420 sailboat weight limit

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Question: Am I too heavy for my company race team?

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My Apknite company is starting a team/club that plans on racing 420’s. I used to sail as a child on 420’s and even then I was heavy with another person. I weight around 285.  

Enjoy your life and don’t worry about it. Sail trim and tactics win races. Yes, weight is technically a factor, but it’s dominantly an excuse.  

With no disrespect intended, the answer is,that you are too heavy to competitively race a 420. The ideal crew weight for a 420 is 240 to 300 lbs. That is the combined weight of the skipper and crew. At 285 lbs you alone are near the absolute upper limit of the ideal combined crew . Ideally the individual crew weight falls in a range of 50-60% of the total combined crew weight in order to have the boat sit in it's proper trim and with optimum weight distribution. There are some mix of four ways to look at your options here, 1) decide that it's not all that important to win since sailing is fun whether or not you win, 2) evaluate the competition and conclude that they have their own issues that might level the field, 3) go into training and perhaps target a weight loss in the 30-50 lb range.or 4) 420's are small boats for an adult crew. since 420s are pretty weight intolerant. So you might want to approach the company to see if there is an option to race some other class of boat that is more weight tolerant. Regarding option #3, the reality is that ever increasingly those of us who try to race competitively routinely work out to maintain the required strength, weight, agility, and balance. I have raced on a boat where the three person crew needed to drop 40 lbs for a high level regatta. Over 5 weeks each of us diligently dieted and worked out and we got to our target weight. It was not easy. Jeff  

Minnewaska said: The average weight of an American adult male is 195 lbs. Sure, we have a heavy nation, but you have to get into the Asian countries before two average adults are the ideal weight profile of a 420. They are designed for kids and those who were malnourished during their growth years. No doubt, they aren't the best choice for an adult company sailing club. I highly doubt there will be many adult crews, who average 160 lbs each. Still, if that's what they've got, enjoy your life and go for it. I doubt many crews will be inside the ideal crew specs. Click to expand...

FEELSLIKEHOME said: My Apknite company is starting a team/club that plans on racing 420's. I used to sail as a child on 420's and even then I was heavy with another person. I weight around 285. Click to expand...

I think your overall body size combined with your agility/athleticism are more important, than strictly your weight, in terms of whether you can go out and have fun on a 420. I sailed 420s as a teenager with a cousin who competitively raced. Tons and tons of fun, but you need to be quick and nimble on these boats. The fact that they're designed to be sailed with a trapeze should tell you something. By all means, go for it and see how it goes. I'm sure you can sail, but sailing comfortably or proficiently may be more difficult for a bigger guy.  

I would say it depends on the sailing skills of your competitors. If you are experienced and they are not, the weight handicap would be likely offset by a skill differential. I tried to get on my college racing team but did not have the experience and needed a 100 lb captain to make up for my size at 170 lbs. Can you influence the boat decision? You are better built for a keel boat. I am thinking grinder not on the bow.  

If you order a pizza..yum good..order it without crust. No, nada, zippo bread for 2 years. Sentence yourself Even if inactive you will dump theweight by ditching the carbs. Look into it  

Hmmmm...not sure the OP was looking for weight loss tips.... I am guessing it is going to be very casual beercan racing, so I don't think the weight is a big deal. It may prove to be an advantage when the wind pipes up as you will be able to keep the boat flatter. The biggest problem with being a big guy on a small dinghy is the agility. Getting across cleanly through gybes and tacks is much harder to do, and may have you going for the occasional swim! Just get out there and give it a shot. Maybe you can find a 100lb waif to crew with you! Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk  

SchockT said: Hmmmm...not sure the OP was looking for weight loss tips.... Click to expand...

Race with a dog, to get under the total weight. Done.  

I try not to give unsolicited diet or medical advice. Mr. Feelslikehome knows he's large, that's why he asked the question. He could be 6' 10" and quite trim. Or he could be overweight but have other medical issues that prevent him from exercising/skipping crusts/using healing crystals. Or maybe he doesn't give a damn. All that said.... Damn, 285lbs in a 420! That's a big boy in a little boat, kinda like the old Chris Farley bit. I would say go for it. What's the worst that could happen? You lose? You capsize and get wet? Nothing wrong with either of those things. If it's about fun, go out and have fun.  

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August 1, 2014 by Sail1Design Editor 1 Comment

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• Sailboat Guide

420 is a 13 ′ 9 ″ / 4.2 m monohull sailboat designed by Christian Maury and built by Rondar Raceboats, Fountaine Pajot, Snapir Sailing Craft Ltd., MacKay Boats Ltd., Lanaverre, Johnson Boat Works, Far East Boat Co., Whitecap Composites, Xtreme Sailing Products, and Nautivela starting in 1959.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

One of the most successful sailing dinghies ever. (Only the SUNFISH or LASER can be considered in the same league.) Originally designed and built by Lanaverre of France. (They built 32,000 according to one source.) Licenses were later granted to other builders around the world. In 1996, the International Class agreed to amend the deck layout. 1 Trapeze permitted. Spinnaker: 97 sq.ft. There is a ‘Club’ version of heavier construction and slightly different dimensions.

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Boat Specifications

Designed as a youth trainer for the larger Olympic class International 470 the International 420 is an RYA recognised pathway boat in the UK with a vibrant and well attended youth racing and training circuit.

Constructed in fiberglass, its one design nature appears to youth sailors who sail at both club level or at an International level and want the fun and exhilaration of sailing a trapeze boat

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The Club 420 sailboat is ideal for yacht clubs and institutional racing programs that want a larger fiberglass boat than the FJ. West Coast Sailing has all the resources you need to rig, find replacement parts, and enjoy sailing the Club 420.

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About the Club 420:

The Club 420 sailboat is a popular double-handed sailing dinghy that is widely used for both recreational sailing and competitive racing. This boat is known for its stability, versatility, and performance, making it an ideal choice for sailors of varying skill levels. The Club 420 is equipped with a main and jib sail, providing sailors with an exciting and responsive sailing experience. Its design promotes teamwork, making it a popular choice for youth sailing programs and racing events. The boat's manageable size and ease of handling contribute to its popularity among sailors looking for an accessible yet exhilarating sailing experience.

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One-Design Class Type: Dinghy

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Youth

Approximately how many class members do you have? 2500

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About Club 420

The Club 420 is a two person dinghy which forms the base of many local, high school and collegiate programs in North America. Simple for beginning sailors and yet challenging enough for collegiate champions. The Club 420 offers more learning opportunities than any other double-handed boat. Over 5,000 Club 420s are sailed in youth, high school and collegiate programs all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Boats Produced: 8600

Class boat builder(s):

Laser Performance Zim Sailing

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 5000

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

East Coast, Gulf Coast, West Coast, Great Lakes, sprinkled throughout the middle of the country

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  2

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  240-300

Boat Designed in  1970

Length (feet/inches): 13’9″

Beam: 5’4″

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 240

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Twenty years, the Club 420 was developed in response to the growing need for a more durable, high-performance, double-handed racing dinghy that could stand up to the rigors of club and collegiate programs. Ideal for crews ranging in size from 220-300 lbs., the Club 420 is manageable for sailors coming out of the Optimist class and enables young sailors to learn teamwork, trapeze and spinnaker techniques. The Club 420 is simple and safe for beginning sailors and yet challenging enough for collegiate champions. The Club 420 offers more learning opportunities than any other double-handed boat you can find. The Club 420 Class Association promotes events on the local, regional, and national levels in North America. The Zim C420 has quickly become the Club 420 of choice for yacht clubs, community sailing programs, and individuals. One-design sailors want the strongest, lightest, most durable boats and rigging available. We’ve met this demand with proven boat construction techniques and a race rigging package that ensure performance, strength, and durability. This durability has led to many happy repeat customers. The Zim 420 Pro racing boat continues to prove itself on the course with victories at local, regional, National, and North American Championship regattas C420 Construction • Toughened resin and plexus bond for superior strength and durability • Colored gelcoat racing stripes on aft end of cockpit or traditional grey deck • Matching smoke gray rudder blade and centerboard • All through-deck mounted hardware is supported by tapped aluminum backing plates • Shroud chain plate is a forged eye strap supported with an aluminum back-up bar under the rail Hardware • Harken Carbo cleats and blocks • Roller pins on shrouds instead of guy hooks • Mylar centerboard gaskets • Low drag bailer with replaceable parts • Round traveler bar Sails & Rigging • North Sails class approved mainsail, jib, and spinnaker • Custom Spinnaker colors available • Zim Race Rigging • Dyneema main halyard for max hoist and low stretch • Spliced single adjustment mainsheet bridle • 16:1 Dyneema vang • FSE Robline line package • 2:1 rudder downhaul • Pulley trapeze rings; handle and ring are both adjustable for gross and fine tuning • Tapered aluminum spinnaker pole • Dwyer aluminum mast and boom

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