Contender
racing sailing vessel, 1967
The Contender is a single-handed racing sailing boat designed by Australian Robert Clyde Miller (later Ben Lexcen) in 1967. The boat is approximately 4.90 meters long, has a maximum beam of 1.40-1.50 meters, weighs approximately 83 kg, and has a sail area of approximately 10.8 square meters.
Recognized as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation since 1968, it is designed for a single crew using a trapeze to balance the power of the large mainsail, making the boat highly technical and athletic.
The waterlines and cross-sections define the very clean and innovative shape for the time, the former tapered at the bow and the latter wide and flat at the stern, guaranteeing good "hydrodynamics", the ease in achieving and maintaining "planing", given the low weight of the boat-helmsman assembly and good shape stability.
The Contender is known for its excellent performance, especially in strong winds and waves, reflecting its Australian origins. It requires a good balance between physical agility and technical ability, making racing in this boat a demanding challenge, both physically and mentally. It is used by sailors ranging in age from 20 to 60, with weights ranging from 65 to 95 kg and heights from 165 cm to 2 meters.
Ben Lexcen's (née Miller) design aimed to provide a high-performance single-handed boat. It was even submitted for selection to replace the Finn as the Olympic class, but the Finn ultimately remained in use.
In Italy, the approval and spread of the Contender began in the late 1960s, with the Circolo Nautico Ugo Costaguta actively building the first models, working directly with the Australian designer.
The boat is considered demanding for the helmsman, who serves both as guide and bowman, using the trapeze to maintain proper trim.
This dinghy is popular internationally, with approximately 2,400 boats built and operating in 17 countries, maintaining a lively racing and technical development activity.
In short, the Contender is a lightweight, fast, and technical dinghy, designed for high-level racing, combining high performance with a great test of the individual sailor's athletic and tactical skill.
Technical specifications:
Design: Ben Lexcen (Australia, 1967)
Length: ~4.87-4.90 m
Maximum beam: 1.40-1.50 m
Hull weight: 83 kg
Sail area: 10.8 m²
Crew: single
Rigging: single sail (mainsail) and trapeze for balance
