Busy programme for the 420 class in 2019
by Jennie Clark 18 Dec 2018 08:58 PST
Eleanor Keers and Faye Chatterton versus Jack Lewis and Fraser Hemmings in the 420 Inlands at Rutland © Richard Sturt
The 420 class ends 2018 on a real high with the class delivering some fantastic
racing and coaching and plenty of new faces coming in to the class. With one
last training event, scheduled for 29 December, and members of the class 'end
of year' attendances at the Brass Monkey and Grafham Grand Prix events filling
the final days of 2018 we can now turn our thoughts to 2019.
The season will kick off in Scotland with coaching at Largs on 5-6 January, and
we expect to see a good fleet of 420s at the Bloody Mary the following
weekend. The National squad are heading to Oxford SC on 19 and 20 January,
with open coaching at Datchet and Largs the following weekend. Yes, that's
right you can sail your 420 every weekend in January!
February kicks off with the Tiger Trophy which is going to be marked by the
class with additional prizes in memory of John Merricks. We are looking
forward to seeing Ian Walker back in his 470 at the event and are hoping that
both 'north and south' will come along and make this a real show of 420
sailing. The class also expect to see another good fleet out for the Oxford
Blue.
Our class specific events start in March with the Start of Seasons at Rutland,
followed by the Spring Championships at Weymouth in early April. Both of these
events will be preceded by coaching events at the venues the weekend before.
Immediately following the Springs we'll be fielding a big fleet for the RYA
Youth Championships, also at WPNSA.
These three events will help select the Ladies, Open and U17 teams to represent
GBR at the Worlds in Vilamoura in Portugal, which will take place from 3-11
July and the team for the World Sailing Youth Championships being sailed at
Marina Gdynia in Poland from 13-20 July. Some of the teams had better get
looking at the logistics of Portugal to Poland!
Moving on through to the end of the summer holidays and a visit to south coast
beckons for the 2019 National Championships. These will take place from 24-27 August and are being hosted by Hayling Island SC. Traditionally this brings
to an end the older sailors time in the class with a move to the 470 or
University often beckoning. Those staying in the class will be eagerly eyeing
up the selector events for next year's Youth Squad, with selector 1 already
booked in at Rutland for mid September and a sea venue currently being sought
for selector 2 in early October.
www.gbr420.uk