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=8540
Printed Date: 06 Aug 25 at 1:19am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Contender
Posted By: Ruscoe
Subject: Contender
Date Posted: 16 Nov 11 at 11:11pm
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Hi, Could someone on here answer a few questions i have around the Contender? i would register on their forum, but its one of those nightmare yahoo groups.
First off what's the ideal weight range for contender sailing? What hulls are competitive currently? How much do you need to spend to buy a competitive(Ish) boat? I have seen pictures of sails with slightly shorter leach making the boom higher, is this common place? As the low boom has always put me off them...i know someone will say its not a problem but i have hated it the several times i have sailed one.
Thanks in advance
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Replies:
Posted By: Contender 541
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 8:05am
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Morning Russ
Weight Range - 85-95Kg will take heavier (I was 105 when I had both of mine), will take lighter as the rig is quite tuneable
What Hull - TBH, it is a case of pay your money and take your choice (Wavelength hulls are still out there and competing), but Bonezzi boats are always at the front of the fleet and look stunning
The big question of cost - something 7-10 years old with a couple of sails will be around the £2k mark - you can add onto that for carbon spars. I sold 651 for £2500 about 3 years ago and she had a carbon boom but aluminium mast. With a carbon mast, £3k to 3.2k
Shorter leach - has been done but not so common
Low boom - you do get used to it (honest!!), just the same as you get used to passing the tiller extension around the back of the boat rather than through it (Although when in a hurry.....you get wet)
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When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss
Crew on 505 8780
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Posted By: allanorton
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 8:11am
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First off what's the ideal weight range for contender sailing? At the worlds, sailors weight probably ranged from about 60kg to 110kg, I would say that Bjarke (1st) would have been about 75kg, & Andrea(6th) I heard, was about 110kg. I would say the ideal weight would be between 80kg & 95kg. What hulls are competitive currently? Any hulls up to about 15 years old (about GBR 650) can be competitve with a decent carbon rig, it's more down to the sailor. The best hulls are probably wooden Bonezzis, or Wavelength/Chris Somner/Bob Hoare foam sandwich. How much do you need to spend to buy a competitive(Ish) boat? About £4k, GBR692 is advertised on the website for about £3.7k I have seen pictures of sails with slightly shorter leach making the boom higher, is this common place? You can have a short leech sail made, I think they will become more common.
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Posted By: Rockhopper
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 8:22am
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Low boom put me off as i sailed them in the early nineties and when i swapped fleets this year i changed and bought a 600 but that was my own choice but i am 6ft 3" so the low boom was always a problem for me. Still they are great boats and very quick if only the boom was up a bit i would have had one again
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Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest.
2004 national champ Laser5000
2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 11:02am
I've owned five contenders now, and everything said so far is pretty much right. I've ranged from 80kg - 85kg when racing and have always wished I weighed more, not less. I am 5'11".
The boom is not an issue. If you think about it, you're only under there for a split second or so. You learn to sort of roll under it and it's not a problem.
I own 2359, a Kevin Gosling built composite (built 2005) with lovely wooden decks but a composite hull. It has full wavelength carbon rig, brand new wavelength sail used for one hour only! Spare training sails, club racing sail, winder stock, milanes foils, all the goodies.....As soon as I come to my senses and realise I can't sail it anymore it will be for sale for around £3750.
There is a fantastic racing circuit, coastal and inland, home and abroad.
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the same, but different...
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Posted By: Contender443
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 2:11pm
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Don't forget you can also get Harpprecht hulls from Germany. To my knowledge there are 3 of these in the UK and much more in Europe. They are significantly cheaper than the Bonezzi or Somner boats.
They are also bomb proof and I do not know of one that leaks. That cannot be said of other builders. I was very happy with mine and would still be sailing it had I not chosen a totally different type of sailing.
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Bonnie Lass Contender 1764
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Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 2:35pm
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The Harpprecht hulls seem good. There's one here which does well, though that probably has more to do with who sails it! But it does look very well built and finished. I don't think they are greatly cheaper than Somner boats anymore though. They may have been a few years ago when the £ was stronger against the euro (where's that damned key?), but that's certainly less true now, though the way things are going that may change again!
However, you won't find a cheap 2nd hand one about in the UK, yet.
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Peter
Ex Cont 707
Ex Laser 189635
DY 59
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Posted By: Ruscoe
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 3:09pm
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Thanks guys. All interesting stuff, weight wise i am fine then. Glad the hear that shorter leech sails are likely to become popular. I know people say the boom is not a problem, but i wouldn't buy one with the current setup. If i can get a shorter leech sail it may be the boat for me.
Thanks again.
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Posted By: mattmd
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 9:31pm
Im 6ft 2 and havent found the boom too much hassle once youre used to it :)
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Matt MD
Contender GBR-620
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Posted By: Ruscoe
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 10:37pm
Too much, is still too much for me. Short leech is way forward, if i look into it any further... Thanks again guys.
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 18 Nov 11 at 9:38am
Russ, you can have your leech pretty much the way you want it - the rules around the sail design are quite forgiving. You just have to go to a sailmaker and tell them what you want within the template of the rules, but a short leech is already allowed.
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the same, but different...
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Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 18 Nov 11 at 10:29am
Does anyone have a clear view on whether it's in fact better to have a slightly shorter leech, or slightly less rake? I have a bit less rake than is fashionable these days, as it just makes it that bit easier under the boom, and capsizing is so sloooow! But would it in fact be better to lose a little of the bottom of the sail and rake more?
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Peter
Ex Cont 707
Ex Laser 189635
DY 59
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Posted By: mattmd
Date Posted: 19 Nov 11 at 12:08am
Not an expert but id go for shorter leech with more rake. Sail makers have made sails with shooter leeches for this reason. One of my wavelengths sails has a short leech and you could rake it back and still get under the boom no trouble
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Matt MD
Contender GBR-620
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Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 10:00pm
On the weight side of things, I sailed my last Contender at about 95kg and that was too much on a pond as I needed to come off the wire in the lulls. If I'd been lighter I could have stayed out and feathered in the puffs. On open water 95kg was fine.
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Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36
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Posted By: popeye_ali
Date Posted: 24 Dec 11 at 12:51pm
Anyone know of any decent boats for sale at the moment guys!?
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RS400, RS600, RS700, RS800, Int Moth, Laser. Musto Skiff (current)
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Posted By: kurio99
Date Posted: 26 Dec 11 at 1:44pm
Originally posted by Contender443
I was very happy with mine and would still be sailing it had I not chosen a totally different type of sailing. |
Looks like you moved from a Contender to an RS100. While the chute is a nice piece of kit, some might consider it a step down to give up the trap. May I ask what drove your decision?
(Not knocking the decision, as I recently purchased a similar type of boat, but not for reasons of performance, otherwise Contender would have been my choise.)
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Posted By: E.J.
Date Posted: 01 Jan 12 at 5:54pm
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Hi Ruscoe,
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.
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