I have done an extensive amount of sailing as a youth
sailor across a number of classes including the 29er, 49er, I14,
fireball, 420, optimist, byte and the shark. I would like to use
this opportunity to learn as much as I can about a new class and
improve my tactical and strategic skills, learning from some of the
best sailors at our club and around the northeast. Furthermore, I
would like to inspire some of the younger sailors at our club to
continue sailing in different classes and beyond their youth
careers. I Hope to have respectable results in the lightening and
will absorb all information that is given to me from my peers and
competitors. I would like to thank the ILCA for the opportunity to
sail in the lightening fleet for the summer and hope that everyone
will be proud of our achievement and hard work.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
David Gelston
My
Goals:
I have recently been sailing in the college circuit
and coming from a skiff background I hope to re-enter the world of
competitive sailing from a more technical angle. The opportunity to
travel and compete against sailors from all over the continent is a
great way for me develop as a sailor as well as help spread interest
in the lightning class. The Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club has a
solid fleet, but there isn’t as much youth participation as there
could be. The lightning is a great boat to sail after young sailors
have had some experience in the youth program the club offers.
Personally this is a great chance for me to sail with two other
great sailors and use the experience I gain over the summer to carry
over into other classes.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Tej Trevor Parekh
Goals for Summer:
The 2007 summer in the Lightning, for me is all about
three things:
·
Having fun in a popular class
·
Developing youth interest in the class in our region
·
Cross training for other classes and big regattas
I have recently come off a competitive schedule of
skiff sailing in the 49er class. At this point I’d like to take a
step back and have fun in a more relaxed, friendly atmosphere while
still competing and doing my best. The Lightning is a popular class
across North America with plenty of great events. I’d like to sample
as many as possible to meet people involved in the class and to make
those contacts. From there, I’d like to help develop the youth
sailors at our club and on our lake. We have a solid Lightning fleet
at RStLYC, and I’d like to get the younger sailors involved. This is
to help ensure the survival of the Lightning fleet at our club, and
to ensure success at the 2008 Lightning Youth Worlds, which will be
held at our club. Finally, I’d like to use the racing experience we
gain this summer as a form of cross training for other classes. The
Lightning may move slower than a skiff, but you can definitely learn
a lot, especially in fleet tactics.
