Nearly 40,000 units manufactured
Designed in 1962 by André Cornu, it was initially built by the Morin shipyard in Pessac. In the early 1960s, the introduction of polyester revolutionized the construction of small boats. This new technique simplified the production of shaped hulls, previously complex and costly with traditional materials such as plywood or glulam.
This period saw the emergence of many new dinghies between 1960 and 1965, among which the 470 and 420 quickly stood out. At the time, the 470 was considered an intermediate boat, positioned between introductory dinghies such as the Vaurien, the Mousse and the 420, and highly technical boats like the 505 or the Flying Dutchman.
The 470 market expanded internationally, and by 1966 several European shipyards had obtained authorization to produce this dinghy. Despite this, Jean Morin continued to build large numbers of these boats, up to 1,500 a year, at attractive prices that attracted the best French racers. Many of the great names in French sailing have sailed the 470, including Michel Briand, the Pajot brothers, the Follenfant brothers and the Péponnet brothers.
A versatile medium
Measuring 4.70 m long (hence its name) and weighing 118 kg, it has a sail area of 12.60 m2 upwind, complemented by a venerable 12 m2 symmetrical spinnaker.
Suitable for medium-sized sailors, the 470 is an ultra-complete craft, capable of racing in both calm and rough seas. It is robust enough to sail in rough seas and strong winds, but also to perform in light airs
As far as prices are concerned, a very wide range is available on the market. For a second-hand model designed for Sunday outings, expect to pay around ?2,000 for a properly maintained unit. But for a brand-new model ready for the Olympics, the bill could rise to almost ?30,000.
An Olympic series for almost 50 years
Inducted at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, only one French crew has ever won a medal. In Seoul in 1988, Thierry Péponnet and Luc Pillot brought home a fine gold medal, as did Jean-Yves Le Déroff and Nicolas Hénard in the Tornado class.
Several shipyards around the world hold the manufacturing license, including Boutémy, 2win and Nautivela, the latter being the most successful on top-level circuits.
Since 2021, the 470 class has been raced by mixed doubles. Although the physical demands are lower than for other types of yacht, the crew plays a crucial role in the trimming, tactics and strategy required to optimize performance on the water.
