History

Fast Tube by Casper

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PAST CONTENDER CHAMPIONS

Here is the Championship list going back over the last 40 years.

• 2009 World Championship at Sønderborg, Denmark. Won by Andrea Bonezzi, Italy.
2nd place: Jono Neate, Australia, 3rd place: Jacob Lunding, Denmark, first Veteran: Graham Scott, Great Britain
First Woman: Jacqueline Rüfenacht, Australia

• 2008 World Championship at Kingston, Canada . Won by Marcus Hamilton, Australia.
2nd place: Marco Versari, Italia, Third place: Søren Andreasen, Denmark. First Veteran – Chris Sutherland, AUS.
34 competitors from 8 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands,
and USA.

• 2007 World Championship at Medemblik, Netherlands. Won by Marcus Hamilton, Australia.
2nd place: Andrea Bonezzi, Italia, Third place: Jan van der Bank, Germany. First Veteran – Stuart Jones, U.K.
144 competitors from 11 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and USA.

• 2006 World Championship at Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia Won by Andrea Bonezzi, Italia.
First Veteran – John Cassidy, AUS. 61 entrants from 9 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, USA

• 2005 World Championship at Travemünde, Germany Won by Jan von der Bank, Germany.
First Veteran – Gary Landown, U.K. 111 Entrants from 11 countries: Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, USA

• 2004 World Championship at Riva, Lake Garda, Italy Won by Andrea Bonezzi, Italia.
First Veteran – Steven Grimes, AUS. 148 Entrants from 8 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, USA

• 2003 World Championship at Mayflower SC Plymouth, U.K Won by Andrea Bonezzi, Italia.
First Veteran – Tim Holden, U.K. 83 Entrants from 8 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, USA

• 2002 World Championship at Black Rock Yacht Club Melbourne, Australia
Won by Arthur Brett of Melbourne, Australia. First Veteran (changed from 40 years to 45 years minimum) – Mark Phillips, AUS
65 Entrants from 8 countries: Austria, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, USA

• 2001 World Championship at Kingston, Ontario Won by Arthur Brett of Melbourne, Australia.
First Veteran – Arthur Brett, AUS!
31 Entrants from 7 countries: Canada, Australia, Denmark Germany, Great Britain, Italy, USA.

• 2000 World Championship at Medemblik Won by Gabriel Wicke of Germany. First Veteran – Ian Renilson, SCO
105 Entrants from 10 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, France,
Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, USA.

• 1999 World Championship in Kiel, Germany Won by Andrea Bonezzi, ITA.
First Veteran – Suart Jones, U.K.

• 1998 World Championship in Sardinia, Italy Won by Stuart Jones, GBR
First Veteran – Stuart Jones, GBR!

• 1997 World Championship Sydney, Australia Won by Andrea Bonezzi, ITA.
First Veteran – Nigel Walbank, U.K.

• 1996 World Championship, Weymouth, Great Britain Won by Ian Renilson, GBR
First Veteran – Nigel Walbank, U.K.

• 1995 World Championship, Rowayton, Connecticut, USA Won by Graham Scott, GBR.
First Veteran – Nigel Walbank, U.K.

• 1994 World Championship, Union Yacht Club Attersee, Austria. Won by Graham Scott, GBR
First Veteran – Joachim Harpprecht, GER

• 1993 World Championship, Medemblik, Holland Won by Stuart Jones, GBR.
First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K. 111 entrants from 10 Countries.

• 1992 World Championship, Melbourne, Australia. Won by Barry Watson, AUS.
First Veteran – Peter Randal, AUS

• 1991 World Championship, Marsala, Sicily, Italy Won by Andrea Bonezzi, ITA.
First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K.

• 1990 World Championship, Hayling Island, England Won by John Hardman, GBR
First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K.

• 1989 World Championship, Travemunde, Germany (West Germany then…) Won by Steve Daniel, GBR
First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K.

• 1988 World Championship, Brisbane, Australia Won by Steve Daniel, GBR. First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K.

• 1987 World Championship, Hamburgsund, Sweden Won by John Webb, GBR.
First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K.

• 1986 World Championship, Santa Cruz, California, USA Won by Mark Starratt, USA.
First Veteran, Raul Guertin, USA

• 1985 World Championship, Struer, Denmark. Won by Barry Watson, Australia
First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K.

• 1984 World Championship, Riva del Garda, Italy. Won by Barry Watson, Australia
First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K. 114 competitors from 12 countries: Australia, Austria,
Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden,
Switzerland, USA

• 1983 World Championship, Lake Macquarie, Australia. Won by Tony Smith, NZL;
2nd Barry Watson, AUS; 3rd Mark Starratt, USA. First Veteran – Raoul Guertin, USA

• 1982 World Championship, Medemblik, Holland. Won by Tony Smith, NZL. First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K.

• 1981 World Championship, Outer Harbour Centreboard Club, Toronto Won by Peter Newlands, NZL
First Veteran – Gil Woolley, USA

• 1980 World Championship, Hayling Island, Great Britain, Won by Peter Newlands, NZL tied with
Geoff Whitfield, GBR. First Veteran – Keith Paul, U.K.

• 1979 World Championship, Takapuna, New Zealand. Won by Peter Newlands, NZL

• 1977 World Championship, Kiel, Germany. Won by David Pitman, GBR.

• 1976 World Championship, Palo Alto, California, USA Won by David Pitman, GBR

• 1974/1975 World Championship, Manly, Brisbane, Australia Won by David Pitman, GBR

• 1973 World Championship, Imperia Italy Won by Peter Hollis, AUS

• 1972 World Championship, Medemblik, Holland Won by Peter Hollis, AUS

• 1970 World Championship, Hayling Island England Won by Dick Jobbins

Source

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4th Contender World Championship – 1974-75
Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

1974/75 Regatta Program » (large file 5M)

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The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron hosted the 1988 Contender World Championships. Below is a shot of the sailors who raced.

Back Row: (left to right)
Michael Wilson, Led Van Drup, Jan Van Wiggan, Tim Timmermans, Alex Breuseker, John Lindholm, Steven Grimes, Roy Otten, Frank Havik, Vincent Klap, Jan Jensen, Rod Jones, Grant Robinson, Andre Webster, Adam Robinson, Bruce Pollard, Ken McCarthy.
3rd Row: (left to right)
Simon Dubbin, Ken Krone, Pieter Visser, Scott Miller, Stuart Gray, Campbell Pardy, Rien Van Zwienen, Michael Boydm Denis Kay, Nigel Huggett, Andrew Keag, Tony Arends, Gil Wooley, Peter Watson.
2nd Row: (left to right)
Av De Niet, Tony Osman, Peter Murphy, Paul Kenny, Stephen Prigge, John Teasdale, Matthew Mulder, Tobia Abarbanell, Klaus Kohnlen, Frank Suchanek, Emanuel Marinello, Richard Buttner, Peter Cleaver, Tim Sheppard, Rob Burfein, Maurice Paardenkoope, Greg Antonieff, Geoff Bennett, Chris Barber.
Front Row: (left to right)
Kevin Cooper, Paul Nudd, Simon Spaulding, Peter Randall, Bob Cunningham, Jan Mulder, Karsten Groth, Keith Paul, Elizabeth Andrew, Steve Saniel, Brian Hooper, Allan Hickey.
Absent:
Adam Robson, Jonathan Alroe, Rod Hieatt, Scott Larking

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The International Contender was designed by the world famous Bob Miller (aka – Ben Lexcen) and was selected in 1967 to compete in trials, as a potential Olympic successor to the Finn dinghy. Though it was first sailed in Sydney the Contender’s birthplace is Brisbane as Bob was living here when he designed it. The Contender was awarded International status in 1968 and now has fleets in more than twelve countries throughout the world.

The first world championships were held at Hayling Island, England in 1970. The second World Championships in 1972 was sailed from Mebemblik in Germany and was won by Brisbane sailer Peter Hollis who defended his title at Italy in 1973. The first World Championships to be held in Australia was at RQYS in 1974/75 and RQYS also hosted the 1988 Contender worlds.
Four Australians have won the worlds on 9 occasions including the Current world champion, Marcus Hamilton from Victoria.
Fleets for International competition through Europe regularly attract more than 100 boats with Australian Worlds generally getting 60+ boats competing.

The International Contender has proven to be suitable for a wide variety of sailors, both male and female. The weight of successful sailors range from 55 kg to 95 kg and heights from 165 cm to 200 cm. Contender champions’ ages vary from 20 to 50 years with sailers up to 75 years competing. The developments of the boat have enabled the boat to be raced even in rough open sea conditions and due to their generous hull weight (83kg) second hand boats tend not to age like other classes and stay competitive even after 20years of hard sailing. Barry Watson (NSW) won his last worlds in a 8-year-old boat with a 10-year-old sail.

The Queensland Contender fleet has experienced good growth leading up the Worlds Titles at RQ in January 2010 (only nine months away) with 5 new sailers getting boats since the start of the season. The RQ fleet has been joined by Phill Evans who has gone straight to the front of the fleet and has been leading many of the races though he has yet to secure his first win, Josh Mortersen has bought a boat from NSW and is currently putting together a Carbon mast and boom and will be on the water shortly. Chris Somers sold his Mulder Hull to Trevor Monaghan who will be joining us on the water after Easter. Chris has bought the Balsa Boat from Jan and Jan has bought Matt’s boat that he originally built for the last Worlds at RQ in 1988. John Warlow has also just purchased a boat from Victoria but has yet hit the water. There have also been 2 other boats bought locally though they are currently not RQ members. Hopefully with 17 boats now in South East Queensland, next season we will see double figure fleets every weekend leading up to the Worlds.

In December of last year we had the South East Queensland Championships in conjunction with the Lake Cootharaba Monomasters Regatta with 8 boats competing in a very light air regatta. Matt just won from Andrew Griffiths with a lucky shift in the final race with class newcomer, Rod Molkentin, coming in a close third with some very good results including leading the last race by a considerable margin before being passed by Matt on the final reach. Rod has also just purchased a New Windrush Hull and will be on the water sometime in the next couple of months and going from his results in this regatta will be at the front of the fleet very quickly.

Preparations for the Worlds are well underway with most of the organising having been done, though we are yet to find a major sponsor for the regatta, which is proving difficult with the current economic conditions, though we are hopeful to announce one in the next month or so. Currently it looks like we will have containers coming out of the UK, Europe and North America, which will give us a very good fleet for the regatta. A regatta website has been launched and will be linked from the RQ site shortly.

Matt Mulder
Qld Contender Association President