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Club 420 Association July 15 Statement on Non-Conforming Equipment

It is a core mission of the Club 420 Association to ensure that the Club 420 sailing dinghy is the product of a strict one-design regimen and that the Club 420s are built to consistent, uniform standards in order to ensure that racing is fair to all participants, and that the sailors, not the equipment, determine the outcomes. The goals of this core mission are incorporated in each contract with each approved builder of a Club 420 sailing dinghy to ensure compliance with and adherence to the Class Rules and Construction Manual then in effect.

Following a thorough inspection pursuant to Section B of the Class Rules and of the applicable Construction Manual of certain new Club 420 boats which entered the United States from China in 2019 under the brand “PS2000”, on July 11, 2019, the Class Measurer determined that specific boats identified below do not meet the requirements of the Class Rules and Construction Manual. The nonconforming elements in violation of Class Rules and Construction Manual are:

1. These boats were built using a resin infusion method of construction and used materials that are not class approved. Using this infusion method affects durability, boat stiffness, and other issues
2. These boats have additional structural elements at the bottom of the centerboard trunk alongside the stringer which is expressly not allowed by the Class Builders Construction Manual.

Neither of these elements were presented in advance to the Class Association for consideration prior to their implementation.

After further investigation and careful consideration by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section VII of the Association Bylaws, the Board on July 11, 2011, approved the interpretation of the Class Measurer.

Subsequent to its July 11, 2019, action, the Board of Directors received and considered a request from the approved builder of record and marketer of the PS2000 that “boats with Plaque numbers 8644- 8656, 8702-8713, and 8764-8787 be reinstated for a period of time.” By a vote of 8 to not approve, 1 to approve and one abstention, the Board did not approve the Builder’s request.

The Class Measurer continues to have the authority at any time to inspect and/or reinspect a Club 420 sailing dinghy to ensure compliance with Class Rules and the Class Construction Manual.

It is the sole responsibility of the approved builders of Club 420 dinghies to ensure that each boat manufactured and delivered conforms to the Class Rules and Construction Manual. The Association and its Board do not assume any responsibility or liability for non-compliance with Class Rules and the Construction Manual. All actions taken by the Class Measurer and the Board will continue to be solely in support of those documents and for the integrity of the Club 420 one-design sailing dinghy and the Class Association.

About the Club 420 Association - The Club 420 Association was established in 1980 to promote, foster, encourage and sponsor one-design sailing for youth sailors. The Association annually sponsors a North American Championship, US and Canadian National Championships as well as regional and team racing championships across North America while promoting the class to all ability and experience levels of youth sailing. For more information visit www.club420.org.