Contenders
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Banter
Forum Discription: For all those non-sailing related discussions
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=885
Printed Date: 15 Aug 25 at 8:15am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Contenders
Posted By: tgruitt
Subject: Contenders
Date Posted: 26 Jul 05 at 11:01am
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I'm thinkin about getting a boat. A contender springs t mind so come on guys what info do you have! ------------- Needs to sail more... |
Replies:
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 26 Jul 05 at 11:56am
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OK. Where do u sail? Sea/lake etc? Which boats do ur club sail? What
hhave u sailed before? Height/weight? If ur cherub champion...
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 26 Jul 05 at 1:31pm
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i sail in the sea at plymouth sound or just a bit further up the estuary. have sailed L4000, merlin rockets cherubs and N12's. Its either a contender or a cherub but i can't decide! ------------- Needs to sail more... |
Posted By: Phil eltringham
Date Posted: 26 Jul 05 at 4:03pm
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Get a B14, there are a couple down there already, and the way things are looking mine may be there soon too. You wont be the first person to come to the class from cherubs. ------------- FLAT IS FAST! Shifts Happen |
Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 26 Jul 05 at 4:14pm
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but I dont want a b14, I would rather have a cherub becasue they're not 1 design! and I wanna twin wire or just trapeze! Anyways I like fiddling and changing things and you cant do that with a B14! ------------- Needs to sail more... |
Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 26 Jul 05 at 4:16pm
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I wouldnt mind crewing a B14 though. Hint Hint
------------- Needs to sail more... |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 26 Jul 05 at 5:20pm
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Well Tom. Where do I start? The Contender is great on the sea/sheltered inshore I sailed the 03 Worlds at Plymouth and it was great. You need to be 11.5 stone plus to be really competitive but the rig is really easy to depower. You have to give yourself at least a full season at it as there is a 'click' at some point where everything falls into place. I wouldn't buy a really new one at first as you will scratch the hell out of it with your trapeze harness as you flounder around, but you can get a club competitive learner for less than a grand, a peach for around 2k and the dogs for about 4k. Everyone complains about; the low boom (let the kicker off to tack or get more supple), the weight (none of us are slim as we used to be but it does help in the heavy stuff), dog-like performance in light airs (no offence to any dogs reading) but these things are easily outweighed when the wind gets to 12-15MPH and you cruise past Laser sailors with the anticipation of pain showing in their eyes. You have to stick with it in light and heavy but once again eventually something clicks and you start stringing results together to make reasonable series. Have a go in one - you arn't too far from Graham Scott at Wavelength who make the only sails worth having and is an all round top bloke. Check out the BCA website (address in the classes section on Y&Y) and especially the 'How do you sail the damn thing?' section. If you're ever at Weston SC in Southampton have a word with Alan, Simon or Phil who can arrange a go in the club 'Spare' boat. Or if you're up near me have a go in mine. Anything else? ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 02 Aug 05 at 8:43am
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So tgruitt, have you go it? There have been a few Contenders for sale recently, some at a decent price. Did one of them catch your heart? ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC 
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Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 02 Aug 05 at 9:32am
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AAAAAAAAAAH for expert advice, ask BWD when he comes back! He's got first-hand experience on both! ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC
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Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 02 Aug 05 at 12:50pm
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I'll have a go:- RS600 - Cheap, very fast, very difficult to master, a bit fragile, damn good fun. Contender - Very cheap, fairly fast, difficult to master, bombproof, damn good fun. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: bigwavedave
Date Posted: 04 Aug 05 at 6:08pm
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I have had both. The 600 was very unforgiving, but it is very tough, I would say tougher that the Contender. Prepare for lots of swimming. No time to think, just get out on the wire and see what happens. The Contender is easy to sail straight away, a lot less swimming. You have a chance to sort yourself out, untangle your feet from the main sheet etc. Both are hard to master. Both are loads of fun. ------------- 
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Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 05 Aug 05 at 8:07am
I bow to your knowledge, it's just that I've seen more trashed 600s than Contenders... and I've seen a lot of Contenders .------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 05 Aug 05 at 8:46am
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Talking about many Contenders, are we going to see a report on the Worlds in Y&Y at some point? It would be nice to get pictures and spot familiar faces. (or have I missed it??) ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC
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Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 05 Aug 05 at 11:00am
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There has been a discussion about this on the email group over the last few days. The report is ready but no-one can find any pictures to go with it Incidentally a really good way of seeing what a fleet is like and asking any questions about the class is by joining the email group. We welcome non-Contender sailors and anyone interested should join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/contender/ - at:- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/contender/ ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 15 Aug 05 at 12:57pm
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How many contenderers are there on this forum? we should all meet up at the Inlands. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 15 Aug 05 at 1:51pm
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We (contender443 and family) might see you before: we're going to Weston on 3rd and 4th September. Will you be there? ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC
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Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 16 Aug 05 at 9:40am
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I'd love to but it's just too far. I reckon it's 5 1/2 hours each way for me. I'm at Burton this weekend but I guess it's a trek for you. Say hi to Si and Gareth for me. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Mike278
Date Posted: 16 Aug 05 at 7:44pm
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I should be at the inlands, as my dad has already agread to tow the boat ------------- Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. |
(just have to hope i don't fall of my bike again
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 16 Aug 05 at 8:25pm
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Tom, tut tut. I'm very disappointed! ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Mike278
Date Posted: 16 Aug 05 at 8:34pm
Tom? ------------- Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 16 Aug 05 at 9:13pm
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TOM?? Strawberry's getting confused... or maybe he's expressing his bitter disappointment to see a trendy young thing like Tom (who started the thread) thinking about a Contender! (before you all get at me, Stu's floating ice-cream is a masterpiece of... red paint ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC
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. I'm sure it's a lovely boat too!)Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 16 Aug 05 at 9:45pm
OOOO, that was to the bone! No need to sugar the pill BNS. Say what you really think!  ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 16 Aug 05 at 10:05pm
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Yep, I will from now on! I'm glad you take it as it was meant, Strawberry... just another Banter joke ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC
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Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 17 Aug 05 at 8:08am
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Flippin eck. I've just noticed your footer Strawberry... Brit Moth to Cherub that was a bit of a step eh? ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 17 Aug 05 at 7:00pm
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There was an Int. Moth in between! But yer, two very different types of sailing. If I wanted to sound smug I would say that it brought a second dimension to my sailing. ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 17 Aug 05 at 8:20pm
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Oh veeeeeeeeeery good.
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 17 Aug 05 at 11:52pm
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------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC
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Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 02 Sep 05 at 1:33am
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Sooooooooooo Tom! Have you bought that Contender yet? I'm seriously thinking about getting one for myself... just to amuse the crowds on the beach! ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC
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, literally!)Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 10 Sep 05 at 12:39am
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Tom, crew for us when I get the boat down in a few weeks, should be sailing out of Mount Batten though
------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |