The Nordet 420
A 1958 French sailing dinghy designed by François Sergent.
A small archive for a forgotten French dinghy
The Nordet 420 belongs to a generation of small boats designed for simple, direct and joyful sailing. Light, modest and close to the water, it reflects a time when sailing was not only about performance, but about access, discovery and pleasure.
This website gathers what remains: original references, technical information, period documents, restoration notes and the story of one rescued boat.
The Boat
The Nordet 420 is a 4.20 metre sailing dinghy designed by François Sergent in 1957. This section gathers the known technical information about the boat, its construction, rig and intended use.
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The Original Plans
The Musée Maritime de La Rochelle preserves thirteen original François Sergent drawings for the Nordet 4,20 m, including hull, construction and sail/rigging plans.
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Wildflower
Wildflower is one surviving Nordet 420, found after years ashore and slowly brought back to life. Her restoration is the starting point of this archive.
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From forgotten plans to a boat brought back to life
Small boats often disappear quietly. Their names fade, their plans are stored away, and the few surviving hulls are left to speak for themselves.
This project began with Wildflower, a forgotten Nordet 420 rescued after years on land. Restoring her became a way to uncover the wider story of the design, its maker, and the sailing culture it belonged to.
Historical Archive
This is an open and growing collection of documents related to the Nordet 420: original plans, magazine references, construction notes, photographs, translations and traces of surviving boats.
Every document helps rebuild the story.
Nordet420.com
An independent living archive dedicated to the Nordet 420, François Sergent’s 1957 French sailing dinghy, and the restoration of Wildflower.
Do you know a Nordet 420?
This archive is still growing. If you own, remember or have information about a Nordet 420, your story can help preserve the history of this small French sailing boat.
Photographs, documents, sail numbers, construction details and personal memories are welcome.