420 Worlds - big fleet gathers in Brest

by NZ 420 Assoc + Richard Gladwell on 28 Jul 2005 The 2005 420 World Championships in Brest, France have attracted 320 competitors from 26 countries.

New Zealand will be represented by a team of 18 sailors, ranging in age from 14 to 40 years. The largest representation is from the host country France with 56 sailors, Spain, Britain, Italy have 28 sailors each at the regatta. Of the New Zealanders, four are from Canterbury, three from Auckland, and one each from Wellington and Tauranga.

The Kiwis credentials are impressive. Between them they have won most junior New Zealand dinghy sailing titles from Optimists, to P-class and Starlings.

On 20 July New Zealand were the first 420 Worlds Team to start assembling their boats to commence training for the Open and Women’s World 420 Championship regatta. Since then it’s been training on the race water’s in 4-25 knots. Three days ago they were joined by the NZ 420 Youth World Team, from Korea.

Tonight, in Brest, France, The NZ 420 Worlds Team and Supporters along with North Shore City Council, Events and Tourism Manager, Paul Dunphy host a Kiwi-Cocktail event for Senior delegates and members of the of International 420 Class Association General Assembly. The all Kiwi food and drinks party being to assist with our formal bid on 1 August for North Shore sailing clubs to host future 420 World Championship Events.

Today, the Kiwis completed boat measurement and are now ready to race on the 29th July. The only hitch so far has been the loss of some sails which have gone missing en route from New Zealand, however replacements have been arranged.

Team coach Simon Cooke, a former World Champion and Olympic rep in the 420's bigger sister is running a daily diary on his website: www.simoncooke.co.nz/420worlds2005.html .

Here's a few excerpts:

'It is very important to note that this is our first real Worlds with a full team and a Coach and full Support Team. So I have no expectations for any great results although we will certainly try our best.
'The main thing is to learn as much as we can for future years as NZ has really only being sailing 420’s for just over two years, unlike the rest of the World who has been sailing them for many years.
'Our first goal is to get as many teams into Gold fleet as possible and then focus on do the best we can with our top sailors in the final series.”
'There are a few more teams turning up slowly every day. After my sailing experience from the 470 I am shocked with how late all the teams are arriving before starting the World Championship.
'Now there are AUS, GER, ITA, ARG and IND out on the water each day although, unlike the 470 no teams seem interested in sailing together on the water. I suppose that’s because of the high turn over of sailors each year and nobody really knows each other.

'To our pleasure the team was performing extremely well and sailed consistently faster or higher than the opposition. So much so, that some other coaches commented on our performance to me the next day.
'I am glad to see that I am not alone and many of the other coaches and support teams helping out before or during the Worlds, are top 470 sailors and friends who have all performed highly in the 470 over the last five to ten years. At one point we had three 470 World and European Champions standing together talking!'

The NZ 420 Worlds Team acknowledge the fantastic and generous contributions and support of:

Yachting New Zealand, The Southern Trust, New Zealand International Yachting Trust Inc., North Shore City Council Tourism, Pub Charity, The Trusts Charitable Foundation Inc., Sport Canterbury, VDM Dirty Dog glasses, Evan Jones Construction, Trade Staff Ltd, South Auckland Charitable Trust, Singapore Airlines, Sky Travel, and Events Clothing
plus NZ 420 coaches:- Andrew Brown, Phil Keen, Mat Brown and Simon Cooke.

Sources: www.nz420group.co.nz/association.htm + www.kiwispy.com