FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL LIGHTNING CLASS ASSOCIATION
JANUARY 29, 2009

The International Lightning Class Association is proud to announce the selection of Toms River Yacht Club and Metedeconk River Yacht Club as hosts for the 2010 North American Championships.

The Women’s, Juniors’ and Masters’ North American Championships will be held August 4-6, 2010 at Metedeconk River Yacht Club in Brick, New Jersey.  Over 50 teams are expected for the three days of racing on Barnegat Bay.  The racing will take place on the famous Green Island Course, where the Lightning Class 1978 Junior North Americans, the 1984 & 1996 Youth Worlds and the 2003 Pan Am Trials were held.  Jody Lutz, Committee Chair for the event, expects the racing conditions to be delightful where a building sea breeze is the daily norm.  The Lightning Class Masters’ event typically sees 25 teams of experienced intense competitors, including many North American and World Champions.

The Lightning Class North American Championships, which will be held on August 9-13, 2010 at Toms River Yacht Club, Toms River, NJ, could easily see up to a hundred boats involved in the competition.  This will be the North American qualifying event for the 2011 World Championships in Buzio, Brazil and competition for these coveted qualifying spots is expected to be fierce.  Barnegat Bay enjoys the distinction of being a hotbed of Lightning activity, with over 12 actively racing fleets and has a long tradition of high quality Lightning racing over the past 50 years. According to Regatta Chair, Allan Terhune, Sr., the racing for the Championship will take place in the Cedar Creek course, which will provide the fleet with open water and consistent sea breeze conditions.  The Jersey Shore is a great tourist location, and its spectacular ocean beaches will provide those not sailing with one of the best vacation spots on the East Coast.  This summer the Toms River Yacht Club will host the Lightning Atlantic Coast Championship Regatta on July 25-26.  This will be a great opportunity for competitors to experience the conditions and “tune-up” for the Championship regatta in 2010.

Both Clubs have hosted prestigious championship sailing events with the support of their active, talented and dedicated members.  As active participants in the BBYRA (Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association), the Clubs are experienced and highly regarded in Championship one-design race management.

For more information on these events and all Lightning Class information please visit our website at: www.lightningclass.org or call 303.325.5886.