The 470 World Championships have been held every year since 1970 and organised by the club on behalf of the International 470 Class Association and recognized by World Sailing. When the Championship forms part of the ISAF Sailing World Championships. The class also holds the 470 Junior World Championships and the 470 Masters World Championships.
The 470 is a sailboat class used as equipment for the Olympic Sailing Competition.
The boat has been used in additional World Championships organized by World Sailing notabily the Youth Sailing World Championships and the IYRU Womens Sailing World Championships.