Identical boats for men and women
The 470, as its name indicates, is a double-handed dinghy of 4.70 m in length, whose crew is composed of a helmsman and a crew member.
"The boat is the same for men and women, in a symbol of parity. The helmsmen are not on the trapeze as in the 49er but on the abseil." explains Guillaume Chiellino, Director of the French Sailing Team. The only difference is the presence of the red diamond in the mainsail of the boats in the women's event.
While the boats are virtually identical, some designs or equipment may vary depending on the rules of measurement. This allows athletes to sail a boat that best suits their sailing style. The 470 has 2 upwind sails and 3 downwind sails, mainsail, jib and spinnaker.
Teamwork is the key to success on this boat, with an optimal crew weight of between 120 and 135 kg. The physical dimension is less important than on other boats, as the sailors have to be strategic, tactical and choose the right settings to make their boat move.
The 470 designed in 1963 by the Frenchman André Cornu and also one of the stars of the sailing schools. It became an Olympic event in 1976, for the Montreal Olympic Games. At that time, the event was open to all, until the 1988 Seoul Olympics, when the events were split into two: men and women. The event of 1988 is moreover the first in the sail reserved to the women on the Games.
Many Olympic champions in 470
In the men's event, the most successful Olympic sailor is Australia's Malcolm Page, who won back-to-back gold medals in Sydney in 2008 and London in 2012. His co-skipper for London, Mathew Belcher also won silver in Rio 2016 in a duo with Will Ryan. Returning to Tokyo 2020 (Games start July 23, 2021), Mathew Belcher could well become the most decorated Olympic sailor in 470.
The French also have a good record in the history of the 470, with a bronze medal in Los Angeles in 1984 and a gold medal in Seoul in 1988.
In the women's event, the most successful sailor is the Spaniard Theresa Zabell, who won two consecutive gold medals in Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. But for this new event, two sailors are in the running to win a third Olympic medal in the women's event.
Dutchwoman Lobke Berkhout won silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at London 2012 with two different coskippers - and she will be on the starting line in Enoshima with her new teammate Afrodite Zegers. Hannah Mills could become the most successful British sailor in history if she wins gold at Tokyo 2020. She has already won silver in London 2012 and gold in Rio in 2016.
A great card to play for France
Twenty-one female and 19 male crews will compete for victory on the Enoshima plane.
For France, Camille Lecointre and Aloïse Retornaz will represent the nation. The first one participated in her first Olympic Games in 2012 in London where she finished in 4th place. In 2016, she won the bronze medal with her teammate at the time Hélène Defrance. As for Aloise, she first obtained brilliant international results in 420, before winning two world junior titles in 470 in 2013 and 2014. After a 4th place in the 2021 World Championship in 470 and a first place in the European Championship the same year, the two young women are aiming for gold in Tokyo 2020.
On the men's side Kevin Peponnet and Jeremy Mion, reigning European champions, like the women's crew, will represent France. Jérémie participated in his first games in 2016 in Rio and took a 7th place. He has been associated since 2017 with Kevin, holder of several victories in the world of sailing: European Junior Champion and Junior 470 World Vice-Champion in 2011, Tour Voile 2018 in Diam 24, World Champion 2018 in 470.
