FlashBlast - November 7, 2025
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| 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.
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| LAST CALL FOR BIDS
2027 World and Master World Championships
AREA/REGION HOST: North America
Deadline for bids: December 1, 2025. Questions, Contact Josh Goldman, VP of Worlds.
Full Details: 2027 Worlds - Call for Bids | | Governing Board Elects Jody Lutz as 5th Governing Board Member for 2025-2026
Jody is a member of Central Atlantic District, Fleet 34 - Metedeconk River YC in Brick, NJ. He is a regular on the water at local, regional, national and world events.
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Finger Lakes Boating Museum Partnership
The International Lightning Class Association in partnership with Finger Lakes Boating Museum (FLBM) in Hammondsport, NY, are excited to share their goal to expand the Museum’s Lightning Class sailboat exhibit and, for the first time, launch a Lightning Class Hall of Fame.
| | | | Vakaros RaceSense Technology
In addition a Post Race Debrief of the NAs was held Nov 3. This debrief outlined the additional functions of using data collected post racing/sailing. The debrief was run by Doug Wake and included John Newell, Ryan Davidson and Bill Cabrall. This recording will be posted soon on the class website.
| | | A Town Hall style Zoom will be held on Monday, November 17th at 7:30pm.
ALL Lightning Class Members wishing to hear or contribute to discussion on the matter of using Automated Race Management Systems (like Vakaros RaceSense) in the Lightning Class should attend. Please use the link below to register for the meeting.
When: Nov 17, 2025 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
Registration Link
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This meeting is limited to the first 100 registrants. The meeting will be recorded for those that can not attend.
| | Fuel The Flash 2030 - every spark counts
Please help support the Lightning Class Donate Now
Have you read the recent email on our Fuel The Flash 2030 fundraiser? We outline the program, its goals and a Call To Action for all. There’s something for everyone – check it out!
Watch your email for more updates! | | | Congratulations to John Newell, Owen MacDonald and Sarah Costich your 2025 North American Champions!
Read 2025 NAs report by Scott Harris, Southeastern District, Fleet 511, local host Club member.
North American’s 50-50 & Vakaros Raffle Winners! Congratulations to on-line purchasers Alan McReynolds of Naples, NY for winning the Vakaros Compass and Jeremiah Pierson of Bath, PA for winning the 50/50. We are excited to announce that $2,570 was raised in the Vakaros raffle and $1,730 in the 50/50 for a total of $4,300 to benefit the ILCA Fund! Thank you to all who participated! And another special Thank You to Vakaros for the donation of a new compass! |  | | 2026 Women's, Junior and Masters' North American Championships
South Shore Yacht Club, Milwaukee, WI
August 5-9
Come and explore Milwaukee and race on beautiful Lake Michigan!
SAVE THE DATE! |  | 2026 North American Championship
Sheboygan Yacht Club, Sheboygan, WI
August 10-15
Get ready for some great racing! You will have your fill of cheese, brats and FUN!
SAVE THE DATE!
(Note this regatta will serve as the USA Qualifier for the 2027 World Championship to be held in North America) | | |
| 8 Bells... Dan Dressel
On October 1st we lost a great friend and long time Lightning sailor, Dan Dressel. Dan lived a full life with many friends through his church and extended family. Dan leaves behind a beautiful family with his wife Kim and daughters Sarah, Andrea and Emma. Dan was 61 years old... Dan’s parents are Jim and Nancy Dressel, who were one of the top Lightning competitors in the 60s, 70s and 80s...
Dan sailed in almost 10 Lightning North Americans, often with his sisters, Amy and Kathy. Dan won the 1977 Sears Cup in Lightnings sailing with Will Petersilge. He steered in the Seattle NAs and qualified and sailed in the 1985 Little Egg Harbor Worlds. He sailed Bonnie Shore and Matt Fisher in the 1979 North Americans. As Dan grew his family and his successful career, he sailed less but his heart still had connections to the Lightning class. There are many memories with Dan and the Fisher and Dressel families over the past 61 years...
| | | The LOYALS are sponsoring a challenge:
G.O.T. Flashes (Get Out There).
You earn recognition for the number of days you sail a Lightning. NOT just skippers or racing – crewing, daysailing, practicing – basically any day you get out there and sail a Lightning counts.
Click on GOT-Flashes Challenge Log to access an easy-to-use log. The LOYALS will track and automatically send recognition stickers when you hit 10 days, 25 days and 50 days. Use it as a fleet builder, and to engage your fellow sailors to GET OUT THERE! Challenge your fleet members, or other fleets, to join you/beat you on the Leader Board, published weekly.
The program is very simple - full details can be found here. GOT Flashes Program Details We hope you join in the fun!
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Wild Oyster - Brady Starck, Tom Starck, Carly Starck
U32 Regatta - Will Murray, Heather Kerns, Lucas Goodin
Leaf Peeper Regatta - Jamie Allen, Chantal Leger, Stephanie Boucher
Hoosier Regatta- Tom Klaban, Beth Groesbeck, Amelia Wallach
North American Championship - John Newell, Owen MacDonald, Sarah Costich
Frigid Digit - Jody Lutz, Lay Lutz, Derek Gauger
CAZ One Day - Federico Meira, Julie Lesinki, Adam Walburger
Colombian District Championship - Santiago Uzcategui, Jochen Raute, Jorge H.
Bruce Goldsmith Memorial Regatta - Tom Klaban, Beth Groesbeck, Mark Watley
Pennsylvania Gov Cup - Trevor Prior and Team
Ed Hinds Memorial Regatta - Steve Callison, Eva Sullivan, Anthony Martino
NJ State Championship & Manahawkin Bay Cup - Mitch Hnatt, Ryan Stagaard, Maureen Felser
Whitecap Regatta - Jim Allen, Jane Allen, Tyler Allen
Massabesic Annual Regatta- Rob Dresser and Team
Chilean National Championship - Felipe Robles, Andres Guevara, Paula Herman
Brotz Regatta - Bill Faude, Jared Drake, Chloe Frentzel
Carolina Yacht Club Invitational - Scott Harris, Jim Harris, Rachel Smith
Dixie Districts & Duck Challenge Regatta - William Cabrall and Team
Salinas Sailing Week - John Birkett, Ernesto Sarrazin, Stefano Pendola
SAYRA Open Regatta - Scott Harris, Jim Harris, Emily Primm
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 events please contact Laura in the Class Office. | Upcoming Events
Due to the J24 National's Lightnings are taking a year off. See you back at the 2026 King's Day Regatta!
3 Days of Racing in St Pete - leave your boat in the area and you will be ready for the St Pete Winter Champs in March!
Includes a Master's Winter Championship and first Part of the Southern Circuit.
Final stop of the 2026 Southern Circuit!
Save the Date! Don't miss this FUN in Annapolis!
All are welcome to Columbia Sailing Club on Lake Murray!
Save the Date! NEW LIGHTNING Start!!
Come and experience Midsummer Nights in Finland!
Lake Carlyle Welcomes All!
Youth Worlds rotate to Finland!
Racing in Marblehead! NOTE Corrected Date from initial posting.
Come and explore Milwaukee and race on beautiful Lake Michigan!
SAVE THE DATE! Get ready for some great racing in Sheboygan, WI! You'll have your fill of cheese, beer, brats, and FUN!
Come sail on Bow Lake in Strafford, NH where the sounds of the loons were recorded for the movie On Golden Pond. Great food, great racing, great fun and tons of social time, including the famous Bow Lake Taco Bar!
| | Major Championship Regattas |
Includes a Master's Winter Championship and first Part of the Southern Circuit.
Final stop of the 2026 Southern Circuit!
Come and experience Midsummer Nights in Finland!
Youth Worlds rotate to Finland!
Come and explore Milwaukee and race on beautiful Lake Michigan!
SAVE THE DATE! Get ready for some great racing in Sheboygan, WI! You'll have your fill of cheese, beer, brats, and FUN!
| International Lightning Class Association
Laura Jeffers, Executive Secretary
(727) 942-7969 | |