“..You are role models for other youngsters because of  taking the time that it takes to learn to sail, the time it takes to learn teamwork and the time that it takes to become the best in the world at what you do. You are role models for other young people,”  was the inspirational welcome R.I. Representative Marvin Abney gave to the sailors at the opening ceremony for the International 420 World Championship today in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

"Remember you will make friends here that you will have forever and a day," he added. 

Alice Floyd (New Zealand) and Justin and Mitchell Callahan (Newport, RI) made the “Sailor’s Oath” on behalf of all of their fellow competitors “I Promise that I will sail in this championships respecting and complying with all the applicable rules and regulations and I will do all my best to achieve the victory, always in view of promoting the sport of sailing and the friendship among the sailors of all participating countries.”

Brad Read, executive director of Sail Newport declared the International 420 World Championship officially open. Amy Kempe, President of Sail Newport, Newport Mayor Harry Winthrop and 420 Class President Nino Shmueli also made welcome remarks. 

Young sailors have travelled to Newport, Rhode Island, USA from 18 countries. The 167 teams will race in three fleets for the 420 Open, 420 Women and 420 U17 titles.

Racing begins on Friday 10 August through to the 15 August.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Follow the 420 World Championship via our daily reports, photos, video and 420 Class Championship APP.

Championship Website: 2018worlds.420sailing.org

Results - http://2018worlds.420sailing.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall

Photo Service – Daily photo galleries will be provide in high and low resolution on a daily basis free of rights for editorial use only. Team photo requests for editorial use should be made to: office@420sailing.org

All images used should include the official photograph credit as per the photo.

Championship APP - the 420 Class is running a Championship APP for the 2018 420 World Championship so you can keep up to date with all the racing action from your favourite sailors wherever you are

Video and Photos – daily videos and photos will be produced for social media and websites, which will be available on the Championship website and 420  Class social media.

Social – you can follow the 420 World Championship on:

Championship website - 2018worlds.420sailing.org
420 on Facebook - www.facebook.com/International420ClassAssociation
420 on Twitter - twitter.com/420class
420 on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/Int420Dinghy
Get social using #420Worlds #420Class

Enjoy our Social Media board

Media enquiries to: Kim.Cooper@sailnewport.org and office@420sailing.org

About the 2018 420 World, Women's World and U17 World Championships
The 2018 420 World, Women's World and U17 World Championships, 7-15 August 2018, is hosted at Sail Newport, Rhode Island, USA. 336 sailors from 18 nations are competing, with 71 boats in the Open fleet, 53 in the Women and 44 in the U17. The 420 Open teams are split into two fleets for a 6 race qualification series and 6 race final series, with a single race discard coming into play after race three. Teams contesting the Women and U17 World Championships race a single series of 12 races, with a single race discard after race three.

Nations competing: Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, USA and US Virgin Islands.

About the International 420 Class Association
The 420 is an established worldwide performance two-person trapeze and spinnaker racing dinghy which holds status as an International Class and Learn-to-Sail boat.

A performance two-person spinnaker racing dinghy for youth, the 420 has been selected as the youth development class in over 45 nations around the world. The 420 is an important choice to develop sailing and sailors’ skills in strategy, tactics, boat handling, tuning and technique and is very accessible, demanding skills easily obtained by sailors in developing nations.

The 420 Class has trained many of the world’s best sailors and is a proven transition class, whatever your next step in sailing ... dinghy or multihull ... keelboat or skiff ... www.420sailing.org