WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHTNING CLASS
The Lightning, a 19-foot trailerable centerboard sloop, designed by Sparkman & Stephens as an affordable family day sailor and racing boat. She has evolved into one of the most popular and competitive one-design racing classes in the world. The Lightning's rig is simple, but offers sophisticated sail shape controls. The hull features a unique hard chine design that combines the stability that provides sail-carrying power, with flat bottom sections that promote planing. There's room in the cockpit for two couples or a family to daysail. The Lightning is easy to launch and light enough to trailer with ease. In the event of a capsize, she can be righted and sailed dry by her crew. Get "The Best of Both Worlds." Get into a Lightning!
Salinas Tomine Championship 02/3/12-02/5/12
Lightning Ski Weekend 02/4/12-02/5/12
Houston YC Midwinter Regatta 02/11/12-02/12/12
Deep South Regatta 03/10/12-03/11/12
Lightning Midwinter Championship 03/12/12-03/14/12
Winter Championship 03/15/12-03/18/12
1st Annual Virginia Moonshine Regatta 04/14/12-04/15/12
Italian National Championship 04/22/12-04/24/12
Mid-Continent Lightning Regatta 04/28/12-04/29/12
51st Long John Regatta 04/28/12-04/29/12
Texas District Championship 04/28/12-04/29/12
50th Anniversary Burl Harmon Memorial 05/5/12-05/6/12
Southeast District Championship 05/5/12-05/6/12
Doc Gilbert Potomac Cup 05/5/12-05/6/12
Lake Lansing Regatta 05/12/12
No Gas Regatta 05/12/12-05/13/12
WOOD Regatta 05/18/12-05/20/12
Hornblower Regatta 05/19/12-05/20/12
CANCELED -Hernando Desoto Regatta 05/19/12-05/20/12
Spring Classic 05/19/12-05/20/12
The Early Bird at Cedar Point 05/19/12
Southern District/Juby Wynne 05/26/12-05/27/12
Celebration of Spring Regatta 06/1/12-06/2/12
Bayview One Design Regatta 06/2/12-06/3/12
New Jersey State Championship 06/2/12
Vancouver Lake Sailing Club Regatta 06/2/12-06/3/12
Spring Regatta 06/2/12-06/3/12
Magnus Pedersen Regatta 06/2/12-06/3/12
Brant Beach Annual Regatta 06/9/12
Boyne City Regatta 06/9/12-06/10/12
Dixie District Championship 06/9/12-06/10/12
Mississippi Valley Districts 06/15/12-06/17/12
CT/RI/Metropolitan Districts & NAs Tune-Up 06/16/12-06/17/12
Caz Flash Bash 06/16/12-06/17/12
Ohio District Championship 06/16/12-06/17/12
Champagne Regatta 06/23/12-06/24/12
Lightning Fleet 192 Team Race 06/23/12-06/24/12
Bay City Regatta 06/23/12-06/24/12
CAD Championship 06/23/12-06/24/12
Lake Erie Districts 06/23/12-06/24/12
HYC Luekemia Cup Regatta 06/23/12-06/22/12
European Championship 06/28/12-07/1/12
Canadian Open Championship 06/30/12-07/1/12
Michigan District Championship @Pontiac YC 06/30/12-07/1/12
California District Championship 06/31/12-07/1/12
Pacific Northwest District Championship 07/7/12-07/8/12
New England District Championship - W,M,J 07/13/12
Great Lakes Championship @ North Cape YC 07/14/12-07/15/12
New England District Championship 07/14/12-07/15/12
Lightning Youth World Championship 07/23/12-07/27/12
Atlantic Coast Championship 07/28/12-07/29/12
Evans Regatta 07/28/12-07/29/12
BCC Youth Invitational 07/28/12-07/29/12
Higgins Lake Regatta 07/28/12-07/29/12
Long Island District Championship 07/28/12
Women, Junior & Master North American Cham 07/31/12-08/4/12
Wooden Lightning Get Together 08/4/12-08/5/12
North American Championship 08/4/12-08/10/12
2012 Duck Challenge Regatta 08/18/12-08/19/12
Crescent Sail Yacht Club Regatta 08/25/12
Lake Delta YC 4th Annual Regatta 08/25/12
50th Brotz Regatta 08/25/12-08/26/12
Connecticut Govenors Cup 09/8/12-09/9/12
White Cap Regatta @ Pontiac YC 09/8/12-09/9/12
Bow Lake One Day 09/15/12
Cotton Pickin'' Regatta 09/15/12-09/16/12
Bruce Goldsmith Regatta @ Devils Lake 09/15/12-09/16/12
CAZ One Day Regatta 09/22/12
Philadelphia Cup 09/29/12
Leaf Peeper 10/6/12-10/7/12
Last BLAST! 10/6/12
PA Gov Cup 10/20/12-10/21/12
Charleston Wild Oyster Regatta 10/20/12-10/21/12


5/5-5/6  50th Burl Harmon/Indy Open Results, Report and Photos Indianapolis Sailing Club–Fleet 270/ Indianapolis, Indiana
  1. George Sipel, Jeff Hagman, Chris Snyder
  2. James Taylor, Carl Taylor, George Auer
  3. Brad Wagnon, Bryan Bahler, Kevin Keller
5/5-5/6  Doc Gilbert Potomac Cup
Potomac River Sailing Association- Fleet 50/ Washington, DC
  1. Steve Constants
  2. Nabeel Alsalam
  3. Charlie Wardwell
5/5-5/6  Southeastern District Championship
James Island Yacht Club-Fleet 429/Charleston, SC
  1. Lenny Krawcheck
  2. David O'Reilly
  3. Jim Harris
  • The sailing community suffered a great loss with the sudden passing of Dave Shaffer. Dave contributed countless hours of race committee work throughout the USA. Most notably, Dave served as PRO for many of the largest One Design events held at his home club of North Cape Yacht Club, including the 2011 Lightning North Americans. He's served dozens of classes, clubs and organizations. We will greatly miss his compassion, professionalism and most of all friendship. More information
  • 2012 North American Championships July 31-August 10 Houston Yacht Club, Texas District! WJM Schedule    WJM Who's Coming     Championship Schedule      Who's Coming    International Charter Info     Regatta Website
  • NEW! 2012 South American Championships - Dates Announced!! November 30-December 2, 2012. Hosted by Fleet 501 in Colombia on LakeTominé near Bogotá. Information
  • NEW! Wooden Lightning Events: For more information about Classic Lightnings Click Here! or visit our Active Message Board       View 2012 Wooden Boat Regatta Schedule!
  • It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Gilbert Despland, Lac de Neuchatel Fleet 169. Despland was a longtime Swiss Lightning sailor, Fleet Captain and represented the Swiss sailors as Vice President of Switzerland on the ILCA Governing Board. He will be greatly missed.
  • Southern Circuit Survey Results- The Southern Circuit Review Committee made a presentation durning the Winter meeting in St Petersburg and shared the findings from the Member survey. Review the results presentation. Please share any further thoughts with your District Commodore or any member of the Executive Committee. Thank you to everyone who participated. The Executive Committee will evaluate additional comments over the next few weeks and if necessary will make a recommendation at the August 2012 Meetings.
  • NEW! Amendments - March 2012 - A series of amendments were proposed for vote during the March 2012 Winter Governing Board Meeting, March 15, 2012 at 9am, Quarterdeck Room at the St Petersburg Yacht Club. Amendment 1 was passed and Amendment 2 was tabled until the August meeting. Amendment 3 is a 1-year proposed amendment specific to the 2012 North American Championship in Houston, TX and that passed. Full Minutes from the meeting will be available soon.
  • NEW! Amendment - March 2012 - An amendment to the Constitution was passed during the Winter Meeting, March 15, 2012 - St Petersburg YC, 6pm in the Ballroom. Full Minutes from the meeting will be available soon.
  • 2012 ILCA Youth World Championship: July 23-27, 2012, Tuusulanjärven Purjehtijat, JÄRVENPÄÄ, FINLAND Information   Event Website    Facebook Link   NOR   Entry Form
  • 2012 ILCA Boat Grant Recipients Announced! Congratulations to Jamie Simmons with crew Caroline Hall and Jeremy Henry they will be active in the New England area and Tyler Braun with crew Jarrett Scherrer and Dustin Stauffer who will be sailing in the Mid-Atlantic area. These teams will be kicking off the 6th year of this program! Thank you to the generous ILCA Members for making this program possible.   Program Information     2012 Recipient Press Release
  • 2013 World, Master and European Championships Circolo Nautico Numana “S.Massaccesi”, Numana, Italy. June 3-7, 2013 World Master and European Championships, June 8-14 World Championship. Information **Please note the US World Qualifier will take place at the 2012 NA's in Houston.
  • 2013 North American Championships have been awarded to Cedar Point Yacht Club, Westport, CT home to Fleet 126 and the Women's, Juniors and Masters' North American Championships to Nyack Boat Club, Nyack, NY home of Fleet 75.
  • 2014 Youth World and 2015 World Championships - The Executive Committee met and accepted the Buffalo Canoe Club's bids to host these events.
  • Call for Bids! Is your club interested in hosting a major Lightning Championship? The Class is accepting bids for many upcoming Championships. For a complete list of regattas click here!
  • International Fleet Development Initiative Report - an ILCA Fund project.  6th container arrived in Chile 11/2011! Container arrives in Australia! Photo
  • If you have old Flashes from 1976, 1977, or 1978 and are willing to donate them to the Class, please contact Laura at office@lightningclass.org.
Our Supporters
ILCA Supporters North Sales link APS website link Allen Boat Company website link Nickels Boat Works website link Sailors'Tailor website link Capital Logo website link North Flags website link Rooke Sails website link Dieball Sailing website link