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11 Mar 2010

470 Regatta Format Evolution

The regatta format that has been applied in International 470 Class Championships (Worlds, Europeans and Junior events) since 2006 is fully described in Part 3 of the 470 Class Championships Organisation Manual. This regatta format was revised in early 2006 to include the Medal Race. At that time a deep discussion was held with the sailors, led by Skip Whyte, during our European Championships in Balaton, which was very helpful to improve the format as requested by our sailors.

Four years later, and whilst the format has been regularly updated based on the feedback, experience and discussions with sailors and coaches, the 470 Internationale has felt useful to get a large feedback from the 470 sailors and coaches through an official detailed questionnaire distributed at our World Championships in Rungsted. This questionnaire was related to four main domains (regatta format, scoring, course types, sailing instructions).

The synthesis of the answers was reviewed by the Management Committee of the 470 Internationale to make decisions for changes, when deemed necessary. The Synthesis of Answers document reviews the answers received and the decisions taken.

Globally, the sailors and coaches have confirmed that the usual regatta format with qualifying series, final series and medal race is their preferred solution, as well as the course types of trapezoid for fleet races and windward-leeward for Medal Races.

In conclusion, the sailors and coaches have confirmed a lot of existing options, including some differences with the ISAF format applicable to ISAF events sailed on 470 (e.g. 2011 ISAF Worlds), while they have asked to change some others. Considering the answers received, the Management Committee of the 470 Internationale:

1. approved the following changes to the Manual, for application to 2010 Championships:

  • Target time for the leading boat to finish: 60 minutes for the trapezoid course (instead of 60-70) and 30 minutes for the windward-leeward course (instead of 30-40),
  • Target time for the leading boat to reach mark 1: introduction of a target time of 25 minutes for the trapezoid course,
  • Preparatory signal: use of flag P at the first attempt (instead of flag I), then I or Black,
  • OCS and BFD at mark 1: use of flag X shown at mark 1 to boats OCS and BFD with obligation for those boats to abandon the race.

2. maintained the current option to have a Last race and other final races than the Medal race sailed on the last day, in spite this option did not strictly reach the majority of the answers.

3. decided to ask the ISAF to consider the following options (which got a large majority of the answers) for the next ISAF events sailed with 470:

  • Medal race course: adding a short last reach from the leeward mark to finish,
  • Medal race: not to sail the Medal race if the fleet Gold has not sailed at least two final races.

The new issue of the 470 Class Championships Organisation Manual (February 2010), takes into account the changes mentioned in point 1 above.

More Information:
470 Class Championships Organisation Manual
Regatta Format - Synthesis of Answers

Written by: Alain Corcuff

Image: Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell  © Thom Touw