Useful Links

Worlds Medallists - By Nation World Medallists - By Year World Championship Results Championship Organization Chart 2010-2013

In 1969, the 470 Class achieved the status of an International Class from the International Yacht Racing Union (I.Y.R.U.), the world governing body for the sport of sailing. The first 470 Class World Championship was then organised in July 1970 on the lake of Lacanau near Bordeaux in the South-West of France, where the first 470 was built in 1963. 51 boats from 14 nations and 3 continents (Europe, North America, Oceania) took part in this first World Championship, with the first World Champion title won by Yves and Hervé Carré from France.

Since 1970, the 470 World Championships have been organised annually, except in 1976 when the I.Y.R.U. strongly recommended to the Olympic Classes that their respective World Championships not be held in the year of the Olympic Games. This recommendation was not renewed the following Olympic quadrennials. The 2003 and 2007 World Championships were sailed within the umbrella of the ISAF Sailing World Championships organised by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) (the new name implemented in 1996 for what was previously the I.Y.R.U.). In 2011, the ISAF Sailing World Championships will again bring together the World Championships of all the Olympic Classes in Perth, Australia.

The 470 World Championships were initially open to all sailors, but from 1973 were restricted to a maximum of 80 boats on the basis of entry quotas per nation linked to the level of 470 activity in each nation. After the decision of the I.Y.R.U. in November 1984 to split the open 470 Olympic event into two events, one men’s event and one women’s event, the International 470 Class Association decided that for 1985 the title of Women’s 470 World Champion would be awarded to the first women crew of the World Championship. The first Women’s 470 World Champions were Karen and Gal Johnson from Canada.

With the number of women crews increasing quickly, for 1986 the International 470 Class Association decided to hold a Women’s World Cup at the same time and venue as the World Championship, which remained open to men and women. The women could choose either to sail in the Women’s World Cup restricted to women crews or to sail in the 470 World Championship where men, mixed and women crews were allowed to compete. The title of “World Cup” instead of “World Championship” meant that no “World Champion” title could be awarded. This was at the request of I.Y.R.U., to avoid any confusion with the I.Y.R.U. Women’s World Championship, which was sailed in the 470 during the 1980’s. This request was abandoned for the following years.

From 1987 to 2002 inclusive, two 470 World Championships were organised each year, one for men and mixed crews and one for women crews. The 470 Women’s World Championship had no quota limits, whereas the 470 World Championship for men and mixed crews was still restricted to a maximum of 80 boats until 1992. This restriction was abandoned in 1993 for the 30th anniversary of the 470 Class, which was celebrated at the 470 World Championships sailed in Crozon-Morgat (West Brittany in France). 236 boats took part in these World Championships, which remain as the highest number of boats to participate in a 470 event.

In 2003, the International 470 Class Association decided not to allow mixed crews to compete in World Championships and, since that time, annually organises a Men’s World Championship and a Women’s World Championship. This decision was taken to reflect the event format of the Olympic Sailing Competition, with a men’s two-person dinghy event and a women’s two-person dinghy event.

There have been many nations which have achieved great success in the 470 World Championships. However, Germany (with former Federal Republic of Germany and former Democratic Republic of Germany) has been the most successful nation, securing 24 World Championship medals (9 Gold, 6 Silver, 9 Bronze), followed by the Netherlands with 14 medals, (7 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze), Spain with 15 medals (6 Gold, 3 Silver, 6 Bronze) and France with 27 medals (5 Gold, 13 Silver, 9 Bronze).

The Greek women’s crew Sofia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa won four consecutive World Champion titles from 2000 to 2003.

The Dutch sailor Lobke Berkhout won also four World Champion titles in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 with two different crew members.

Five crews have succeeded in winning three World Champion titles each:

• 2004, 2005 and 2007 - Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page (AUS), who won also two Silver medals in 2003 and 2006 and one Bronze medal in 2001
• 2005, 2006 and 2007 - Marcelien De Koning and Lobke Berkhout (NED)
• 1997, 1998 and 1999 - Ruslana Taran and Olena Pakholchik (UKR), who won also one Silver medal in 1995
• 1981, 1983 and 1984 - David Barnes and Hamish Wilcox (NZL), who won also one Bronze medal in 1982
• 1977, 1978 and 1980 - David Ullman and Tom Lindskey (USA)

Theresa Zabell from Spain won also three titles with two different crew members in 1992, 1995 and 1996

The French Philippe and Hubert Follenfant (FRA) won four Silver medals in the early 70s, but were never World Champions.

Comment about 470 World Championship - History

If you login via Facebook to Twitter, you can automatically share your comments with your friends, great for promoting 470 sailing

Published Date: 27/01/2010