2025 British Contender Class Season Review
by Ed Presley 13 Nov 07:09 GMT
The 2025 British Contender dinghy season was a vintage year, packed with a national travellers' series that tested the fleet in mostly sunny, windy conditions that align with the Contender preferences.
All events building towards a fiercely contested World Championship and the dramatic Hartley Boats British Contender National Championship.
An early Worlds in the wrong year
The season kicked off early with the World Championship for the previous year (2024 Worlds) taking place in February 2025 in Pensacola, Florida, where Britain's Graeme Wilcox was crowned Champion for the first time, fight off fierce challenge from Soren Dulong Andreson. This set the stage for a busy year.
The Travellers' Series: A Season of Close Racing
The 2025 season featured a nine-event Travellers' Trophy series that showcased a mix of conditions and venues, providing a season-long test for the Contender fleet:
- TT1: Oxford Sailing Club (April 5th-6th): The season opener was a "rust-buster" event with a shifty, light-to-medium breeze. Graeme Wilcox set an early benchmark with consistent results, though he was challenged throughout by sailors Stuart Jones
- TT2: Mount's Bay Sailing Club (May): Mount's Bay tested boat handling with a full-power downwind start in a brisk 18-23 knot breeze. Ed Presley led early, but the challenging conditions caused many sailors, including Presley himself, to take a swim. The results rewarded those with the best resilience and heavy-air skills.
- TT3: Northern Title, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club (May 10th-11th): A healthy fleet of 17 boats contested the Northern Title in classic inland lake conditions. Racing was exceptionally close, with Burton SC's Tom Hooton taking the win. Rob Smith and Peter Snowden also showed consistent form.
- TT4: Poole Yacht Club (May 31st-June 1st): Poole offered shifty conditions, especially in the light winds of the first day. The second day's building breeze saw Graeme Wilcox take the overall win, cementing his consistency. He was followed by Simon Mussell and Stuart Jones.
- TT5: Felpham Sailing Club (June 21st-22nd): This coastal event provided valuable sea sailing practice before the Worlds. Graeme Wilcox securing multiple first-place finishes and ultimately winning the event. Ed Presley also performed well looking likely to challenge until the end of race 6.
- TT6: Eastern Area Title, Thorpe Bay Yacht Club (July 12th-13th): This event was a final tune-up for many heading to the World Championship. Racing was tight, with local knowledge proving valuable for competitors at the host club.
- TT7: Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club (August 16th-17th): The fleet returned to sea sailing after the Worlds, with Simon Mussell engaged in a tight battle with Ed Presley. Building breeze and waves led to spectacular planning conditions, and a few capsizes, showing the intensity of the racing.
- TT8: Castle Cove Sailing Club (September 27th-28th): Castle Cove offered further sea sailing after the Nationals. The racing featured a strong turnout and continued the theme of close competition, with Stuart Jones, and Gary Langdown posting consistent results.
- TT9: Inland Championship, Rutland Water (October 11th-12th): The season concluded with the Inland Championship at Rutland Water, which traditionally decides the overall TT series winner. The lake conditions provided a final stamp on a breeze laden year by completely turning off and ensure the End season was a hotly contest social event.
The World Championship: Lake Garda's Epic Finale
The 2025 Contender World Championship, held at Fraglia Vela Malcesine on Lake Garda from July 28th to August 3rd, 167 boats from 12 nations. British sailors were a prominent force, with defending World Champion Graeme Wilcox and other top talents like Simon Mussell, Stuart Jones, and Ed Presley. The competition unfolded in two stages: a qualifying series followed by a gold and silver fleet final series.
The qualifying series was characterised by shifty, light-to-medium winds, demanding astute tactical decisions. Italy's Antonio Lambertini and the Netherlands' Paul Verhallen were early frontrunners, while Britain's Wilcox hovered just outside the podium spots. The final series saw the famous Peler wind arrive, bringing strong, consistent northerly breezes that transformed the event. This shift in conditions played directly into the hands of Mussell, who was phenomenal in the heavier air, securing three wins in the final four races.
However, the final race concluded in a tense three-way tie on points between Mark Bulka (Australia), Antonio Lambertini (Italy), and Graeme Wilcox (GBR). On count-back, Bulka was crowned World Champion, with Lambertini and Wilcox finishing second and third. Despite his late charge, Mussell's earlier light-wind results held him back, ultimately costing him a podium finish. The championships also saw British veteran Stuart Jones crowned Grand Master World Champion, a testament to his impressive consistency.
The National Championship: Shoreham Showdown
Following the ludicrous intensity of the international event, the British fleet the Hartley Boats British Contender National Championship at Shoreham Sailing Club from September 4th to 7th. The event, known for its great sea sailing and robust hospitality, delivered challenging conditions for the competitors. Highcliffe sailor Simon Mussell, fresh from his strong finish at the Worlds, continued his winning form and proved to be a force in the challenging sea conditions.
Mussell's dominance was clear, taking four race wins across the final days and rarely finishing outside the top two. He navigated the big chop and substantial waves with exceptional boat handling. The battle for the podium was intense, with the Netherlands' Paul Verhallen travelling to compete and finishing second. Stuart Jones rounded out the top three. The event highlighted the strength and skill within the British fleet and was praised for its excellent race management.
Overall
The 2025 season confirmed the health of the British Contender fleet. From the challenging international stage at Lake Garda to the varied conditions of the Travellers' Series, the racing was consistently competitive and hard-fought. UK Sailors demonstrated exceptional skill and consistency, representing British talent on both the world and national stages.
The travellers' series provided an important platform for a wide range of sailors, from seasoned experts to promising juniors, to test themselves in a supportive and competitive environment. The season highlighted a balance of high-stakes competition at major championships and the camaraderie and development fostered within the national circuit.
This year the traveller series was won by Stuart Jones, a sailor whose name is on the trophy over 10 times proving that he just won't go away. Second was Ed Presley with Rob Smith in Third, the Silver fleet was Won by Martin Jones and the Bronze By a rejuvenated Richard Buttner. Most Improved sailor this year goes to Mike Rhodes and the Under 25 Prize goes to Cillian Dyne.
Thanks must go to the Sponsor of our Travellers' Series, Kingfisher Ropes who provided all of the prizes for the 2025 series.