2014 News Archive

• Congratulations to Doug Axtell from Rochester, New York, for winning a new set of North Sails! Doug sails #9235 Guinness! Procceds from the raffle benefited the ILCA Boat Grant Program and the Sheboygan Education Assoc Adaptive Sailing Program. The drawing was held Friday, Aug 15 at the NAs Banquet.
  
  
• It is with great sadness we share the passing of David K. Bull. He died Sunday, May 4. Dave was an active member of Fleet 164. He was in good spirits and participated in their fleet meeting just two weeks before. The following Tuesday he played bridge where he & his partner WON! So in a sense, his passing might have been anticipated but it was unexpected so soon. He has been the race committee for the Fleet’s Invitational Lightning regattas for a very long time. Before that he skippered the "Bullship" on Lake Cazenovia.  There was more than one “Bullship” over the years. Dick Tuttle says it best “I see it now.  In that race to heaven, Dave got a good start at the boat end, tacked to port, banged the right corner and crossed the fleet to the mark...Dave did it again.” Services will be at the Presbyterian Church May 10th at 11:00 AM.  Full Obituary
  
  
• It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Richard Norman Fastiggi from Burlington, VT Fleet 301 on May 1, 2014 following a brief illness. Dick was a competitive Lightning sailor. He joined the Malletts Bay Boat Club in 1966, serving several years on the Afterguard, and as Master in 1975 and 1976, and was made an Honorary Member in 2012. He won the New England Masters Championship in 2010. He was a key organizer of the 2001 Lightning North American Championship Regatta and the 2009 World Championship Regatta, held at MBBC. He retired from competitive sailboat racing after the 2011 season. Dick is survived by his wife, Pat; his brothers, Robert of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Raymond (Jane) of Mamaroneck; sons, Bill (Suzy Coburn) and Rick (Rebecca Sidway); and daughters, Beth (Patrick Standen), Kathy (Eric Stengel) and their children, Corey, Kate and Christopher, and Barbara (Kurt Bosselman) and their children, Alex and Jemma; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at St. John Vianney Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd., South Burlington, followed by a reception at the church hall. Online condolences can be shared at www.lavignefuneralhome.com. Full Obituary
  
  
• Southern Circuit Survey: Full Results are now posted. The ILCA Executive Committee has reviewed the surveys and held several meetings with the Southern Circuit Chairperson and the Association Executive Secretary. It believes the survey results clearly indicate a significant preference for the 2-venue format including both Miami and St. Petersburg. Therefore it announces the following dates for the 2015 Southern Circuit: March 14-21, 2015
  Winter Championship - St Petersburg YC - Afternoon Registration, Saturday March 14. Racing Sun - Tuesday. Banquet Tuesday night in St Pete. 
  Midwinter Championship - Coral Reef YC - Wednesday, March 18 - Evening Registration, Racing Thurs - Sat. Awards immediately following racing.
  
  
• It is with sorrow that we report that James Raymond Faus passed away peacefully February 8th after a long illness. James was an avid Lightning sailor from Barnegat Light Yacht Club (Fleet 335) on Long Beach Island where he served as Commodore, Trustee and a longtime Principal Race Officer. He passed on his passion for Barnegat Bay and Lightning sailing to his 4 sons, Brad, Todd, David and John. John currently serves as ILCA Class President. Learn more about James.
  
  
• It is with great sadness that we learned George A. Francis passed away February 1 among loved ones in Wall, New Jersey, after 77 years of a remarkable life.  In 1949, George and friend Charlie Starkey answered a note on the Brick, New Jersey bulletin board of a sailor requesting a crew for his Lightning.  With the answer to the note, George and Charlie became Jim Carson’s first Lightning crew.  George sailed with Jim for years and thrived in Jim’s first success as a Lightning sailor and sailed numerous championship regattas with him. George become an important member in Metedeconk River Yacht Club’s early history in the 1950s and 1960s, and was one of the architects of the club’s original formation.  George graduated from school with a degree in Electrical Engineering and after initially embarking on related jobs, left it to follow his passion,  for a career centered on sailing and boating.  George introduced the Hobie Cat to the Jersey shore area in the late 1960s and eventually opened Surf and Offshore Sailing in 1972.  Surf and Offshore Sailing remains open after 40 years, and has been an important part of the boating hemisphere in the Point Pleasant area, servicing thousands of happy customers.  George remained a member of Metedeconk River Yacht Club throughout these years and a prominent member of the Barnegat Bay sailing community.  His son George has continued to follow his father’s love of sailing, sailing Lightnings since the mid 70s and continues to compete in the class today.  George’s daughter Gillian has sailed numerous regattas, including the Junior NAs and North Americans Championships, producing three generations of Francis' in Lightning history. George maintained the classic look of a sailor, with white beard and hair, and was happiest when out on the waters about the Jersey Shore. A celebration of George’s life will be held at Metedeconk River Yacht Club on February 15  at 1300 hours.
  
  
• It is with sadness that we report the passing of Manuel Gonzalez Barjacoba. He passed away January 17, 2014 after battling a long illness. He was a longtime Lightning sailor and a key person in the growth of our Class in Chile. Though Manuel has not been active in the Class recently, the family has been well represented by his son Tito Gonzalez and grandchildren, Diego, Alberto, Jr and Trinidad. Also his son Manolo sailed Lightings for 27 years.
  
  
• Congratulations to Lightning Sailor Jody Starck who has been named US Sailing's 2013 Rolex Yachtswoman of the year! Fellow Lightning Sailors were also nominated for US Sailing's 2013 Rolex Yachtsman of the year award: Marvin Beckman, Tim Healy, Dave Starck and Allan Terhune! Way to go Lightning Class!