Lightning, a nineteen-foot trailerable centerboard sloop, was originally designed by Sparkman & Stephens as an affordable family day-sailor and racing boat. She has evolved into one of the most popular and competitive one-design racing classes in the world. Awarded ISAF International Class status, the Lightning is sailed in more than thirteen countries and in the Pan American Games, and the Class provides a professionally-managed association that is among the largest in all of one-design sailing. The Lightning's rig is simple but offers sophisticated sail shape controls. The hull features a unique hard chine design that combines the stability that provides sail-carrying power, with flat bottom sections that promote planing. The International Lightning Class Association protects the boat's design and licenses custom and private builders to build boats under its administration. A list of Lightning builders is available from the ILCA upon request.
Dinghy Responsiveness
Sportboat Performance
The Best Of Both Worlds
Whether racing or daysailing, the Lightning offers a combination of performance and stability that eludes most one-designs. The Lightning's hard chine and 130 pound centerboard give her the stability and power of a small keel boat going to weather in strong winds and allow her to carry a very large spinnaker for breathtaking offwind rides.
There's room in the cockpit for two couples or a family to daysail, but the Lightning is easy to ramp launch and light enough to trailer with ease. In the event of a capsize, she can be righted and sailed dry by her crew.
Refined Design,
Today's Technology
The Best Of Both Worlds
Whether you're more interested in how a boat looks or how it behaves, it's hard to beat the Lightning. The Class maintains an attitude that promotes conservative innovation, making the boat faster, safer and more maintenance free, while keeping prices affordable. Most Lightnings built in the last twenty-five years can be made competitive, and it's not uncommon to see them winning races right along with new ones. In fact, the 1995 World Champion sailed a boat built in 1969!
Modern Lightnings are built in foam-cored fiberglass with stainless steel centerboards and black anodized aluminum spars. The world's top sailmakers give the class their best efforts. In short, there are enough controls to keep the most technically inclined happy, but it's good tactics, boat-handling and hiking that win races.
The Best Competition In The World Or
A Way To Get Away From It
The Best Of Both Worlds
Worlds
Ted Turner, Dennis Conner, Ken Read, Dave Dellenbaugh, Dave Curtis, Bruce Goldsmith, Tom Allen, Neal Fowler, Steve Benjamin, Ched Proctor, Bill Shore, Greg Fisher, Andy Horton are just a few of the rock stars who have competed in the Lightning. After more than 60 years and more than 15,000 boats it's easy to find a regatta when you want to. But whether you're interested in serious racing or you just want to go for a joyride with the family, you'll find what you're looking for in the Lightning.
Club Racer Or International Icon
The Best Of Both Worlds
The Lightning truly excels as a racing boat. It requires a wide range of different skills, both tactical and technical. At 700 pounds all up, the boat is tough enough to avoid frequent breakdowns, but light enough to plane wildly on the reaches.
A World Championship is held every two years. North American, South American and European Championships are held each year as are innumerable regional and District championships. Major regattas attract some of the finest sailors in the world, but you find Class members friendly and the sailmakers' complete tuning guides helpful at getting you up to speed in a hurry.
The ILCA is one of the oldest and best organized class associations in sailboat racing. Its primary purpose is to serve its membership, preserve the integrity of the Lightning and provide high-quality competitive events. In addition, the ILCA publishes a monthly newsletter Lightning Flashes with up-to-date regatta news, boat brokerage and ideas on how to get the most out of your Lightning. An annual Yearbook, containing many illustrated articles, reports on major championships, fleet reports and a complete association mailing list, is also published. The professional ILCA staff is always on hand to assist both current and potential members.
If you're looking for a boat you can be proud to sail, one that offers dinghy handling with the performance of a sportboat, a refined design that's free of fads, complete with the technology of today for both racing and daysailing - Get The Best Of Both Worlds. Get into a Lightning. See you on the water.
David Dellenbaugh, former Lightning World Champion and starting helmsman for 1992 America's Cup defender America3, lists the top ten things he likes about the Lightning:
- There's Lightning racing almost everywhere.
- Some of the best sailors in the world sail the Lightning.
- Lightnings are available from more than one high-quality builder.
- Lightnings even 20 years old are still competitive.
- The boat is one of the best crew trainers on the water today.
- The class is not so strict as to discourage experimentation which makes the boat faster and easier to sail.
- The Lightning has interested the finest sailmakers in the world so the sails and the tuning guides look great and are easy to use.
- The Lightning is a very roomy boat for daysailing.
- Lightning sailors sail hard, but they're not too cutthroat - someone's always ready to answer questions.
- The class management is as good as you'll find in one-design sailing.
For more information about the International Lightning or to arrange a test sail in your area, call or write:
International Lightning Class Association
1528 Big Bass Drive
Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689
Phone: 727-942-7969
Skype: ilcaoffice
office@lightningclass.org