ONBOARD Classnotes
International 420
BY VANESSA BIRD C
ast your eye down the CVs of many of the current and former Olympic 470 and 49er
sailors, and you’ll fi nd a common thread: many, if not a majority, have a background in the International 420. This class, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010, is the training boat of choice and the world’s most popular two-man youth dinghy. Although relatively modest in terms of sail area, it is fast enough to produce exciting sailing, offers technical challenges via a trapeze and will plane with ease. Yet it is easily handled, and suits both beginners and those wishing to move up to championship level.
It was designed in 1960 by the Frenchman Christian Maury, after he was approached by Pierre Latxague and Aristide Lehoerrff, from Socoa Sailing School at Saint-Jean-de-Luz in southwest France. The instructors wanted an inexpensive general- purpose dinghy with an easily- handled sail plan for teaching their students. Maury teamed up with Lucien Lanaverre, a wine cooper- turned-boatbuilder, and the pair set about developing what became the International 420.
It was the design by which Maury would make his name, and interest in France was immediate. Within just three years, 3,500 boats had been launched, and fl eets established in 10 countries, making it one of the most successful boats of its type. In 1963 it was introduced to British sailors at the One-of-a-Kind Series at Pennine Sailing Club near Huddersfi eld, and made a very good impression, winning the series with ease. Designed specifi cally for glassfi bre construction, the 420 was launched as a one design, and had water lines that echoed the International Finn, with maximum buoyancy well aft and a long, lean entry. At the time, it was designed for training, racing,
NAME The name ‘420’ is the overall length of the hull in centimetres.
WORLDWIDE Now sailed in 45 countries, one of the most recent to adopt the class and establish a National 420 class association was South Africa.
and also single-handed sailing, and early boats had two mast positions so that it could be sailed under mainsail alone, with the mast stepped right forward. Two-up, it was a versatile design, and in 1971, use of a trapeze was accepted by the class association.
By 1975, 28,900 boats had been built, it had become the French national class, and the number of fl eets worldwide had more than doubled to 24. In part, this was due to it receiving international status from the International Yacht Racing Union in 1963, and the fact it was chosen as the class for the International Sailing Federation (as IYRU is now known) Youth World Championships in 1971. Most of its success, however, is due to the fact that it is such a good design in which to learn. Its large sail-to-weight ratio makes it fast in light airs, yet it is well mannered, balanced and the built-in buoyancy means that it is almost dry when righted.
When it initially appeared in the UK it was built by Honnor Marine of Totnes in Devon (who also built the Drascombe range), but since then a number of builders have been involved with the class, including Rondar Raceboats. With near-continuous champion- ship use since 1971, the 420 looks set to be the training boat of choice for many years to come.
Above: 420s are the dinghy of choice for many youth sailing clubs
MOULD SOLD In 2004, members of Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club in the Western Cape province of South Africa sought to set up a fl eet of 420s for its youth sailors, as a much-needed next boat up from the Optimist. Prohibitive costs meant that importing 420s from abroad was unviable, but in 2005, Rondar Raceboats agreed to sell the club a 420 mould for a local boatbuilder to use. The fi rst two boats were launched in October 2006. Since then, the fl eet has continued to expand thanks to ZVYC and the class association.
INTER- NATIONAL 420
LOA
13ft 8in (4.2m)
BEAM
5ft 3in (1.6m)
DRAUGHT 6in/3ft 6in (15cm/1.1m)
SAIL AREA 110sqft (10.3m2
)
DISPLACEMENT 220lb (100kg)
DESIGNER Christian Maury
Vanessa’s book of Classic Classes is out now:
www.classicboat.co.uk CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2012 71
OTHER VERSIONS Two other versions of the 420 have been launched: the Club 420, which is heavier and has a non-tapered mast, and the Collegiate 420, which is simpler and has no trapeze. Both are very popular in North America.
COST Classifi ed ads (see yachtsandyachting.
co.uk) regularly off er a good selection of 420s, ranging from £500 to £5,000, depending on age, spec and condition.
International 420 Association
www.420sailing.org British 420 Association
www.420sailing.org.uk
VANESSA BIRD
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