Contender?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3324
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 4:35pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Contender?
Posted By: iwsmithuk
Subject: Contender?
Date Posted: 28 Aug 07 at 10:14am
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Thinking of trying a Contender. I'm 47, reasonably fit, about 72 KG. I've sailed a vortex so I'm used to trapezing/helming. Heard that the contender is difficult to sail to its handicap, particularly in light winds. Anyone any thoughts? Am I too light? Are they a waste of time in a handicap fleet? Anyone in/around Nth London/Essex with one I could try? Or know of one for sale? |
Replies:
Posted By: foaminatthedeck
Date Posted: 28 Aug 07 at 6:00pm
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The contender is a freat boat to sail, at 72kg I have thought that you'd be ok, I was around that weight when I started to sail them although I am about 80-85 now and it is faster in a bit of wind. They arn't great in light winds on py but I'd say that all boat have a favoured wing strenght, the contender just likes >f3. ------------- Lark 2170 |
Posted By: iwsmithuk
Date Posted: 31 Aug 07 at 3:02pm
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Well.....thank you "foaminatthedeck". Otherwise not exactly an overwhelming response. Luckily a bit more help from the Contender yahoo group. |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 31 Aug 07 at 6:45pm
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As for clubs, King George in North London is supposed to be a quite numerous Contender fleet. ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Contender 541
Date Posted: 31 Aug 07 at 8:27pm
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About Ideal for the class. You may find it a bit of a handful being at the 'ideal'-ish weight to start with, but a fantastic boat well worth the effort ------------- When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss Crew on 505 8780 |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 01 Sep 07 at 8:29pm
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I've been thinking of trying a contender for years. Lovely strong wind boat. We had a fast single hander regatta at my club in spring in the prevailing 25knots the contenders did really well - nearly beat the Musto Skiffs on handicap and kept surprisingly close behind on the water. Some of the best ones (wooden all over / painted all over) are totally gorgeous Bit dull in light airs though - especially down wind. Not really a boat you want to have to sit down in. But if you buy a light one and (illegally) remove the lead weights .......... Then you start thinking.. hmm proper performance single hander, wouldn't a kite be nice? RS700??? I drive past KGSC most weeks .. haven't noticed many contenders, but then it's only the big boats whos masts stick up over the dam that you can see from the pub! Looks like a good bit of water though - wide and windy. ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |
Posted By: Villan
Date Posted: 02 Sep 07 at 8:23pm
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Along the same lines as the OP, so I'll continue it in here ... I'm thinking of getting a contender in the near future. Probably wont be until after the Dinghy Show, and after a test sail or two. Anyone at Datchet got one that I would be able to have a play in for 30 mins this Saturday? I'm 65kg, about 5 ft 10, but sail on a slightly shifty small lake. Not too good for the Assymetrics unless its blowing a gale, as the legs arnt long enough for them to hit the angles right, so the lasers usually win everything. Any thoughts? Boat for me? ------------- Vareo - 149 "Secrets" http://www.TandyUKServers.co.uk" rel="nofollow - TandyUK Servers |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 03 Sep 07 at 6:51pm
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65kg would seem a bit light methinks. ... ......start eating pies and drinking guiness. ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |
Posted By: ratface
Date Posted: 03 Sep 07 at 7:08pm
hmm not sure Villan is the type of person that will drink beverages to put on weight or even the pies u don't need a Contender Villan 
------------- http://www.blym.org.uk/ - BLYM http://www.blym.org.uk/hydrs/index.htm - Hertfordshire Sailing team Uk-Cherub 2644 Laser 4000 -4089 |
Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 03 Sep 07 at 7:10pm
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65kg would be very light - you would start to get overpowered just as the boat began to come into its own. You would get wiring early though ! If the lake is small forget it - unless its just for boat handling practise - otherwise you may find yourself chasing the Lasers around. |
Posted By: Villan
Date Posted: 03 Sep 07 at 7:37pm
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I'll eat the pies ... but I'm not a beer person to be honest. ratrace - Why not? Gonna let me singlehand the spice? and yeh, Probably would get overpowered quickly, but its never really that windy where I sail, due to the massive amount of trees around the lake. ------------- Vareo - 149 "Secrets" http://www.TandyUKServers.co.uk" rel="nofollow - TandyUK Servers |
Posted By: ratface
Date Posted: 04 Sep 07 at 12:56pm
James you know how difficult it is to trapeze on bury lake so stick with the vareo for now, learn to drive, pass driving test, then get a contender that way we can go datchet/grafham at weekends for a real blast  ------------- http://www.blym.org.uk/ - BLYM http://www.blym.org.uk/hydrs/index.htm - Hertfordshire Sailing team Uk-Cherub 2644 Laser 4000 -4089 |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 04 Sep 07 at 1:04pm
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Sorry, guys I disagree. On a smallish lake you are MUCH better off being on the light side than the other end of the scale (like me), If you sailed on the sea then maybe it would be different. Yes you will be overpowered early upwind but that's what the kicker is for (crank it on so tight it clips the the tiller)! Offwind you'll fly and should be quicker tacking than us lardies. Also the boat is much more comfortable when you're on the wire getting out there early is a good thing. Give it a season to get the boat handling down and if you don't like it, sell it - you won't get lumbered with a Contender if you but a tidy one over about GBR550. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 04 Sep 07 at 3:06pm
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As someone who always finds himself below the recommended weight for the boats he wants to sail I don’t entirely agree. Yes all other things being equal being small is an advantage… if you have the skill to keep the boat upright… but being too big for a boat makes it much easier when learning or for when you either, not that good, or you don’t get to spend the time on water to be that good. For example Its much easier to sail an overpowered boat when you can briefly pause on the side after a each tack should you need to rather than have to get immediately out on the wire regardless. I’m not suggesting that its better to be big rather that there advantages to both. Ian
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