FlashBlast - February 1, 2024
|
| Place your advertisement here! |
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.
|
| | 8 Bells... Dr. Georges Peter
Georges was an active member of the Lightning Class for 61 years. His rookie year was 1956, sailing #6288, one of those controversial Etchells-designed Lightnings. He sailed it to victory in Marblehead Race Week that year and continued sailing in six more Lightnings, finishing with #14688. Georges was a member of Fleet #151 in Annisquam, Massachusetts, sailing on Ipswich Bay, which Georges called “the most beautiful place to sail in the world.” Frequently crewing on his beloved Mouette were his wife, Carolyn, his daughter, Allison, and his longtime friend, C. H. Ritt. His passion for sailing balanced his demanding and highly successful career as a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases. Learn more about Georges
| | | | Lightning Sailors Named Finalists!
Tune in tonight to see who wins!
Congratulations to Betsy Alison and Allan Terhune, Jr for being named finalists for the 2023 US Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year Awards. Meet the 2024 Finalists | | | |
The Lightning Class has many talented sailors who have won or been nominated over the past years. Tune in and cheer on our Lightning sailors! | Florida Sailing At It's Best!!
Get on the water NOW! |
Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta in St Pete, Feb 16-18
This is a great multi-class event where the Lightning shines! 24 boats are already registered for this 3 day event and we know of a few more that are coming. Complete registration by end of day February 1st to save a $75 Late Fee. Leave your boat in St Pete between the Feb and March events. Contact the Class Office for more information.
Open Call for Junior Teams: If you and your team are under 21 and interested in racing in the 2024 Regatta Series, Sailing World and Helly Hansen support teams at each event with complimentary entry fees, coaching, Helly Hansen gear and awards.
Email us to apply: regattas@sailingworld.com
| The 2024 Southern Circuit:
Winter Championship & Masters Winter Championship - St Petersburg YC, St. Petersburg, Florida
March 16-19, 2024. Registration Saturday, March 16th. 3 days of racing Sunday-Tuesday.
Yachtscoring Event Page: NOR, On-Line Registration, etc.
Wednesday, March 20 - travel day to Miami
Mid-Winter Championship - Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Miami, Florida March 20-23, 2024. Boat storage and sailing out of Regatta Park. 3 days of racing Thursday - Saturday.
Regatta Network Website - NOR, SI's, On-Line Registration
Karl Smither Award Nominations
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. Submit nominations to the Class Office: office@lightningclass.org
Skippers aged 30 and Under are eligible to request up to a 50% Regatta Entry Subsidy from the Limbaugh Fund. More Information
| | Lightning Labs Survey - We Need Your Input!
The Lightning Class has been sponsoring Lightning Labs for many years, and in many different forms. They can be seminars at the local fleet level, events held in conjunction with District or National level regattas, and anywhere in between. | | | There are many resources that have been developed over the years, including sample formats, videos, planning checklists, etc.
In whatever format they take - one-day, two-day, on or off the water - the intent is to help sailors improve their skills, strengthen our fleets, and make Lightning sailing more enjoyable for everyone involved.
We want to hear from you on what you feel is important, what you feel would be helpful, and your ideas on how Lightning Labs can help strengthen your local fleet or District and your excitement about the Class.
| Winter Meeting Notices
The Governing Board Winter Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time via a Virtual Meeting using the ZOOM Platform. District Commodores, Vice Presidents and the Executive committee will all receive and invitation link via email.
One item has been presented for vote, a temporary amendment to the Document Governing, Articles Which Apply Specifically to the North American Championship, Section XIII, Racing Conditions. This proposal is being reviewed by the Executive Committee and will be posted and distributed at least 30 days prior to the meeting date per the Constitution.
If you would like to be added to the agenda or if you have something to share during either meeting, please send a request or short written report to Class Secretary Jeffers office@lightningclass.org or contact Class President David Starck at president@lightningclass.org by Monday, February 26th.
Please note that Personal and Fleet Dues must be current in order to vote.
----------------
Annual Winter Meeting of Members will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time via a Virtual ZOOM Meeting. The meeting invitation link will be emailed out to members prior to the meeting.
At this time no items have been presented for vote.
If you would like to be added to the agenda or if you have something to share during either meeting, please send a request or short written report to Class Secretary Jeffers office@lightningclass.org or contact Class President David Starck at president@lightningclass.org by Monday, April 8th.
Please note that Personal and Fleet Dues must be current in order to vote. | | Catch up on Social Media: This was posted on Class Social Sites (Facebook, Instagram) last week.
With all the news concerning the demise of Sports illustrated last week, we can reflect back on the Febuary 23, 1959 issue which had the Lightning on its cover. This was the boat of Bill Cox which won back to back championships in 1956 and 1957. Bill went on to drive American Eagle in the 1964 Americas Cup trails and was one of the many gifted sailors to have raced our Lightning Sailboat. | | | This boat on the cover was built by the Old Greenwich Boat Company owned by Skip Etchells. It was often referred to as a “cheater boat” as it pushed our specifications and eventually ended up in litigation (ILCA represented by Matt & Greg’s father, George Fisher) and finally the publications of tolerance’s for our class specifications being published. These boats accelerated the evolution of hull shaped to what is the modern Lightning of today, and its history represents a key point in our class evolution toward becoming one of the largest and most successful one-design sailboat classes.
For example one of the photo’s included within shows the centerboard pin having to be relocated in order to comply. Much more can be shared about this boat, but that will need to follow in a longer piece.
Bringing all this forward to today, this very boat, our two time champion, considered to be the fastest Lightning of its day is being restored by Mike Siebert of Montpelier Vermont. This will be Mike’s second restoration.. And he has also built a brand new Lightning from scratch. He hopes to relaunch the boat later this year. Stay Tuned!
Thank you Bob Astrove for the write up!
Be sure to stay SOCIAL with the Lightning Class on the following platforms: | |
Please be sure to submit your results with CREW NAMES to the Class Office via EMAIL office@lightningclass.org . If you have a short summary and a few photos even better!
If your regatta isn't listed here - be sure to add the event to the ILCA Event Calendar and send in results after the regatta!
| Upcoming Regattas:
Click on the event for more info or
If you need help listing your 2024 events please contact Laura in the Class Office. |
3 Days of Racing in St Pete.
Includes a Master's Winter Championship and first Part of the Southern Circuit.
2nd leg of the Southern Circuit
Great season starter hosted by Pymatuning Yacht Club. Cool breezes, warm friendship and hot competition!
Great facilities, Great wind, Great race committee, Great turnout, and lots of fun!
The MVLD will held on Lake Decatur, IL at the Commodore Decatur Yacht Club. This will be a open Lightning regatta with seperate scores to determine MVLD champion.
With a combined Districts we are expecting a great Fleet! All are welcome to come and check out Hingham Bay!
One of the prettiest places to sail. Come one, come all!
The first year was so fun, we are doing it again! Join us in Duxbury on Boston's South Shore!
Great sailing on Barnegat Bay! All are welcome!
Open Events - come and enjoy the BCC and tune up for the NAs!
Calling all sailors aged 35+ come and sail in the Pan American Masters Championship - Cleveland, OH!
Loon Lake is 30 minutes east of Thunder Bay and each year hosts a really enjoyable regatta. It's inland lake sailing at it's finest both Saturday and Sunday with a welcoming BBQ at the Walsh's Saturday evening. Please come join us for the weekend. The drive is quite pretty and we'd be glad to billet those who join us. Loon is also the first half of the Central Canadian Districts just to add a little spice for those contemplating attending.
Lightnings in Marblehead are BACK! Only 2 Days of Racing
NA's are BACK at the BCC!
NA's are BACK at the BCC!
Amethyst Harbour, 20 miles east of Thunder Bay, on Lake Superior, is a pretty nice introduction to Lake Superior sailing. Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, is a “small” 20 mile wide bay on 350 mile long Lake Superior. What a setting for a sailing weekend. The races are around local islands with Saturday's two races around closer islands and Sunday's single race around Caribou Island. All are stunning and Caribou's cliff's add real drama to the race. Saturday evening the Bailey's host a BBQ and make sure the sauna’s really hot of all the Finnish wanna be's. It's most certainly serious racing for the Crystal Trophy, sailed yearly for almost a century now, but any Lightnings that are not so serious are really welcome for wonderful sailing. We'd be glad to billet those from out of town and we'd love to have you join us.
All are welcome to beautiful Squam Lake in Holderness, NH. See recently-adopted qualification exceptions (in addition to normal ILCA qualifications) for NE WJM.
Save the date for the Inaugural Under 32 "U32" Regatta hosted at the Buffalo Canoe Club!
Come join us on Bow Lake in beautiful Strafford, NH for a day of fun, friends, food and racing. First race at Noon in the middle of the lake and after racing appetizers, taco dinner and awards at Ned and Karen's house. Be there!
The crown jewel of the autumn racing circuit. Great racing, legendary hospitality, local housing for all, plus lots of boats! Once referred to by Bill Faude as the finest fall regatta in which you will ever sail. Come see why it remains one of the ILCA most enduring regattas. Thirty-four boats in 2023.
Last Lightning Regatta of the year in New England. Weather always plays a part in the fun
| International Lightning Class Association
Laura Jeffers, Executive Secretary
(727) 942-7969 | |