WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHTNING CLASS
The Lightning, a 19-foot trailerable centerboard sloop, 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. 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. There's room in the cockpit for two couples or a family to daysail. The Lightning is easy to launch and light enough to trailer with ease. In the event of a capsize, she can be righted and sailed dry by her crew. Get "The Best of Both Worlds." Get into a Lightning!

Midwinters West 02/19/10-02/21/10
2010 Deep South Regatta 03/13/10-03/14/10
2010 Lightning Midwinter Championship 03/16/10-03/17/10
2010 Winter Championship 03/18/10-03/21/10
San Diego NOOD Regatta 03/19/10-03/21/10
2010 South American Games 03/19/10-03/30/10
SSA Spring Series 04/17/10-04/18/10
2010 Long John Regatta 04/24/10-04/25/10
2010 ILCA Texas District Championship 04/24/10-04/23/10
Mid-Continent Regatta 04/24/10-04/25/10
Italian National Championship Regatta 04/30/10-05/2/10
Doc Gilbert Memorial Potomac Cup Regatta 05/1/10-05/2/10
Burl Harmon Memorial Indiana Open 05/1/10-05/2/10
Florida District Championship Regatta 05/8/10
Lake Lansing Regatta 05/8/10
Hernando Desoto Regatta 05/15/10-05/16/10
Spring Classic 05/15/10-05/16/10
No Gas Regatta 05/15/10-05/16/10
Borderline Regatta 05/15/10-05/16/10
Early Bird Regatta 05/22/10
Pacific Coast Championship 06/5/10-06/6/10
Southeastern District Championship 06/5/10-06/6/10
Magnus Pederson Regatta 06/5/10-06/6/10
Celebration of Spring Regatta 06/5/10-06/6/10
Lighthouse Regatta 06/5/10-06/6/10
Fleet 301 MBBC Spring Regatta 06/5/10-06/6/10
Brant Beach Annual Regatta 06/12/10
Dixie District Campionship 06/12/10-06/13/10
Mississippi Valley District Championship 06/12/10-06/13/10
Boyne City Mark Madness Regatta 06/12/10-06/13/10
Ocean City Cup Match Race 06/12/10-06/13/10
Central Atlantic District Championship 06/18/10-06/20/10
Indiana District Championship 06/19/10-06/20/10
Metropolitan District Championship 06/19/10-06/20/10
SSA Summer Series - Day 1 06/19/10
NJ Governors Cup 06/19/10-06/20/10
Caz Flash Bash 06/19/10-06/20/10
Bay City Regatta 06/19/10-06/20/10
Ohio District Championship 06/19/10-06/20/10
Lake Erie Districts 06/26/10-06/27/10
Midwest District Championship Open 06/26/10-06/27/10
42nd Champagne Regatta 06/26/10
Low Country Regatta 06/26/10-06/27/10
Spofford Lake Regatta 06/26/10-06/27/10
Michigan Districts 06/26/10-06/27/10
Connecticut Governors Regatta 06/26/10-06/27/10
Canadian Championships 07/3/10-07/4/10
WJM NE Districts 07/9/10
Sodus Bay Yacht Club - Centrals 07/10/10-07/11/10
Great Lakes Championship 07/10/10-07/11/10
CT/RI Districts 07/10/10-07/11/10
NE District Championship 07/10/10-07/11/10
SSA Summer Series - Day 2 07/10/10
Long Is. District Championship 07/17/10
Loon Lake Regatta 07/17/10-07/18/10
Central NY District Regatta 07/17/10-07/18/10
Lightning Class Youth World Championship 07/23/10-07/26/10
Tawas Regatta 07/24/10-07/25/10
Wooden Lightning Get Together 07/24/10-07/25/10
Pacific Coast Championship 07/24/10-07/25/10
Atlantic Coast Championships 07/24/10-07/25/10
Heart Cup Regatta 07/31/10-08/1/10
Brotz Regatta 07/31/10-08/1/10
New Jersey State Junior Championship 07/31/10
SSA Summer Series - Day 3 07/31/10
BCC Youth Invitational 07/31/10-08/1/10
Masters North American Championship 08/2/10-08/6/10
Junior North American Championship 08/2/10-08/6/10
Womens North American Championship 08/2/10-08/6/10
Higgins Lake Regatta 08/7/10-08/8/10
North American Championship 08/8/10-08/13/10
Down Bay Invitational Regatta 08/14/10-08/15/10
Duck Challenge 08/21/10-08/22/10
Squam Lake Regatta 08/21/10-08/22/10
Lake Waccamaw Charity Regatta 08/21/10-08/22/10
Lake Delta 2010 Regatta 08/28/10
Amethyst Weekend 08/28/10-08/29/10
BRAZILIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 09/4/10-09/7/10
Ocean City Cup Team Race 09/5/10
NJ State Championships 09/11/10-09/12/10
Augusta Invitational 09/11/10-09/12/10
Lake Massabesic Regatta 09/11/10-09/12/10
Pontiac White Cap Regatta 09/11/10-09/12/10
Temple Reef Sailing Club Regatta 09/11/10-09/13/10
SSA Fall Series 09/18/10-09/19/10
Bruce Goldsmith Memorial Regatta 09/18/10-09/19/10
Bow Lake 09/18/10
Cotton Pickin Regatta 09/18/10-09/19/10
Manahawkin Bay Cup 09/25/10
Houston Yacht Club Open One Design Regatta 09/25/10-09/26/10
Red Flannels Regatta 09/25/10-09/26/10
14th Annual SMSA Small Boat Invitational 09/25/10-09/26/10
Red Flannels 2010 09/25/10-09/26/10
Caz One Day 09/25/10
Fall Classic Regatta 10/2/10-09/3/10
Atlanta Cup 10/2/10-10/3/10
European Championship 10/8/10-10/15/10
LAST BLAST! 10/9/10
Ithaca Frostbite Regatta 10/10/10
Fall Dinghyfest Regatta 10/16/10-10/17/10
36th Cowan Lake Fall-In Regatta 10/16/10-10/17/10
SSA Frigid Digit 10/16/10-10/17/10
MBBC Leaf Peeper 10/16/10-10/17/10
Fall Blow Out! 10/16/10
Copa de Naciones Vela Panamericana 10/20/10-10/24/10
Pennsylvania Gov. Cup 10/23/10-10/24/10
Charleston 10/23/10-10/24/10
Columbia 11/6/10-11/7/10
Jubilee Regatta 11/13/10-11/14/10
South American Championship 12/4/10-12/7/10
Allstate Sugar Bowl One Design Regatta 12/18/10-12/19/10
2011 Deep South Regatta 03/12/11-03/13/11
2011 Lightning Midwinter Championship 03/14/11-03/16/11
2011 Winter Championship 03/17/11-03/20/11
2011 World Championship 07/22/11-07/29/11


9/4-9/7Brazilian National Championship
Sao Paulo Yacht Club, Fleet 462, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  1. Claus Biekarck, Gunnar Ficker e Marcelo Silva
  2. Tommy Sumner, Felipe Brito e Felipe Gil
  3. Felipe Echenique, John Bennet e Mirinha Hackerot
8/21-8/22 Squam Lakes Lightning Regattta
Squam Lakes Association, Fleet 332, Squam Lake, NH
  1. Bob Shapiro
  2. Dwight Gertz
  3. Garr Corcoran
8/21-8/22 Duck Challenge
Havre de Grace, Fleet 192, Havre de Grace, MD
  1. Jason Werner, Heather Dodd-Werner, Brian DeBrincat
  2. Patrick Phelan, Jason Phelan, Jen Adams
  3. Trevor Prior, Danielle Prior, Daniel Race
  • After five years of extremely dedicated service, our Executive Secretary, Jan Davis, has elected to retire. Jan has done a marvelous job of restructuring the Class Office and while we will miss her service in the role of Class Secretary, the transition to a new Class Secretary should be a very smooth one, thanks to Jan’s wonderful organizational skills. It’s also important to note that Jan and Steve are not going anywhere; they will still be very much involved with the Class and on the regatta circuit!
    Now that Jan has made this decision, we need to move forward with selecting a new Executive Secretary. We are fortunate as a class to have a relatively short list of dedicated individuals who have held this role in our 70+ year history. The stability and consistency that these folks have provided are a significant element in our enduring success as an organization.
    Several individuals have expressed interest already based simply on the efficiency of the “grapevine”. This is the only formal announcement and request we intend to make at this point for anyone interested in the position to contact either me or Jan will then forward an outline of the job’s responsibilities. If you’re interested, please respond quickly as we would like to resolve this process in the next thirty days.
    Jan or I, as well as the other members of the Executive Committee are available to address any questions you may have.
    Thanks again Jan!
    Rob Ruhlman
  • International Fleet Development Initiative Report - an ILCA Fund project.  4th container on it's way to Chile!
  • US Lightning Pan Am Trials information.  Notice of Race
  • If you have old Flashes from 1976, 1977, or 1978 and are willing to donate them to the Class, please contact Jan at office@lightningclass.org.
  • Safety Line Amendment passes, effective May 1, 2010.
  • 2011 World Championship dates:  July 22-29 in Buzios, Brazil  Information
  • South American Championship:  Dec 4-7, 2010, Salinas Ecuador
  • Countries currently qualified for the Pan American Games:  Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, United States. 
Our Supporters
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