Prepared to pivot into new era

The Scuttlebutt story, 470 Class: Optimistic about its future, questioned the stability of the class due to its commitment to Olympic-level competition.

The 470 was first introduced as an open event with no gender restriction at the 1976 Olympics, but with nearly all competitors as male, a shift was made at the 1988 Olympics to gender-based events for men and women.

This opened the door for women to pursue their own medal, but that door closed after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with the 470 now to be used as the equipment for the new Mixed Two Person Dinghy event. For both men and women, only half as many will get to the Olympics in the 470.

The trickle down from the mixed event could be significant as both the 470 and its feeder class, the 420, have been built around male and female divisions. Another issue is how excessive kinetics are now the norm, requiring elite fitness to be competitive.

Amid the changing landscape, 470 Class President Andreas Kosmatopoulos offers more optimism about the class future:

Carrying the torch
The 470 has indeed a long history and tradition but it does not exist only due to its Olympic status. Former 470 Olympians, champions, international competitors and local heroes, all have a chance to continue competing in 470s as they did all the previous years. The latest 470 Master’s Cup had a 46-boat fleet despite COVID-19 implications and travel restrictions.

Our plan from 2022 and beyond, as already announced, includes new World and European Championships for the “non-Olympic” oriented 470 teams, in parallel to the Mixed Olympic fleet. So, in that extend our status on “carrying the torch” is secured, strengthened by the fact that the 470 dinghy is not expensive, easy to maintain and to transport from venue to venue.

Asking members for feedback
The International 470 Class Association has a specific decision-making process as per its constitution, however, we have invited all involved parties to have their opinion heard. Not only the elite sailors, as mentioned in the Editor’s note, but all sailors and coaches, active or retired, regardless their ranking or status. Not only through a simple survey, but with direct messages, chats and calls to our MC members.

We have already received a large number of messages also from many ex-470 sailors. Kinetics through Racing Rule 42 in the new 470 mixed Olympic class is a very important factor and no decision can be taken easily or lightly. The Class General Assembly will be called to take that decision soon.

Why optimistic?
We have already run our first 470 mixed senior and junior World and European Championships and we were thrilled to see so many young teams participating. We are optimistic as we see an increase in participation with many newly formed teams and some veteran Olympians forming new mixed teams.

We are optimistic because we see some World Sailing member nations (MNAs) being re-activated due to the new 470 mixed challenge. The 470 is a safe, long lasting and the cheapest 2-person Olympic Class. Price and durability allow families, clubs and MNAs to invest safely. Equipment damage rate is extremely low, equipment is easy to repair and replacements are relatively cheap. 470 fleets exist around the world, with more than 50 MNAs active.

Why at the Olympic Games?
The International Olympic Committee promotes mixed competition and we already established a strong 470 mixed fleet worldwide. The 470 has a very strong youth pathway to the Olympic Games. Optimist sailors have experienced “immediate” glory by moving at the age of 15 into 470s.

Latest examples are girls from Turkey and Mozambique who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games at the age of 16 and 17 and the Italian three time Optimist World Champion and 2019 Sailor of the Year Marco Gradoni, who recently won both the Junior World and Junior European 470 mixed titles at the age of 17.

The International 470 Class Association has been running for many years’ development and support programs for sailors from emerging nations solely on its own resources.

Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Program
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFx
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFoil
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFoil
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Venue: Marseille, France
Dates: July 26-August 11

Details: https://www.paris2024.org/en/the-olympic-games-paris-2024/