The Ecuadorian team of Jonathan Martinetti, Moira Padilla, and Allison Haon bested 40 teams from 8 nations to win the Lightning World Championship in Cartagena, Colombia. Defending World Champion and Class President David Starck (USA) with crew Tom Stark and Jenna Probst placed second, and Augie Diaz (USA) with crew Kim Couranz and Laura Jeffers placed third. Conditions ranged from light and shifty in the harbor, to breezy with large swells on the Ocean course. Results are linked here: https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=15844

Photos of the event can be found here:  https://nicobright.photoshelter.com/portfolio/G0000f4gdV.PwiBg

Earlier in the week Martinetti and same teammates won the South American Championship over 34 boats. Augie Diaz with crew Kim Couranz and Alfonso Garcia Bringas took second and Jody Stark with crew lan Jones and Debbie Probst placed third. Diaz and team also took home the title of Masters World Champions over 14 teams, with Josh Goldman and crew Jackson Benvenutti and Monica Morgan placing second, and Jody Stark and team placing third. Results are linked here: https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=16023

The Class is particularly proud of two initiatives that showed results in the championship.  First, the Class's focus on U32 competitors led to many younger teams entering the Worlds, with 6 placing in the top 14, including the new World Champion. Second, since implementing the 2 female 1 male crew format for Lightning Pan American teams, the Class has seen an uptick in women sailing the boat. Of the top 5 boats, there were 8 females to 7 male sailors, and the current World, South American and North American Championships were won by boats that were sailed in the Pan Am crew configuration.

The Class would like to thank Case Lightning Colombia, Club Nautico El Portillo, Club Naval and the Federation Colombiana de Vela for organizing the event, as well as event organizers Gustavo Tamayo and Paula Douat Corredor and their team (photo above right) for putting on an unforgettable World Championship. Of note, both organizers skippered in the event, showing the volunteer nature of the Lightning Class. The next Lightning World Championship is scheduled for Athens, Greece in the Summer of 2025.