470 (dinghy)
|
Class symbol | |
 | |
| Current specifications | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 (single trapeze) |
| LOA | 4,700 mm (15 ft 5 in) |
| LWL | 4,400 mm (14 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 1,690 mm (5 ft 7 in) |
| Draft |
500 mm (1 ft 8 in) 1,066 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Hull weight | 120 kg (260 lb) |
| Mainsail area | 9.12 m2 (98.2 sq ft) |
| Jib / Genoa area | 3.58 m2 (38.5 sq ft) |
| Spinnaker area | 13 m2 (140 sq ft) |
| D-PN | 86.3 |
| RYA PN | 973 |
| Development | |
| Year | 1963 |
| Designer | André Cornu |
| Olympic class | |
The 470 (Four-Seventy) is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with a centreboard, Bermuda rig, and centre sheeting. The name is the overall length of the boat in centimetres (i.e., the boat is 4.70 metres long). The hull is fibreglass with integral buoyancy tanks. The 470 is equipped with spinnaker and trapeze, making teamwork necessary to sail it well. It has a large sail-area-to-weight ratio, and is designed to plane easily.
The 470 is a popular class with both individuals and sailing schools, offering a good introduction to high-performance boats without being excessively difficult to handle. It is not a boat designed for beginners; however, its earlier designed smaller sister, the 420, is a stepping stone to the 470. The 470 is an International Sailing Federation International Class and has been an Olympic class since the 1976 games. The Class was initially an open class, but since the 1988 games there have been separate events for men and women.
History
The 470 was designed in 1963 by the Frenchman André Cornu as a modern fibreglass planing dinghy to appeal to sailors of different sizes and ages. This formula succeeded, and the boat spread around the world. In 1969, the class was given international status and it has been an Olympic class since 1976. In 1988, the first Olympic women's sailing event used the 470.
The sailor
To sail the 470, good physical health is enough; strength is not crucial, while world class 470 sailors spend a large portion of their time on fitness. The competitive crew weight is 110–145 kg, making it ideal for both women and men.
Races
World and Continental Championships are organised every year with separate starts for women and men/mixed teams. There is also a World Championship for juniors and a Master World Championship. The 470 is used in regional championships such as the Asian, Mediterranean, and PanAm Games. Entries are limited in important international races, encouraging more competition by requiring qualifying races in most countries.
In the World Championships more than 30 countries have been represented. There are 65 member nations in the International Class Association and more than 40,000 boats have been built in 20 countries.
The 470 may be raced in a mixed fleet of boats, its performance being adjusted by the Portsmouth Yardstick handicapping scheme. In the RYA-administered scheme, the 470 has a Portsmouth number of 973.[1] In the US Sailing-administered scheme, it has a D-PN of 86.3.[2]
Construction
As a strict one-design class, the 470 is required to be built by a licensed builder. Class rules require that construction use materials of the 1960s era, most notably glass reinforced plastic for much of the hull.[3]
Additional Specifications.[4]
- Mast height: 6.78 m (22 ft 3 in)
- Boom length: 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
- Spinnaker Pole length: 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
While the hull speed is just 5.1 knots, the 470 readily planes at much higher speeds.
Events
Olympics
At the Olympic Games, the 470 Class was initially an open class, but since the 1988 games there have been separate events for men and women. Since 2008 each consists of a 10-race series, with teams being awarded points on a point-per-place system, and each team's worst result being discarded. The top 10 boats qualify for the medal race, in which double points are awarded. The Australian team of Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page are the current Olympic champions.
Men
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Women
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Seoul |
 Allison Jollyand Lynne Jewell (USA) |
 Marit Söderströmand Birgitta Bengtsson (SWE) |
 Larisa Moskalenkoand Iryna Chunykhovska (URS) |
| 1992 Barcelona |
 Patricia Guerraand Theresa Zabell (ESP) |
 Leslie Egnotand Jan Shearer (NZL) |
J. J. Isler and Pamela Healy (USA) |
| 1996 Atlanta |
Begoña Vía-Dufresne and Theresa Zabell (ESP) |
 Yumiko Shigeand Alicia Kinoshita (JPN) |
 Olena Pakholchykand Ruslana Taran (UKR) |
| 2000 Sydney |
 Jenny Armstrongand Belinda Stowell (AUS) |
J. J. Isler and Sarah Glaser (USA) |
Olena Pakholchyk and Ruslana Taran (UKR) |
| 2004 Athens |
 Sofia Bekatorou and Aimilia Tsoulfa (GRE) |
Natalia Vía Dufresne and Sandra Azón (ESP) |
Therese Torgersson and Vendela Zachrisson (SWE) |
| 2008 Beijing |
Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson (AUS) |
 Marcelien de Koningand Lobke Berkhout (NED) |
 Fernanda Oliveiraand Isabel Swan (BRA) |
| 2012 London |
Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (NZL) |
 Hannah Millsand Saskia Clark (GBR) |
Lisa Westerhof and Lobke Berkhout (NED) |
World Championships
See also
References
- ↑ "RYA Portsmouth Yardstick List 2010" (PDF). Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ↑ "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ↑ 470 Class Rules, available at http://www.sailing.org/1893.php[]
- ↑ 470 Class Homepage, http://www.470.org/content.asp?id=347[]
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 470 (dinghy). |
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