Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments BFD 2024 Leaderboard

Contender Open at Mount's Bay Sailing Club

by Rob Smith 7 May 22:26 PDT 3-4 May 2025
Sunday start during the Mount's Bay Contender Open © Mike Greig / Dan Vincent

Despite a 'take your pick' forecast and a few unlucky regulars whose boats were still in delayed container from US Worlds, 12 Contender sailors were all smiles arriving at their 2026 Nationals venue - the stunning Mount's Bay SC, to join the Ospreys.

Bill was busy raiding his toolkit to make the local club loaner sailable (obviously Tom was sailing Bill's race ready spare!), and Ed was equally busy shortening the lines on his sparkly brand new Hartley, while the rest of us were trying to work out if the view past the Mount looked stunning or foreboding!

Two mins after launch and most knew it was nearer the latter with a full power downwind NE to start area. Race 1 got away in 18 with big shifting 23+ gusts, and most blasted away following the Ospreys to the left shore. Ed led round the windward mark and reach 1, however his gybe swim was mimicked by close chasers Rob, James and at least one other casualty. Ed recovered quicker than the others and in a rising breeze with some very big dark gusts retained just enough composure to hold off Tom with Dan battling in for a good third. Left wasn't the only way to go, and the rest of the fleet either spread across course, swam more, and/or decided enough was enough.

This proved a good call for some, as Race 2 started with gusts beginning with a 3, and a few others used the first beat as part of their trip back to work out where to come ashore. Ed again showed that a very different brand new rig was quick in a gale, and despite a very late swim to give chasing Tom hope, just held on for bullet No 2. Dan again used sea skills from Hythe to hold 3rd with Dick being the final finisher in 4th. To no-ones surprise, race 3 never started, but hats off to all the less experienced Contenderers who battled for some or all of the day.

Armed with a good selection of high wind stories from the day, the great club team helped the evening along with a hearty large lasagne and well stocked bar, before eventually returning to very nearby campsite.

Sunday still had us wearing plenty for a chilly Easterly, but despite a really decent breeze for race 4, it was a well below Saturday numbers. Rob was looking good before a fully reversing last tack allowed the close gang of Tom, Adrian and Ed to round first at the top. Gary made good gains throughout as did James who was close to podium until a big swerve, dunk, & foot tie up moment at end of penultimate reach. This left Adrian following up Gaz who was chasing down Tom, however - Ed again out front taking his third straight win.

Race 5 started with raised trapeze height for some as conditions were on the change. Gary, Tom & Adrian led round in close formation for a big chunk, but as Rob tacked out of his brothers dirt after rounding at bottom of run, the big luck card dropped. Heading off left as the 3 ahead had done varying amounts of right, the wind increased and backed by 80 deg in a couple of mins, leaving Rob close reaching into top mark in space. A weird one-tack beat to the wing with side swell followed, by a rolly run to finish seeing Rob win with Adrian just keeping his nose infront of Gary.

The final race stayed mid teens at most and after a big course move around got away with some not making the pin. A tricky shifty one to finish saw Dick enjoy being first round windward mark and hold for half the reach. Rob took over and the next beat saw James back in the groove in close company with Gary. Later Gary got a bit of shift recompense for Race4 by lifting round inside Rob & others to take a lead and hold it to finish from Rob then James.

In the final reckoning - Ed had secured a good victory overall with his 3 wins in a Hartley straight 'out of the box'. The points were super close for who might be report writer, that is now evident, but Gary pipped Tom by 1 point for 2nd place.

Big thanks to all involved at Mount's Bay SC for being great hosts at their spectacular venue, we are looking forward to being back for Nationals next year. Next on the Contender Travellers calendar is Yorkshire Dales SC this weekend followed by Poole at the end of the month.

Overall Results:

PosHelmSail NoR1R2R4R5R6Pts
1Ed Presley28261115Rtd8
2Gary Langdown24844733111
3Tom Hooton6782226612
4Rob Smith24496751214
5Adrian Smith27305742415
6Dan Hollands24773374717
7Richard Buttner2751Rtd487524
8Stuart Backhouse24487798931
9Rupert Rhodes695871011833
10James Spikesley705Rtd769334
11Graham Cooper67211711Rtd1039
12Bill Hooton666127Dns10Dns54

Related Articles

Thorpe Bay Contender Open
The final open before the UK fleet heads south to Lake Garda The final open before the UK fleet heads south to Lake Garda was a 2 dayer at the Thorpe Bay Yacht club, and very like Lago di Garda it was, camping by the waterside, grassed areas to store boats and hot weather bringing thermal winds. Posted on 22 Jul
British Contender Association training at Oxford
Aimed at those joining the fleet, as well as those working through the mid-fleet Once again Oxford Sailing Club hosted the Contender class to allow them to iron out those boat handling, speed and tactical creases, that accumulate from the washing machine of club and open sailing. Posted on 17 Jul
Contender Travellers at Felpham
A classic summer's weekend was forecast The weekend of 21st and 22nd June saw the fifth round of the Contender Traveller's Trophy at Felpham Sailing Club on the West Sussex Coast. A classic summer's weekend was forecast with temperatures reaching 25 degrees and sea breezes expected. Posted on 3 Jul
Kieler Woche Day 10
Seven nations celebrate victories at the finale On the final sailing day of Kieler Woche 2025, there were beaming faces all around the Olympic Centre in Schilksee. Eleven decisions were made on Sunday and alongside Germany, Denmark, France, GB, Malta, Sweden, & Hungary were able to celebrate victories. Posted on 29 Jun
SGS Gold at Kieler Woche goes to France and GB
The best German team, Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr, finished fifth With a victory in the final medal race of the Kieler Woche, the British team of Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris secured gold in the 470 class on Sunday (June 29). Posted on 29 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 9
Hosts without Sailing Grand Slam medals, but leading in five classes The final six medals in the mixed classes of the Olympic Sailing Grand Slam (SGS) at Kieler Woche will be awarded on Sunday (June 29) without any German contenders. Posted on 29 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 8
Mourniac & Retornaz take the lead in the Nacra 17 class A dream day ahead of the second weekend at the Kieler Woche regatta off Schilksee: Moderate to fresh westerly winds with strong gusts, alternating sun and clouds, provided ideal sailing conditions for all participants on Friday. Posted on 27 Jun
Poole Contender Open
Fine conditions for Travellers Trophy Round 4 The weekend of the 31st of May to the 1st of June saw the fourth round of the Contender travellers' trophy at Poole Yacht Club. With competitors making the trip from as far as Scotland, the last morning in May greeted them with glorious sunshine. Posted on 11 Jun
Yorkshire Dales Contender Open
Superb weather greeted the 17 helms over the weekend Superb weather greeted the seventeen Contenders attending the Open Meeting at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club over the weekend of 10th & 11th May. The forecast for the two days was good with the promise of slightly more breeze on Sunday. Posted on 13 May
Oxford Contender Open
A weekend of thrills and challenges The Oxford Sailing Club played host to an exhilarating weekend of racing at the Oxford Contender Open, where sailors faced a mix of sunny skies and blustery winds ranging from 14 to 22 knots. Posted on 11 Apr
Sea Sure 2025Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERArmstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOM