470 Class Manager Appointment

The International 470 Class is delighted to announce that Luissa SMITH (GBR) has been appointed to the new role of 470 Class Manager with immediate effect.

The International 470 Class decided to establish the role of Class Manager, following a decision taken at last year’s Annual General Meeting, in order to provide a professional secretariat for the class.

Commenting on the appointment, the International 470 Class President, Stanislav KASSAROV (BUL), said, “The International 470 Class is delighted to welcome Luissa to the 470 Class management team. Luissa knows the sailing world well and brings a wealth of international sports and Olympic experience which will benefit the International 470 Class and the sailors, further adding strength to our objectives through the next Olympic quadrennium.”

Luissa has 18 year’s experience of working in international sailing and most recently worked as the Director of Training and Development at the International Sailing Federation. Luissa’s background includes sports development, governance and strategic planning, international relations, event management, corporate communications, marketing and media operations.

The role of Class Manager will focus on providing support to the International 470 Class organization, National Class Associations, sailors, Member National Authorities and event organizers. Luissa SMITH will be responsible for the day to day administration of the Class and can be reached on office@470.org

About the International 470 Class
The International 470 Class is the class of boat used for both the men’s two person and women’s two person dinghy events at the Olympic Games. Used as Olympic equipment since 1976, where the class was sailed as an open event before the introduction of separate events for men and women in 1988, the 470 is sailed in more than 61 nations around the world.

A strict one design class, the 470 has proved its pedigree as an Olympic class, being a high performance sailing dinghy suitable for body weights from all continents and to performing across a wide range of weather conditions. Across the 9 Olympic Games in which the 470 Class has been raced, more than 18 different nations have secured Olympic medals in the men’s and women’s events, demonstrating the depth of participation and talent.

The International 470 Class is responsible for the organization and administration of the 470 Class around the world. With 25% of the athletes at the Olympic Games competing in the 470 Class, the Class is committed to ensuring their interests and the broader interests of 470 sailing are represented and to encouraging, promoting and developing the 470 Class throughout the world.