40th Contender World Championships - a landmark for Class and Club

6:18 AM Fri 6 Nov 2009 GMT

'Contender Worlds' Christophe Favreau &copy Click Here to view large photo

An Australian dinghy from the sketch pad of a young designer Bob Miller, who changed his name by deed poll to Ben Lexcen, is celebrating its 40th World Championship in its Queensland design birth place in January 2010.

It is a landmark event for the Contender, a single-handed high performance sailing dinghy, which was awarded International status in 1968 and now has fleets in more than twelve countries throughout the world.

The first World Championship was held at Hayling Island, Great Britain in 1970. The second World titles in 1972 held at Mebemblik, Germany was won by Brisbane sailor Peter Hollis who then defended his title in Italy in 1973.

In 1974 Matt Mulder, the current Queensland Contender Association President, was a baby in a bassinet on the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) rigging lawns when his Dutch born father Jan Mulder raced at the 1974 World titles, from the largest Queensland yacht club.

Mulder Junior sailed his first World Championships in 1988 in Brisbane and is very pleased to see them coming back again, in RQ's 125th year.

'The Contenders have always been strong in Australia. Four Australians have won the Worlds on a total of nine occasions, including the 2007 world champion Marcus Hamilton from Victoria.

'We've been working towards this event for eight or so years. It will be a very high standard fleet. The last World Championship held in July 2009 at S?nderborg, Denmark was won by Andrea Bonezzi of Italy and Andrea will be going for his eighth World title in January, but there will be sailors from around the world and certainly a host of locals, led by Jonno Neate from Victoria, who will be keen to spoil the party.'

Event Co-organiser Suellen Hurling from RQYS explains. 'It's a big year for us, our third Contender Worlds in our 125th year; it's pretty exciting for one club to host three World titles of the same class.

'We're expecting a fleet of around 70 Contenders to face the starter. Sailors from Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, and France have already entered.

'It's great Contender weather in January. It is pretty safe to say that we usually get between 10 and 20 knots from the north-east. It usually comes in at around 2.00pm or 2.30pm; racing is scheduled to start at two o'clock so that will hopefully fit in with Mother Nature.'

At this stage almost all the competitors are sailing the four day Australian titles ahead of the Worlds. And why would they not? - flat warm water, consistent sea breezes, and a great venue - a perfect holiday destination.'

2010 Australian Championships 3-6th January 2010
2010 World Championships 7-12th January 2010

NOR and online entry, more information at www.Contenderworlds2010.com

by Rob Kothe

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40th Contender World Championships - a landmark for Class and Club

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