Unlike Optimists, most boats you will sail in the future will have downwind sails. (This is the point where the pre-bend is greatest). June 19, 2003. centerboard kicks to windward as the mast heels to leeward, causing It can be rigged to be sailed single-handed or double-handed. Tie the tape measure to the end of the main halyard and pull to the top of the mast. The amount of pre-bend is controlled by the spreaders. Coconut Grove Sailing Club, January 20, 2020 — 37 teams from across the country competed over a three-day span on the waters off Miami for the International 420 North American Championship.As a newcomer to the class, I was immediately both struck by and impressed with the talent among sailors and coaches; this is an intensely competitive class, and those at the top pursue sailing … It is very important to know how much to pull it on though. (Back the jib, let the main sail go completely & put the tiller down to leeward). This is your medium wind setting. The cloth of the 420 jib is seized to the wire at the tack and tied off at the top to the thimble in the wire. This will help to flatten/de-power your sail even more. So the more chocks that you put in the straighter the mast becomes and the more power you achieve. Also, turn the boat 45 degrees to the wind so that it’s in the close hauled position. This is your light wind setting. 1. The 420 is an International class recognized by the International Sailing Federation. It is very important to know how much to pull it on though.Barber hauling makes the jib fuller and therefore more powerful. The 420 has a very flat aft hull surface which dictates the quirks associated with the boat. It has a large sail-area-to-weight ratio, and is designed to plane easily. (The bridle length is changed with mast rake like this because the boom height alters with mast rake). You apply barber hauler simply by pulling the windward jib sheet and cleating it. It is not always practical to change chocks in a race so make sure they are right before you start. While sailing your Club 420 in club/junior racing, your rig tension should be varied from 240 lb. Pull the tape measure to the transom & take the measurement at the top edge of the transom. Also, do not exceed two extra chocks – putting in three extra chocks is likely to invert the mast!!! Some young sailors may never be big enough to sail a Laser Radial or other one-person international classes, or may take a longer time to grow, so getting into the two-person classes via the 420 makes sense to develop your skills and keep future options open. Prepare the kite by finding the corner and making sure the sail isn't twisted; Run your spinnaker sheets and guys before attaching to tack and clew; ... but the principles of setting a symmetrical spinnaker are the same whether you're on a 420 dinghy or a fifty foot racer. Approximately forty-three percent of all programs throughout the country own a full fleet of 420s. The sail “slugs,” fittings on the sail's luff, slide up the mast in this slot. The 420 is a pure racing machine , high tech , and from a later era when semi-submerged sailing in frogmans suits became fashionable among the poseur jocks around the sailing club boat-ramps . They affect the pre-bend and as a result affect the amount of power you have in the mainsail: Less pre-bend = Straighter mast = Fuller mainsail = More power It has the same effect on the jib as chocks do to the main, and therefore follows a similar pattern: The strengths of wind at which you should change settings depends entirely on your crew weight: Use the light wind setting upto the point where you become overpowered. Sailrite offers FREE rig and sail dimensions with featured products and canvas kits that fit the boat. The Club 420 is the second most sailed boat of college sailing. Choose a day with a force 3-4 wind & set up your light wind mast rake. Complete Sail Plan Data for the International 420 Sailboat. A committed sailor with a supportive family in fact make it easier as there are two of you offering support to move boats, move sailors, chaperone trips, etc. More pre-bend = More curved mast = Flatter mainsail = Less power. This does depend upon your crew weight though and so should not be followed religiously. This is not done in all boats (e.g. The 420 is an ideal platform for learning about tuning a boat and the consequences of tuning, teaching in a relatively simple way the trimming of sail combinations (i.e. Mark this as ‘S’ on your mast and record the hole number, (which is usually a hole down from the medium setting). Sailing has its own glossary of terms that you’ll need to know. Release the kicker and pull the rig tension onto the new mark on the mast (that corresponds to the new hole numbers). The 420 has a bermuda rig and an optional spinnaker and trapeze. Learn How to Sail: A Step-by-Step Guide to SAILING - YouTube Although the two boats are different in a number of ways, many of the Club 420 sailing principals and handling characteristics are similar to the International 420. A good, top competitive, second hand 420 is relatively inexpensive, usually with lots of sails and gear. About Club 420. The bridle is the piece of rope that holds your mainsheet block and joins onto each end of the bar behind the centreboard. in near survival conditions. The 420 is an ideal platform for learning about tuning a boat and the consequences of tuning, teaching in a relatively simple way the trimming of sail combinations (i.e. The Club 420 is a two person dinghy which forms the base of many local, high school and collegiate programs in North America. Putting marks on your jib sheets in both the sheeting positions and the barber-hauler positions will help you to judge how much jib sheet and/or barber hauler you have on. To use the strong setting you just need to clip the loops onto the bar: NOTE: You will now need to set up your light wind setting again because tying the loops will have shortened the light wind settings quite a lot. Pull on rig tension until it reads 30 on the tension meter. The rules state that you are allowed two settings on your bridle length, so we set up one to be used with the light wind mast rake and one to be used with the medium & strong wind mast rakes. Exceeding two inches however will close the slot and is not fast so be careful. This is great for all your future sailing, not just two-person sailing. In wiring conditions before flat-wiring you again want power, so it is good to pull on about an inch and a half. Once achieved mark the mast with ‘M’ and again record the hole number (which is usually a hole down from the light wind setting). The Club 420 design incorporates a number of modifications for intercollegiate sailing in the US. In 2013 we became Benelux distributor for the MiniCat catamarans. If you & your crew are very light you may like to set up 19’7” with 31-32 on the rig tension. The Club 420 offers more learning … Chocks alter the pre-bend by pushing back on the lower mast, therefore straightening it. (Always take the reading at shoulder height up the shroud). The L-shaped metal pin at the forward end of the boom holds the forward bottom corner of the mainsail, called the tack. The Club 420 Association was established to promote, foster, encourage and sponsor one-design sailing. To make the strong wind setting just tie two loops 7cm up from where the ends of the bridle join the clips on the bar. You apply barber hauler simply by pulling the windward jib sheet and cleating … All boats recognised by World Sailing have been independently assessed by World Sailing to be ideal for developing and/or teaching sailing within the World Sailing Learn to Sail programme. If you set up your light wind setting you will notice that your mast has a slight bend/curve going up it, this is called the pre-bend. Barber hauling makes the jib fuller and therefore more powerful. Then, repeat steps 1-4 but to get a measurement of 19’9¾”. It is also safer to buy shroud plates that the shrouds cannot come out the top of should things go wrong! Spreader Deflection Due to the base helm characteristics of 420, you need to put the mast step almost max forward in the rule which is 2830mm. This process will take a few minutes and so is not practical to do in a race. your crew is flat wiring and you are having to play more than 6” of mainsail. It will teach you how to sail in an environment of partnership with your crewmate, adding another significant element to your development as a sailor (and as a person). Now some people unfamiliar with two-person sailing may challenge your step into the 420 with some of these most frequently heard questions: “It’s a hassle to co-ordinate with another sailor”…only true if you have picked the wrong sailor to partner with. Record/remember this number of chocks. Familiarize yourself with them before ever setting foot on a boat and you’ll be ahead of the game. If you fill this gap with chocks so that they are touching the mast but not pushing back on it this is your neutral number of chocks. So if it is 19’11” leave it and put a pen mark on the mast lining up with where the rig tension block/hook is. The lengths of the bridle are very important because they control the mainsail leech tension when block to block. Although€the€two€boats€are€different€in€a€number€of€ways,€many€of€the€Club€420€sailing€principals€and€handling€characteristics€are€similar€to the€International€420.€Many€articles€found€on€the€Internet€are€for€the€Club€420… Zim Sailing makes the highest-performing, durable, and dependable 420's available. Olimpic – 33mm in light winds, to a maximum tension of 360 lb. Gaining experience in the 420 increases your sailing ability and means it is easy to switch across classes, whether you are a skipper or a crew. The sailing skills learnt with Oppies and competing in home and overseas events set me up for moving into a new class, but it was not an easy decision whether to sail a Laser or 420. The 420 will give you a unique experience during your Youth years. NOTE: If you are very overpowered in very strong wind then you can remove one of the neutral chocks (-1). From this position measure (using a ruler) the distance between the halyard and the back edge of the mast where the spreaders join. Read 10 Nautical & Sailing Terms to Know The following is a general table on how you might set up your 420 for different conditions. (Make sure the kicker is off all the time). North – 32mm. Adjust your bridle until this perfect leech is achieved, making sure you make equal adjustments to each side so it always lines up with the centreboard. A smaller version of the olympic 470 class, the 420 was formerly a youth development class (i.e. Courtesy of the British 420 Class Association, below is information on some basic boat settings written by Matt Burge: Barber hauling is the name given to tensioning the windward/slack jib sheet. Go To: Sailing - Rigging Guides Posted on Saturday, March 14, 2009 7:26 PM. 420 – Learn to Sail In this class, youth sailors learn the skills to sail a small two-person boat along with another sailor. If you set up your light wind mast rake you will find a gap in front of the mast where the chocks go. Go-Fast Tips for the Club 420. Repeat steps 1-4 until you achieve 19’11” with 30 on the rig tension. If the wind does change in a race such that you need to change the chocks then the best time to do it is on a run – there is less forwards pressure on the mast on a run & the crew is in the boat and able to reach the chocks. The 420 is a stable boat to sail which planes upwind easily, the trend in modern yachting. Don’t worry if a rig tension of 31 is needed to achieve this measurement. However, as soon as you become overpowered (i.e. The class is managed at a global level by the International 420 Class Association, and … Check that the bridle ropes are equal in length by lining the block up along the centreboard. If it is choppy as well up to two inches is good. Sailing the MiniCat 420. (Again, note the chart at the end of the tuning guide.) 420 Rigging Guide. Get the heavier of the two of you to pull and hold the main halyard tight against the gooseneck on the back edge of the mast. We are aiming for a reading of 19’11” here (with 30 on the rig tension). In very light winds and when you are overpowered you want the jib flat, so none is needed, however it often pays to put on half an inch in strong wind because it makes the leech more stable. Label this mark ‘L’ and record which hole the shrouds are in on the chain plates. I join up with my friend Sam, a retired Air Force pilot and retired Delta pilot. Change the leeward shroud to the new hole. Meanwhile the lighter one of you needs to climb onto the boat (carefully) and stand next to the mast where the chocks normally go. Go ‘heave-to’. This is not done in all boats (e.g. It will teach you how to sail in an environment of partnership with your crewmate, adding another significant element to your development as a sailor (and as a person). Request a Sail Quote after reviewing your sailboat specifications. In fact, splitting the costs between two sailors makes 420 sailing quite similar in expense to a committed one-person campaign. Introduction to the 420 Class; I-420 Sailing Academy; New 420 Tuning Video; 420 e-Book - Performance Training; 420 To The Max; Learn to Sail - Recommended Boat; Technical . the Mirror) but in the 420 it helps to achieve a faster jib slot / leech shape. Then re-measure the pre-bend using steps 1-4 and keep adjusting until its right! The 420 is a stable boat to sail which planes upwind easily, the trend in modern yachting. main, jib, spinnaker together) like no other boat can. The 420 is a global class with great opportunities available to develop your sailing and compete at the highest level, making many friends from around the world along the way. If you are then having to play more than 6” of mainsail all the time on medium settings then change to strong wind settings. About the 420 sailboat Calculations Help SA/Disp. The 420E from Zim Sailing sets a new standard in enclosed deck technology for high school and college sailing. (Each hole on the chain plates will make a difference of roughly 1½” to your measurement). With our worldwide contacts and design input, we continue to help refine the racing sails for top performance. During the Summer of 2011 I spent some time at the RSGYC training in Feva’s and 420’s with Adam Hyland. However it is useful to be able to do before a race and in between races should the wind get up or die. Chock are the small ‘mushroom-shaped’ plates that you can put in front of the mast. Adjust them so that they are. Speed – 32mm Always choose the setting that best suits the strength of the lulls. You can measure pre-bend by following these steps: Different makes of sails require different pre-bends, these are: Pinnel & Bax – 35mm Your boat came equipped to rig a mainsheet bridle. When you have neutral chocks in your sail is at its flattest, so neutral chocks are good when the wind is very light or if you are overpowered. Completely let the rig tension off & pull the kicker on hard. By Staff. If your pre-bend measurement does not equal your sail’s requirement then release the rig tension, adjust the spreaders so that they are angled further back if your measurement is too small or further forward if it is too large. Use this only in very windy conditions. You’ll hear words and expressions like port, starboard, leeward, halyard, helms alee, rode, tacking, gybing, eye of the wind, velocity made good and course over ground, just to name a few. A similar slot can be seen in the top of the boom, to hold the foot of the sail. To learn your trade as a helm or crew it is best to do this in the 420, especially with the coaching structure and events available around the world. Top 420 sailors have jumped back into one-person boats and have generally been very successful as their sailing careers have developed. The International 420 is one of the most popular junior classes around the globe. Simple for beginning sailors and yet challenging enough for collegiate champions. the Mirror) but in the 420 it helps to achieve a faster jib slot / leech shape. As soon as you get on the wire there is enough wind for the sail to cope with being a bit fuller & more powerful put one more chock in (we call this +1). Our Blue Ribbon Line of 420 sails is designed for college or high school teams that demand the ultimate in … If we can help a bunch of 420 sailors get more passionate about their 420 sailing because they cross-trained on a multihull, I’m all good with that. Pull the main in block to block and look at the leech. Hoist the main sail and set it up as if you were going sailing (eg outhaul on etc but no kicker on). If your leech has a slight curve and the top telltail is flying 50% of the time then your bridle is perfect. If none of the telltails are flying & it’s straight/tight then your bridle is too short. If the leech is very bowed/slack and all the telltails are flying then your bridle is too long. Then, do the same again but to get 19’8½” using 31-32 on the rig tension. From this position, you then adjust the deflection (D) to create the desired pre-bend. Sailboat and sailing yacht searchable database with more than 8,000 sailboats from around the world including sailboat photos and drawings. Set up your light wind setting & make sure there are no chocks in. If it does not read 19’11” then take the rig tension off & move the shrouds down the chain plates if the reading is above 19’11”, and up the plates if it is below. flat-wiring & playing the mainsail all the time) then go back down to neutral chocks because you do not need any extra power. I would encourage you however to make a table of your own personal settings built up through trail and error. Once achieved this is your light wind bridle setting. As with any boat, if you are planning to buy a second-hand 420 then there are some top tips to ensure you buy the best possible boat for your money. Change the leeward/other shroud to the new hole. The airtight foredeck has taken weight out of the bow, increasing performance and safety, without sacrificing the durability Zim Sailing's boats are known for. It is a catamaran that we can bring along with us in the Cirrus aircraft or in the car and that inflates and is ready to sail in about an hour. “It’s expensive”…sailing is an expensive sport, but you already know that. young people trained up in the 420 before moving onto olympic class boats), the 420 has a good class following, and is a good introduction to performance boats. i.e. A 20- … The 420 offers great development for sailors in the two-person disciplines – most of the World's top sailors sailed in this class and easily moved on to succeed in other classes, and enjoy Olympic and big boat careers. As delivered, tension from the jib hal- yard automatically puts tension into the cloth of the jib and is equivalent to having a jib Cunningham tightened all the time. You will need to get your crew to hold the side of the boat so that a gust doesn’t blow it off the trailer! Then lower it slightly until it measures 16’1½” at the top of the black band at the gooseneck. When you are well out on the wire (but not flat wiring/overpowered), and especially in choppy conditions put two extra chocks in (+2) for maximum power. This will make the leeward shroud go slack. “It makes it hard to go back to one-person sailing”…completely untrue!!! This is your strong wind setting. It is a good idea to tie your shroud plate pins onto the plates so that you do not loose them whilst changing holes on the water. This class is primarily designed for advanced beginners and intermediate sailors; however, some older beginners and those over 125 pounds will begin their sailing instruction in the Club 420… Barber hauling is the name given to tensioning the windward/slack jib sheet. Then change to medium wind settings. The only time I consider sailing in a bad lane is when the wind is very shifty and the potential gain from the next shift outweighs the loss of speed from sailing in bad air. 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