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International
Lightning Class Association
Date: 2/3/2025
Subject: FlashBlast: Southern Circuit, Worlds Updates and More!
From: International Lightning Class Association


FlashBlast - February 3, 2025
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Single advertisements are available for each Flash Blast. For more information or to reserve your spot please contact Laura in the Class Office or at 727-942-7969.

2025 Southern Circuit 
 
Winter Championships
St Petersburg YC - March 15-19
 
Deep South 
Savannah YC - March 20-22
 
NORs, On-Line Registrations and more information is updated in the Southern Circuit Blog. Click Here for all the information and links!

Southern Circuit Updates - February 3, 2025!

 
Please REGISTER if you are planning to come and sail in St Pete or Savannah. On-line registration is live for each event. 
 
Karl Smither Trophy -Annually awarded by The St Petersburg Yacht Club during the Southern Circuit banquet, the Karl Smither Trophy recognizes the contributions of a Corinthian sailor, class mentor, and Lightning enthusiast. - Nominations can be submitted to the Class Office. 

 

The Class will be testing/sampling the Vakaros RaceSence technology during the Winter Championship in St Pete - March 15-19, 2025. Sailors that own the Vakaros compass are encouraged to bring their devices to the event for use. Those that do not own the technology will be provided a unit for use during this event. Watch for an amendment to the NOR and more information/instruction on use to come soon.

 

 

2025 Mentor Program!

Learn From the Best! 

Nick Turney, Karl Felger, Greg Fisher and other top Lightning Sailors!

 

2025 Mentor Program - Only for Teams that REGISTER! 

 

Morning Briefing and Tip for the Day

- Virtual weather briefing and tips for the day each morning before sailing (complementary to all sailors) by Nick Turney

- We will discuss the weather trends for the day, what to expect and what to look out for

- Tip for the day- We will briefly discuss a few tips for sailing in the conditions for the day

 

Mentor

- Each team and or participants will have access and support from the Lightning Classes Top Sailors for on the water and off the water assistance.

- Schedule a line up/speed test before the start with a Mentor and get their tips for the conditions. 

 

On The Water Coaching

-Greg Fisher will be on the water providing coaching in-between and during races for all Program Participants on Sunday and Karl Felger will be on the water Mon - Wed and in Savannah on Friday. 

- Get feedback on your set up, ask questions about the wind shifts, learn what the current is doing

- Get feedback on what happened in the previous race, tactics, where did the leaders go

- Greg or Karl will also be allowed to provide direct assistance to participants during the race if they would like it.

 

Post Racing One on One Debriefs

Program participants can sign up for a one on one time with Coach Karl after racing each day. 

 

Reserve your space today - Sign Up/Register Today!
2025 World Championships - Voula, Greece
 
June 12-16 - World Masters and European Championships
 
June 16-21 - World Championship
 
NOR's, Country Allocation and Deadlines to respond and photos from past events are posted. 
 
NEW UPDATES
 Hotel Deals are being posted on the Worlds Blog.  BE SURE TO BOOK your accommodations ASAP! Many properties are beginning to sell out for our June timeframe. 
 
Boats shipping from the USA - It is looking like container loading will happen in the April 4-7 timeframe. We will likely begin the stacking process at the end of the Southern Circuit. Pairings will happen soon. Watch for more information to be distributed directly to Worlds and World Masters participants. 
Confirmation Deadlines

Current Confirmations:
CAN - 1, USA - 18+, BRA - 1, CHI - 4, COL - 2, ECU - 1 maybe 2, PER - 1 maybe 2, FIN - 8, GRE - 12, AUS -1 
 
If your country is not listed above or the number of confirmed boats is incorrect please contact the Class Office ASAP!
 
January 31, 2025 - Re-Allocate any unused slots.
February 15, 2025 - Countries are required to submit a confirmed list of entrants.
March 1, 2025 - Re-Allocation of any slots not registered.
April 1, 2025 - Registration deadline. (Late Fee of $100 begins after this date.)
May 15, 2025 - Registration closed.
Lightnings to participate in 3 - HHSWRS in 2025!
 
St Petersburg - Feb 14-16 
24 Lightnings are REGISTERED and we are currently the LARGEST Fleet represented! There is still time to REGISTER if you want to join in on the action! St Pete HH Yachtscoring Page
 
(note boat storage between Feb event and March Southern Circuit is available. Contact Laura in the Class Office for more details.) 
 
Annapolis - May 2-4
 
Marblehead - July 24-27
 
WEBSITE TIP... #2 Finding People
 
Are you a Fleet Captain or District Commodore and need to confirm your fleet members are up to date on their ILCA memberships? Or you need to verify your crew is all set to sail in the Districts, NA’s, Worlds or other big regatta? Or you met a guy named Rick at a bar in Boston who said they sail out of Marblehead and may be available to crew, but you didn’t get their contact info?

 

You can usually find members, their membership status and their contact info on the class web site. Select the menu item Membership, and then Fleet Finder....

 
Check out the latest LOYALS Volunteer Group Blog for full details and instructions on Finding People/fellow Class Members on the Class Website!  
Text Communication from the Class - Available
 
It has become obvious over the past couple of years that many of our members no longer rely upon email as a preferred way to receive information from the Lightning Class Association.

To address this the ILCA is adding TEXT MESSAGING to complement (not replace) our website, email, Facebook, Instagram, blogs, and recently added forum for member communications.

A little different than other communication vehicles, privacy concerns and service provider requirements dictate that Text Messaging needs to be an “Opt-In” service.  That means if you want to start receiving notices from ILCA via text message, you need to modify your ILCA member / user profile which is accessed via the ILCA website.    www.lightningclass.org

Instructions on how to make the setup changes for your ILCA account are provided at  Text Messaging Opt-In Instructions 
Upcoming Regattas: 
Click on the event for more info or 
See Event Calendar for More Events or to add your event!
 
If you need help listing your 2025 events please contact Laura in the Class Office. 
Feb
14-16
St Pete Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta
3 Days of Racing in St Pete.
Mar
15-19
Winter Championships
Includes a Master's Winter Championship and first Part of the Southern Circuit.
Mar
15-22
Southern Circuit Mentor Program
Highlight of the Southern Circuit! You can't beat this deal!
Mar
20-22
Deep South Regatta
Final stop of the 2025 Southern Circuit!
Apr
26-27
Long John Regatta is BACK!
All are invited to the legendary Navesink River!
May
2-4
Annapolis Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta
Another HHSWRS Regatta Added!! Come join the FUN in Annapolis!
May
17-18
Pymatuning Spring Classic
Enjoy cool breezes, warm friendships and hot competition at our 40th annual Spring Classic regatta.
Jun
12-16
World Master and European Championships
Jun
13-14
Mississippi Valley District Championship
Jun
14-15
Crescent Sail Yacht Club One Design Regatta
All are invited to this 2nd Annual event! We had 18 boats in the first year - come join the FUN!
Jun
16-21
World Championship
Jun
28-29
Combined CT/RI and NE District Championships
All are welcome to Niantic! Don't miss out on some great sailing!
Jul
12-13
Lake Erie District Championships
Open Event - come and enjoy the BCC!
Jul
25-27
Marblehead Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta
Racing in Marblehead!
Aug
2-3
BCC Youth Invitational
2 days of racing for youth (under 21). One person turning 21 or older this calendar year is allowed on the boat, but cannot steer. Great tune-up for the Junior NAs!!
Aug
8-11
Women's, Junior and Masters' North American Championships
Lightnings are heading back to Larchmont Yacht Club on Long Island Sound!
Sep
13-14
Pennsylvania Governor's Cup
Come join us for a great weekend of sailing on the Susquehanna River. Winds and temperatures are usually good this time of year.
Sep
13
2025 Bow Lake, NH One Day Ed Hinds Memorial Regatta
Fun filled one day regatta on beautiful Bow Lake in Strafford, NH. Great food and drink, amazing taco dinner with all the fixings and lots of other stuff too, superb racing and excellent camaraderie.
Sep
23-27
North American Championship
September dates - Wrightsville Beach offers fantastic ocean racing.
Oct
11-12
U32 Invitational Regatta
In it's second year, U32 is a Lightning class initiative focused on strengthening the younger generation in the class by creating fun, competitive events to boost camaraderie and connections among young sailors after aging out of junior events. Join us for the Second Annual Under 32 "U32" Regatta hosted at the Metedeconk River Yacht Club
International Lightning Class Association
Laura Jeffers, Executive Secretary
(727) 942-7969
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