470

The 470, named after the overall length of the boat at 4.70m, is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy.

It is a one design class where athletes compete with almost identical equipment built by approved manufacturers. Any differences in the designs between boats are within the permitted variations included in the class rules. These permitted variations allow athletes to compete with equipment that they consider best fitted to their style of sailing, adding a technical element to the competition.

Equipped with a spinnaker and trapeze, teamwork is key to success in this boat. The optimum weight for the crew is between 120-135kg.

Designed in 1963 by Frenchman André Cornu, the 470 became an Olympic class in 1976 at the Montreal Olympic Games. It was an open event until the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, where it became two separate events for men and women. The 1988 event was the first ever women’s-only sailing event at the Olympic Games.

Unlike other Olympic classes which feature separate Men’s and Women’s events, the 470 is identical for both, apart from the red rhombus carried on the mainsail of the boats used in the Women’s event.

The most successful Olympic Men’s 470 sailor is Australian Malcolm Page, who won back-to-back gold medals at Sydney 2008 and London 2012. His skipper in London, Mathew Belcher, also won silver at Rio 2016 with crew Will Ryan – and now Belcher has the chance to become the most decorated Olympic Men’s 470 sailor with a medal at Tokyo 2020.

British duo Nick Rogers & Joe Glanfield won consecutive silver medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, while Paul Foerster & Kevin Burnham took gold for the USA at Athens 2004, having already won one silver each at Atlanta 96 and Barcelona 92 respectively.

Other successful Olympic Men’s 470 teams include Tõnu Tõniste & Toomas Tõniste (URS/EST), who took silver at Seoul 1988 and bronze at Barcelona 1992, and Thierry Peponnet & Luc Pillot (FRA), who won bronze at Los Angeles 1984 and gold at Seoul 1988.