.Fuel The Flash 2030

The goal of the Pipeline Program is to create a pipeline of race-ready affordable Lightnings, match boats to potential owners, and help them purchase, upgrade, maintain and sail them. We want to increase the number of Lightnings racing at the fleet, local and national level. We'll help prospective Lightning owners find and purchase race-worthy boats that were donated, idle or ready for a new owner.

We want to have the program fully defined and help at least 5 people buy boats in 2026.

The Pipeline Program will provide incentives in the form of:

• Assisting in evaluating used Lightnings
• Technical assistance and mentorship
• Transporting boats
• Financial contribution from the Class, focused on younger and first-time owners
• Other in-kind assistance

 Pipeline Program progress to date

• Developing the goals of the program
• Recruited Terry Hart as leader and additional volunteers
• Initially focused on North America, each “Facilitator” has been assigned a coverage area
• Terry Hart – Midwest
• Jack Huntsman – Southeast
• Bob Bush – Northwest
• Trevor Prior – Mid-Atlantic
• Bob Shapiro - Northeast
• Building tools to assist in evaluating boat condition to determine fair market values based upon age, equipment, trailer, covers, sails and manufacturer. And building a database of asking and selling prices of used Lightnings to double-check value.
• Using the Lightning Class Census that was sent out early in 2026, to find race-worthy Lightnings that may help a new owner/skipper get on the race course.
• Working now on assisting our first “client” purchase a boat

 In the next two quarters the Pipeline team will:

• Define the financial assistance the Class can provide for the Pipeline Program.
• Develop a marketing “Poster” to send out describing the program.
• Coordinate with other Fuel the Flash 2030 initiatives
• Communicate with District Commodores and Fleet Captains to find individuals who need assistance.

Contact Terry Hart at tHart@ampmicros.com or (989) 598-0849 if you want help buying or selling a boat, or if you want to join the Pipeline team.