International Lightning Class
Boat Grant Program Starts its Second Year.
Following up on an inaugural
year that was “nothing short of a smashing success,” according to
class president Steve Davis, the International Lightning Class
Association will continue with its innovative Boat Grant program for
2008.
While many one-design
classes struggle to attract and retain young sailors, the Lightning
Class is taking active steps to give young adults a leg up: the
class provided fully rigged, insured and competitive boats for
several worthy teams for the 2007 sailing season. An idea dreamed up
and put into practice by Allan Terhune of North Sails in Annapolis
and Bill Fastiggi of Vermont Sailing Partners in Burlington, the
ILCA Boat Grant had an ambitious goal: supply two race-ready boats,
mentoring, upkeep, fee supplements, and insurance -- at no cost to
the young skipper.
Allan Terhune was himself
just starting his career the year he won the ILCA North Americans.
"When you have bills to pay, and a limited amount of vacation-time,
it's a hard choice to commit to racing a sailboat." Fastiggi, a
North American runner-up in 2005 agreed. "We've seen too many
promising young sailors opt out of the sport because it's just too
much." The two tackled the nuts-and-bolts details involved and then
convinced the ILCA leadership to take a chance with a really new
idea.
“Obviously, we didn't know if
it would work, but we gave it a try and met with a groundswell of
interest and support,” said Fastiggi. “Before we knew it, people had
donated sails, boats, covers, and cash to the program.”
In 2007, the ILCA granted
four boats, with teams selected from 15 applicants from across the
US, Canada, and South America. Teams headed by Bob King, 24, of
Syracuse, NY; Bobby Martin, 22, of Riverton, NJ; Guy Tawney, 19, of
Baltimore, MD; and Stephen Waldie, 21, of Montreal, QC (Canada)
competed at the North American Championship, as well as their
District Championships and various other local events.
According to Bobby Martin,
the Boat Grant program exceeded expectations, “My boat was brand
new. It was amazing. When I ran into issues, my mentor and members
of my local fleet were always there to help… I never could have
imagined that I would have enjoyed class and boat this much.” And
Bob King, just out of law school, said that the program provided
critical funding for his young “and poor” team, “The expense program
is what allowed me to travel to the bigger regattas. For example I
could not have afforded the $200 in gas to go to Cedar Point for the
ACC's.”
For 2008, the ILCA plans to
build on these successes. At least four grants will be offered. Both
Nickels Boat Works and Allen Boat Company are providing the use of a
new boat for the 2008 season. “We hope that even more young sailors
will apply to the program, knowing what a positive experience it's
been.” Said John Faus, of the ILCA Executive Board, who will be
helping organize this year's program, “This really works out for the
sailors and the class.”
The ILCA is now accepting
applications for the boat grant program for the 2008 season. The
application deadline is December 31, 2007.
The International Lightning,
a 19-foot sloop designed by Sparkman & Stephens in 1938, can be
found in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
Class alumni include Carl Eichenlaub, Bill Shore, Tito Gonzalez,
Rolex Yachtswomen Jody (Swanson) Starck, Betsy Alison, and Bonnie
Shore, Rolex Yachtsmen Ken Read, Dave Curtis, Dennis Conner ISAF
Sailor of the Year Ed Baird -- many of whom got their start in the
boat sailing with friends and family.
For additional information or to apply for this
program, please visit
www.lightningclass.org or call the ILCA office in Centennial, CO
at 303-325-5886.
