2010 Contender World Championship, Paradise Lost and Found

by David Henshall on 11 Jan 2010 My first week here in Brisbane had been marked by some splendid weather. As temperatures plummeted in Europe, here they were soaring and the combination of blue skies, sea breezes and the relaxed lifestyle really did make one think that this really was a paradise location.

Then, on Christmas Day, the long delayed UK container arrived in Brisbane Port but so did a total change in the weather. Grey skies and rain were very much the order of the day, though it seems churlish to complain about a cooling shower here when the word from home was of a new ice age.

Then, to coincide with the start of the main event, the 40th World Championships, the clouds rolled back and the sun blazed down, resulting in conditions that were just as had been promised on the World Championships website. The first two days of competition have been sailed in winds mostly in the 10-15kts range, rarely more, at times a tad less. It is hard to say if it is the shifts catching people out or a lack of local knowledge, for sure there is a very definite ‘right and wrong’ way to go, nor does the middle pay.

The one thing that is noticeable is that the fleet, though spread out, is all enjoying good, close competitive sailing. If there was to be a selling point for the class, maybe this is it – you have a huge amount of fun onshore, then wonderful quality sailing out afloat. What with the cold moulded dark mahogany hulls of the Bonezzi boats, through the ‘experimental’ balsa boat with its ‘golden’ hue, not to mention the strip planked AUS 278 which may now be spruce not cedar, the fleet looks stunning out afloat.

Results wise, the seven times winner of the even, Italian Andrea Bonezzi, is slowing getting a stranglehold on the Championships, unless one of the chasing pack can rein him in today (and two of them did!!),it will be an uphill struggle for anyone to stop him taking back to back wins.

Elsewhere, the social scene here remains as lively as ever. After barefoot bowling, then cricket, the Class took the opportunity to look back at its history with a wonderful evening of nostalgia to celebrate the 40th Worlds. Champions from the past made their way to Brisbane to join the modern fleet for an evening of tales of championships (and not a few misdemeanours).

Three times winner of the Worlds Barry Watson was here, but the real star of the show had to be Mike Alsop, winner of the first two Australian National titles. These results were enough to get Mike support to travel to the UK to compete in the first World Championships, held at Hayling Island back in 1970.

Having won the Practice Race and the first ever World Championship heat, Mike could have gone on to be the first name on the Championship Trophy, instead that honour went to the UK’s Dick Jobbins.

Although not having sailed a Contender for some 32 years, Mike was soon strapped into a trapeze harness and sent afloat in Jan Mulder’s boat to enjoy the morning breezes out in the bay. On his return, Mike was seen wearing the ‘ear to ear’ grin that comes naturally to Contender sailors are a good session out afloat.

Mike’s comments on his sail sum up so much about why the class has proven to be so special over the years. 'Damn' said Mile, 'you just forget how good it is to be out sailing a Contender. They look great and go so well'.

Mike could have been speaking for anyone here… as for sure, the class shows no sign of losing any of it’s long term appeal to the more discerning of dinghy sailors. On the subject of discerning sailors, uber smooth rock star Robert Palmer sung that 'Some guys have all the luck, some guys get all the fun'…. he could have been writing about another class legend Tony ‘Anton Blanc’ White.

In between his inexhaustible supply of jokes, Tony has been telling how he has been living here in the lap of luxury with two lovely young ladies to look after his needs. One wonders what is really going on, along in the ‘House up on the Hill’, when in reply the ladies in question describe Tony as well domesticated and a perfect gentleman – no wonder they call him ‘Dad’. (Mike Denham also got high marks for his skills as a ‘man about the house’).

Day 3 will soon be getting underway but the forecast is for a week breeze, sub 10kts conditions. With many of the top Australian sailors being well into the 90kg+ category (SOME well into that weight range) if the sea breeze doesn’t arrive we may well be seeing some new names at the front of the fleet.

The organisers promised competitors sunshine and sea breezes. Moreton Bay has delivered both - and more, with days of fabulous Contender sailing conditions. With news coming in that Europe is sliding even deeper into arctic conditions, the idea of 'staying on' here a while longer gets ever more attractive.