The 420 class
Technical details
The 420 is an established performance two person trapeze and spinnaker racing dinghy. There are 57,000 worldwide. This popular dinghy is sailed at school, club, open, national and international levels in Fleet and Teams Racing. The 420 is the ISAF Youth World Championship boat and a youth development boat in 43 countries. The 420 is used for the World Teams Racing Championships and now for teams racing at a secondary school and inter club competition level in New Zealand.
420 Class Rules 2021.pdfThe boat specifications
Length 4.2 m
Beam 1.63 m
Mast 6.26 m
Sails Main 10.25m2, Jib 2.8 m2, Spinnaker 9 m2
Bare hull weight 80 kg min
Sailing weight 100 kg min - the ideal competitive combined crew weight is 110-145Kg
Sail setting and trimming tips
Mainsail
Top Batten- Just tight enough to remove wrinkles from the pocket, until over 15 knots, when it should be quite firm.
Outhaul-
LIGHT -firm
MEDIUM -eased a little so the foot shelf just “falls in”.
HEAVY -mega tight
Cunningham
LIGHT -just enough to remove major wrinkles
MEDIUM -remove most wrinkles
HEAVY -tight to very tight.
Main Sheet
LIGHT -top ribbon to flow at least 50% of the time
MEDIUM -top ribbon to flow around 70% of the time
HEAVY -you will be vang sheeting now, see below
Vang
LIGHT -take it off the boom and clip it to the shroud
MEDIUM -none, get all your leech tension through mainsheet. Start using vang when easing main to de power.
HEAVY -Continue to pull more vang on to control leech twist, and aid mast bend. More and More!!!
Jib
Height -The tack of the jib, when tensioned should be no higher from the deck at the forestay fitting than 40mm.
Luff Tension -Always enough to remove any wrinkles, except for very light winds (off) and heavy wind (lots on)
Sheet Tension -In nearly all but heavy winds, the jib must be not only sheeted, but also “barberhauled” using the windward jib sheet to bring the sheeting angle of the jib closer inboard, resulting in greater height and speed.
LIGHT – with crew to leeward or in the middle of the boat, trim the jib so it is barberhauled, with the sheet eased to allow the leech ribbon and top leech telltales to flow.
MEDIUM – Pull the jib sheet in firm, then barberhaul very tightly. You will now need to ease the sheet to get the ribbon and leeward telltale to flow 90% of the time. The crew, if on trapeze, should be able to “walk forward” and check it out while on the wire.
HEAVY – As you vang sheet, and start easing the boom off centerline, you should start using progressively less barberhaul, until it’s blowing hard and you're using none!
