There are 56,000 boats which have been built worldwide. This popular dinghy is sailed at school, club, open, national and international levels. There are many second hand boats available, active clubs and excellent tuition for all levels.

Built in buoyancy tanks make the boat very safe even when inverted. The 420 is the youth development boat in 43 countries around the world. It is the equipment for the two-person dinghy boys and two-person dinghy girls events at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships, the pinnacle youth event in the world.

Despite the emergence of newer commercial driven classes and asymmetrics, the 420 is still the world's top youth training boat. A brand new 420 ready to sail costs approximately EUR5500 - 6000, making the boat an extremely affordable choice.

Mainsheet bridle systems are becoming the 'norm' in rigging the 420's. It allows a floating 40mm carbo block held down by a bridle line, usually made of a 4mm or 5mm dyneema line with eye splices on both ends, which are attached to the pins above the Traveler.