to it.

I've tried wire to wire tacking - where you hang your body weight on your arm and unhook/hook on whilst on the rail - my upper body strength is just not good enough to support my lower body weight whilst also trying to steer/sheet.

I sort of tried it once, and unhooked before I came in.........Unfortunatly I also forgot to hang on to the handle  The word pillock (honest) was in my head before I hit the water

Could someone remind me how to sail a Contender. I had my first sail in it today since September.  

Never tried the wire to wiring as my upper boidy strength is not up to it. I was struggling with the mainsheet today!!

I guess I have to get some practice in before I go to Holland.

How stable is a Contender? A comparison would be useful.

How tall/heavy are you Contender sailors?

Thanks

How stable - Certainly more stable than a laser, its just the idiot on the wire that has a tendency to make it look bad

How tall - Well I am 6'1 and 100kg (so a tall lard arse then)