Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

The UK 420 "Off Season"

by John Meadowcroft 22 Feb 2022 00:57 PST
Imogen Wade & Teddy Dunn during the 420 Inlands at Draycote © Jon Cawthorne

2022 for the UK 420 fleet kicked off with a Coached Racing weekend at Datchet on the weekend of 15/16 January. 21 boats attended included a number of newcomers to the Class.

Saturday's sailing was curtailed due to a big high pressure system which meant that there was not a breath of wind. The fleet finally got on the water on Sunday and a 5 race series was completed. Lots of learning for everybody. Ollie Meadowcroft & Oscar Cawthorne emerged as winners ahead of Alice Davis & Oliver Rayner.

The following weekend was the 420 Winter Championships, held at Portland. The same high pressure system as the previous weekend was still very much in control and it was a light weather competition for the 35 boats that were entered. Alice Davis & Oliver Rayner had led the Palamos Christmas Race in light winds after the first day, and they were clearly set on doing the same here, recording 2 race wins in the first two races. But Ella Lance and Will Martin were always consistent and a win for them in the final race of the day made them the overnight leaders.

On Sunday these two boats distanced themselves from the rest of the fleet as they both continued to score very well. Whilst Ella & Will made few mistakes, they could not match the consistency of Alice & Oliver who recorded a sensational Sunday score of 7,1,1,2 to take a highly deserved victory. Other notable performances came from Heather Quinn & Gwyneth Lanyon who finished 7th overall and were first females. The female U17 was won by Sabine Potter & Merle Nieuwland and the open U17 by William Bailey & Matthew Rayner.

Many of the fleet left their boats in Portland as the following weekend the 420 Class organised training alongside the RYA Youth Performance Squad Sailors. This was also the first training session for the newly formed British 420 Class Performance Squad, a selected group of partnerships for sailors just below the RYA Youth Performance Squad. Day one was windy and cold, day two much more benign and all the sailors came together for some impromptu racing at the end of the second day, with the RYA Youth Performance Squad sailors required to start on a second line to leeward of the other sailors. Challenging conditions for all!

The moderate winds of December and January then switched over to what will be remembered as full on February. First up was the Tiger Trophy where the sole 420 representatives were Harry George and Ralph Cawthorne who were genuinely almost blown away. 34 boats lined up at Draycote Water on 12/13 February for the Inland Championships. It was cold and it was windy and on the Saturday it was highly attritional. Ollie Meadowcroft & Oscar Cawthorne won both races by a margin in epic conditions. Sunday was no warmer but it might have been a little less windy initially. Another 3 races were held, Oscar & Ollie again dominating each from start to finish to claim a perfect score line and the title of 2022 Inland Champions. Second place went to Alice Davis & Oliver Rayner. First females were Megan Farrer & Ellie Rush, first U17 Open was William Bailey & Matthew Rayner, 11th overall, and first U17 females were Holly Wright & Olivia Nixon in 14th overall. Everyone who launched deserves admiration, and everyone launched on both days. It was truly epic.

And then storm Eunice arrived, cancelling the RYA Performance squad training at Pwllheli over 18/19/20 February. Next up is Storm Franklin and once this has passed there is Class Training organised at Hayling Island from 22 to 25 February. And then next weekend is the RYA Dinghy Show where sailors and parents will be available to tell you all about the 420. There is both a lot of wind and a lot of 420 sailing going on.

More than 30 420s are already signed up for the RYA Youth Nationals in April at Pwllheli, and entries are now open for the meeting at Rutland on 12/13 March which is the first of three Selection events for the 2022 420 Worlds and Junior Europeans in Hungary and Portugal respectively.

Come and see the 420 Class at the RYA Dinghy Show at Farnborough, where you will be able to see a new Leman 420 and find out how you can get one to supercharge your 420 sailing. The 420 Class is in great health attracting sailors from across the country and from the spectrum of junior classes. The sailors are having a great time. Don't wait - find out more about the World's Top Youth Boat @ gbr420.uk

Related Articles

Bosham Sailing Club Junior Regatta
A gob-smacking 90+ entries tak part A gob-smacking 90+ entries for the Bosham SC Junior Regatta, aligned with a late high tide and a wedding marquee on the meadow normally used for rigging and de-rigging created a unique challenge to celebrate its newly acquired RYA Pathway Club status. Posted on 3 Jun
Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water. Posted on 14 May
It's So Easy to Shop for Winning Sails Online
Shop North One Design sails online anytime for fast delivery Shop North One Design sails online anytime for fast delivery, in-stock availability, and podium-ready results. Don't wait, your next win starts here. Posted on 28 Apr
2025 RYA Youth National Championships
A week of varied and challenging race conditions at Pwllheli Over 230 of the UK's top young sailors descended on Pwllheli for the 2025 RYA Youth National Championships, where new champions were crowned after a week of varied and challenging race conditions. Posted on 24 Apr
First Ever US Sailing Youth National Team
Made up of 66 athletes spanning the United States from Hawaii to the east coast US Sailing is pleased to announce the inaugural US Sailing Youth National Team (USYNT), made up of 66 athletes spanning the United States from Hawaii to the east coast. Posted on 22 Apr
Draycote Academy update
Winter program really does support sailors' development That's a wrap for the 2024/25 Academy training, and we can see our winter program, with an ethos of time on the water, really does support sailor's development. While podiums and event wins are great we also focus on supporting sailors at all levels. Posted on 3 Apr
The most important job in sailing
How Nick Scott is delivering radical change to competitive sailing pathways in the UK I am putting forward that falls to Nick Scott and his team. Namely to secure its competitive future by addressing challenges and delivering radical change while bringing people on that journey with him. Posted on 31 Mar
Gill Xtremity 420 Inland Championships
Talent shines at Rutland Rutland Water played host to the highly anticipated GBR 420 Class Inland Championships this past weekend, where the UK's most promising youth sailing talents converged for two days of tactical racing and fierce competition. Posted on 17 Mar
420 fleet rebuild - 9 crews contest Nationals
The rebuilding of the domestic 420 fleet gathered momentum over the weekend with the NZ Nationals The rebuilding of the domestic 420 fleet gathered momentum over the weekend with the NZ National championships at Takapuna Boating Club - and according to Yachting New Zealand coach Jenny Armstrong, the early signs are promising. Posted on 11 Mar
US Sailing Youth Team qualification update
Over half of the 72 sailors who will qualify have now earned their spot on the team Over half of the 72 sailors who will qualify for the Youth National Team in 2025 have now earned their spot on the team based on top finishes at class association Midwinter Championships. Posted on 7 Mar
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst Yacht Tender 1456x180px BOTTOMCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range