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The Contender is a true icon of performance dinghy sailing—fast, technical, and built for sailors who want the precision and exhilaration of a world‑class single‑hander. Hartley Boats’ latest evolution of this legendary class combines cutting‑edge composite engineering with a meticulous redesign aimed at producing the best‑performing Contender ever built. From its FRP foam‑sandwich construction and carbon‑engineered foils to the Selden high‑modulus carbon mast and boom, every element is crafted for stiffness, balance, and championship‑winning speed.
What sets this Contender apart is the depth of development behind it. Hartley Boats committed to a no‑budget‑limit design brief and partnered with renowned naval architect Peter Hobson, who re‑engineered the hull, structure, and ergonomics to deliver measurable performance advantages—improved stiffness, optimised waterline length, refined deck geometry, and enhanced control systems for superior handling and balance.
The result is a Contender that is faster, stiffer, and more responsive, with thoughtful refinements such as narrowed side decks, a lower cockpit floor, redesigned centreboard geometry, and improved drainage and structural reinforcement—all contributing to a boat that feels lighter, livelier, and more competitive on every point of sail.
Backed by a full measurement certificate, a four‑year guarantee, and Hartley Boats’ comprehensive handover and tuning support, this is a Contender built not just to sail—but to win. For sailors who want the ultimate expression of this iconic class, Hartley’s Contender stands proudly at the top of the fleet.
