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From the ILCA President

My Farewell Address
By Unknown
Posted: 2019-08-26T18:25:00Z
I've been a lot of places and met a lot of people in my time as President. What I will remember most is the effort and time put in by so many volunteers. Regatta winners may come and go and have their names engraved on a trophy, but the people who really leave their marks on the class are the ones who help others get on the water and enjoy Lightning sailing, competitive racing, and camaraderie. This could mean organizing a regatta, serving on the governing board, cooking a regatta meal, lending your boat to a junior (and taking them to a regatta), opening your home to visiting sailors, measuring boats, or any of a thousand other ways our class maintains its strength.  Always appreciate the people who help and, more importantly, be one of those people.

My favorite experience as President was a trip to Chile to run a Lightning sailing clinic for the fleet in Algarrobo. It was a beautiful and welcoming country and we got to sail on the ocean, climb a volcano in a snow storm, and swim in hot springs all in the same week! It is hard to choose, but I think my favorite regatta was the WJMs in Pontiac. This was a great celebration of everything good about the class and so much fun that Ched briefly forgot his vegetarianism and enjoyed an enormous helping of the pig roast. 

My last major event was the North Americans in Buffalo. We had a great turnout of women, juniors, under-30s, and oldsters! This is our brand as a class: everybody sailing together and having a good time.

On September 1st, Hugh Hutchison will take over as your new ILCA President. Hugh has served as Class Treasurer for the past few years and is a life long Lightning sailor. He will do a great job leading the Class. 

Lastly, I have to thank my family and sailing team for helping me along the way. Thanks to Kristine, Ben, Doug (my editor and Governing Board member), and grandpa Neal Fowler. 

Fair winds,

Todd Wake
ILCA Past President (Effective Sept 1, 2019)
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