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470
Designer: André Cornu  ·  Builder: Various  ·  First built: 1963
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About the 470

Designed by André Cornu in 1963, this Olympic-class dinghy has established itself as one of sailing's premier high-performance racing boats. The 470's lightweight fiberglass construction and fractional sloop rig create an exceptionally responsive platform that rewards skilled crews with exhilarating performance. With its centerboard configuration and modest 269-pound displacement, the 470 planes easily in moderate winds, making it ideal for competitive fleet racing and sailing instruction at advanced levels. The boat's sail area-to-displacement ratio of 52.65 delivers impressive acceleration and speed, while the relatively deep draft of 3.17 feet provides solid upwind performance despite the light displacement. The 470 serves dual roles as both a serious racing machine and an excellent training platform for aspiring Olympic sailors. Its demanding handling characteristics require precise crew coordination, making it particularly suitable for experienced teams looking to hone their skills. The boat's narrow beam and responsive helm provide immediate feedback, helping sailors develop refined technique. While primarily designed for protected waters and coastal racing, the 470's robust construction has proven durable through decades of competitive sailing. Various builders have maintained consistent quality standards, ensuring the class remains competitive and accessible to sailing programs worldwide.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 15.42 ft / 4.70 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.58 ft / 4.44 m
Beam 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Max Draft 3.17 ft / 0.97 m
Min Draft 0.50 ft / 0.15 m
Displacement 269.00 lb / 122 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 137.00 ft² / 12.73 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer André Cornu
Builder Various
First Built 1963
Associations 470 Olympic Dinghy (Int)
Related Sailboats ["Snipe" · "Albacore" · "Wayfarer" · "Windmill" · "Coronado 15"]
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
52.65
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
38.75
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
2.89
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
3.41
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.12 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 286.53 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Albacore, Wayfarer, Windmill

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
470 ★
15.4 ft
Albacore
15.0 ft
Wayfarer
15.8 ft
Windmill
15.5 ft
LWL
470 ★
14.6 ft
Albacore
14.8 ft
Wayfarer
14.8 ft
Windmill
14.5 ft
Beam
470 ★
5.5 ft
Albacore
5.1 ft
Wayfarer
6.1 ft
Windmill
4.8 ft
Displacement
470 ★
269 lbs
Albacore
240 lbs
Wayfarer
372 lbs
Windmill
198 lbs
Sail Area
470 ★
137 sq ft
Albacore
Wayfarer
141 sq ft
Windmill
119 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
470 ★
52.7
Albacore
Wayfarer
43.7
Windmill
56.1
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
470 ★
2.9
Albacore
Wayfarer
3.4
Windmill
2.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
470 ★
3.41
Albacore
Wayfarer
3.38
Windmill
3.26
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
470 ★
38
Albacore
32
Wayfarer
Windmill
28
Hull Speed
470 ★
5.1 kts
Albacore
Wayfarer
5.2 kts
Windmill
5.1 kts
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