FAQ
What is a 470?
http://www.sailingsource.com/470na/specs.htm
The 470 was designed in 1963 by the French André Cornu, as a modern fiberglass planing dinghy. The 470 is equipped with spinnaker and trapeze, which makes sailing a real teamwork. The 470 is not difficult, but to be competitive, everything should be mastered to perfection. Tactically the boat is demanding as speed differences are small and fleets are usually big.
length overall- 4.7 meters. 15 ft. 5 in
Beam- 5 ft. 6 in.
Total Sail area- 12.7 sq. ft
How do you qualify for the Olympics?
The US Olympic Trials, held in October of 2007 in Long Beach, California, will decide the US representative for 470 Women’s class. There are 16 races over 8 days of racing. The team with the lowest amount of points wins the honor of attending the Olympics.
Where are the Olympics? How many countries will be represented at the Olympics?
The Olympics in 2008 will be held in Beijing, China. However, the sailing events will be held in Qingdao, China, which is lies on the southeastern coast of Shandong Province, with Korea and
Japan only a short distance away, across the Yellow Sea.
How long are the races?
The time limit for 470 races is usually 90 minutes. Races usually average in time around one hour.
What are the courses?
The courses are generally Trapezoid courses. They include two upwind, two downwind and two reaching legs. The course is designed so that two fleets of boats can race simultaneously on the same course without running into each other.
Do you bring your boat with you when you travel?
Yes! Our equipment is very important to us and designed to our preferences. When we travel within the continental United States we will either put the boat on top of the car or on a trailer. When we compete overseas, we pack our boat into a 40-foot container with five other boats and put the container on a ship.
How do you train on the water?
On the water, we do many drills to break up the skills we use in races, including sailing the boat faster in a straight line as well as around the corners of the race course. We think about every motion we may do in a race and how we can do it better. We often try to sail with other boats so that we can constantly see what we need to improve upon.
How do you train off the water?
Off the water, we do a lot of weight lifting and cardiovascular work so that we can be as strong as possible. Our weight is an important factor; thus, we are often trying to gain strength without gaining weight.
How many people are doing what you do?
Right now there are 93 women’s 470 teams and 222 men’s 470 teams ranked in the World. There are eleven Olympic Classes of boats.
How do you pay for everything?
We pay for everything through generous donations from family and friends as well as corporate sponsorship. We spend a lot of money, approximately $100,000 a year, with travel, coaching, and equipment.
Latest Reports6/14/2008 - 470 European Championships- FINAL
6/12/2008 - 470 European Championships- Day Five
6/11/2008 - 470 European Championships- Day Four