FlashBlast - February 9, 2026
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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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| The Lightning Class is making waves in Argentina!
After years away, the fleet is back—12 boats have already registered and many talented sailors are set for the National Regatta at Lake Pellegrini this Saturday, February 14. Watch for more updates on social media and the Class Website. | |
27 boats are registered so far AND we are the LARGEST Fleet being represented! This event will also serve as the Mid-Winter Championship. Follow Social Media Channels or the link above to follow the FUN! | | | | Here's your chance to WIN a TWO-NIGHT STAY at the beautiful Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel, all fees and taxes included (not parking).
Pick the dates of your choice (with confirmation from the hotel sales director). Certificate expires 12/31/2026. Tickets are $20 each, or 3 for $50. Drawing will be held Tuesday, March 17th during the St. Pete Winter Championship Banquet.
| | | This virtual and in-person raffle benefits the ILCA Fund (supporting programs aimed at promoting the sport of Lightning Sailing) and is part of the Fuel The Flash 2030 Fundraising Campaign. A perfect two-night getaway!
Join the fun, whether you're at the Winter Championship or not! You do NOT need to be present to win - but we hope you are! | WINTER MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Winter Governing Board Meeting will be held Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at noon Eastern via a Virtual Meeting using the ZOOM Platform. District Commodores, Vice Presidents and the Executive committee will be emailed the invitation link prior to the meeting.
At this time no items have been submitted for vote.
If you would like to be added to the agenda or if you have something to share during either meeting, please send a request or short written report to Class Secretary Jeffers office@lightningclass.org or Class President at president@lightningclass.org by Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
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The Annual Winter Meeting of the International Lightning Class Association will be held virtually via Zoom on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 1100 Eastern Time.
At this time no items have been submitted for vote consideration.
The meeting link will be emailed to members prior to the meeting.
As a reminder, all personal and Fleet Membership Dues must be current in order for votes to be counted.
If you have an agenda item that you would like to propose please contact President David Starck president@lightningclass.org or myself in the Class Office by Sunday, March 22, 2026.
| 2026 Fleet Dues are Due!
In January of each year, Fleet Dues for the new year are due. Please click on this link to see a listing of PAID Fleets.
Reminders were emailed to Fleet Captains on Record. Contact the Class Office if you have trouble logging in to the Fleet Account. Or use this link to mail a check Paper Fleet Dues Form Fleet Dues are $30 for the year. | | The 2027 Lightning World Championships return to North America.
The St Petersburg Yacht Club (SPYC) will host the World Masters and World Championships in April 2027. Ties between SPYC and the Lightning Class run deep as annual host of the Annual Winter Championship. This will be the first Lightning World Championship to be contested on Tampa Bay. Exact dates of the Championship are still TBD.
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Come to the Winter Championship March 14-18, 2026 and check out the venue or practice for next years Worlds!
Notice of Series, NOR's, On-Line Registration, Mentor Program Links are all LIVE:
Call for Karl Smither Award Nominations and so much more! Click on the Southern Circuit Blog Link above. | | | | Update on RaceSense, Executive Committee Action and Testing at the 2026 Winter Championship
The Class has now used the Vakaros Automated Race Management System (RaceSense) at several regattas, most recently at the 2025 Lightning North American Championship. Overall, the system has worked well, and we’ve heard a lot of useful feedback from competitors.
On November 17, 2025, we held a town hall to talk through whether and how RaceSense should be used at future events.
Following the town hall, an advisory committee was formed to review feedback from the Class, look at RaceSense data, and consider experiences from other classes.
| | | The committee met twice and based on that work, recommended that the Class test RaceSense with the distance to line feature enabled and all features available with the Atlas 2 unit at the 2026 Winter Championship, March 14-18, 2026 at the St Petersburg Yacht Club in St Petersburg, Florida.
Rental options for competitors who do not already own a Vakaros Atlas 2 unit will need to be secured by the competitor. A NOR amendment will be posted this week. All competitors at the Winter Championship will be required to use a RaceSense device.
After the Winter Championship, the data and feedback from the event will be reviewed to help determine how the Class proceeds with RaceSense in the future.
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The 2026 Lightning Youth World Championships are BACK at Tuusulanjärven Purjehtijat on Lake Tuusula, Finland! Together with Tuusulanjärven Purjehtijat, the Finland District is hard at work preparing an unforgettable Youth Worlds 2026.
“These days, Midsummer is about lighting bonfires (kokko), barbecuing, long bathing sessions in the sauna, and cooling off with refreshing swims in nearby lakes. With traditions running deep, celebrations spring up all across Finland, and since it’s hard to tell when night even begins, the festivities often continue well into the early hours – sometimes ending with a late-night swim with friends.
We’d love to invite you, our young class members, to share this experience with us. Midsummer is the perfect time to make new friends, take on the tricky winds of Lake Tuusula, and enjoy the white nights doing what we love most – sailing.” - Sanni Siira, Finland District Leader & VP Youth Worlds
| | | 2026 Youth World Championship - June 22-26, 2026
Tuusulanjärven Purjehtijat, Lake Tuusula, Finland
The NOR is posted and on-line registration is open to those teams that have qualified through their country qualifier. Youth Worlds 2026 will provide sailors with a unique experience of the Nordic midsummer and the magic of the midnight sun.
One week prior to the World Championships event, the Finnish National and European Championships will take place at the same venue, from June 15 to 18, 2026. These events offer an excellent opportunity for participants to familiarize themselves with the race area and local wind conditions ahead of the Worlds. The Finnish National and European Championships are open events. All are welcome to participate.
Important Deadlines:
Each Lightning National Class Association or National Authority shall inform the ILCA class office no later than March 1, 2026 of the number of boats that it would like to enter.
If a Lightning National Class Association or National Authority cannot fill its two-boat quota, those available slots will be reallocated to interested countries by March 15, 2026.
Each Lightning National Class Association or National Authority shall inform the ILCA class office no later than April 1, 2026 of the competitors that will represent their country.
Any questions on eligibility please contact the Class Office.
From the Document Governing All Sanctioned Lightning Class Championships - Youth World Championship
ENTRIES
1. (a) Every country with organized yachting activity shall be entitled to two (2) Entries for the World Youth Championship. The Host Country shall be entitled to two (2) Additional entries. The Executive Committee may allocate additional entries on an equal basis to all Countries to provide twenty entries.
(b) Skippers and crew in the World Youth Championship must be ILCA members.
(c) Skippers and crew must be no older than 20; to clarify Skippers and crew may not turn twenty-one (21) years old during the year of the Championship.
Teams bring their own sails and PFD's. Boats are provided by host and a damage deposit is required. A draw system determines boat rotation.
Qualification for the World Youth Championship shall be determined preferably based on the order of finish in a Junior or Area Championship as follows: for U.S. entries, by the International Lightning Class Association; for Canadian entries, by the Canadian International Lightning Association; for entries from countries other than the U.S. or Canada, by the District or by the member National Authority of the International Sailing Federation.
| | South American Championship!
Congratulations to Benjamin Fuenzalida, Diego Natho, and Alfredo Urzua on an outstanding performance!
After two days of waiting out light winds at the South American Championship, Benjamin Fuenzalida, Diego Natho, and Alfredo Urzua claimed the 2025 Lightning South American Championship, winning by 2 points over the 2025 World Champions.
With only one day of racing, every decision counted, and the Chilean team showed remarkable resilience—bouncing back from a tough start to finish 2, 1, 2 and secure the title. Despite starting the decisive day with a challenging ninth-place finish in the first race, the team quickly regrouped and found their rhythm. | | | “It was a true test of patience and mental strength….we had a tough first race, but we managed to keep our heads in the game,” said Natho. “Our speed, the consistency in our maneuvers, and tactical calls under pressure were key to securing the title.” “For us, it was a true honor to compete against such a high-level fleet, including Worlds and South American champions, and sailors with a long history in the sport. To deliver those results back-to-back in such a competitive environment was incredible,” said Natho. “We also want to take this opportunity to thank the organizers and the Lightning Class for all their hard work. You have truly succeeded in building an amazing global fleet! We are very proud to be the 2025 South American Champions!”
| | Member Spotlight - Dave Peterson
Dave Peterson was the personification of the best there is to be in a Lightning sailor. Davey was awarded a Lifetime Membership in the International Lightning Class, having served as Lightning Class Treasurer in 1967 and 1968, the same years he served as Connecticut/Rhode Island District Commodore. He was highly competitive, highly skilled,
intimately conversant with the racing rules, and always willing to support the Class and share his knowledge and experience with anyone who might seek his assistance. He willingly volunteered his time to support the Class and sailing in general. The loss of Davey is a true loss for all Lightning sailors, and it is therefore highly appropriate that his memory should be honored by the David M. Peterson Lightning Boat Grant established by his daughter Sandra More.
| | | | Fuel The Flash 2030 - every spark counts
Please help support the Lightning Class Donate Now
Have you read the recent emails on our Fuel The Flash 2030 fundraiser? | | |
What did we accomplish in 2025? We exceeded expectations for the first year of the fundraising campaign, both in participation and in funds raised. Six donations of $10,000 or more, including a much larger donation specifically aimed at the Mold/Tooling initiative, were received bringing our total 2025 donations to $385,000!
- 345 people donated to the Class in 2025 – that’s fantastic!
- Those who gave under $1000 raised more than $30,000 total – not including the $25,000 match which almost doubled those donations.
The 2026 $50,000 Super Match Challenge has begun. Two donors – one anonymous and the other the Audrey and Peter Denton Family Foundation – are each contributing $25,000 to the Challenge. To receive the $50,000, we need to have at least 350 donors and at least $25,000 in qualifying donations. Donations qualify simply by being larger than what you have given in the past.
We know you’re out there --- members who have experience with marketing, or whose current or former job was marketing or marketing-adjacent --- and we need your help!
One of our Fuel The Flash 2030 Focus Areas is Marketing/Market Research. In order to successfully retain existing members, and attract potential new members, we need to understand what it is that attracts sailors to the Lightning, and what barriers stand in their way. We are investigating industry-appropriate professionals to conduct critical market research both inside and outside the Class to provide data on which we can build. Phase Two will be to develop a cohesive brand and message on which we will continually build through 2038 and beyond. Having members on this team who have experience in the field is critical to getting the most bang for our buck!
| | New Year - New Challenge!
Link to new tracking App - Click on Image | | | The race is on! You could be one of the first to hit 50 days sailing a Lightning in 2026 and win a coveted G.O.T. Flashes Burgee. There will be a lot of competition so it's time to set your sailing calendar and arrange crew.
Click the G.O.T. Flashes link above or from the Class Website homepage, click on the G.O.T. Flashes icon and you will be sent to the app. Then, select the red ‘signup’ button in the upper right-hand corner to create your account and start logging your days. The new app is a delight to use. You can log multiple days in one session, review and edit all of your days sailed, check the Leaderboards instantly, and more. It's a huge improvement over last years process and has received rave reviews from everyone that's seen it.
The regatta season is starting, so sign up now and be prepared for another year of great Lightning sailing.
Get Out There!
2025 G.O.T Flashes Final Results - click link for full details
1550 days of Lightning sailing were recorded in 2025 during the inaugural year of the G.O.T. Flashes. 4 people received 50 Sail Burgees, 14 sailors won 25 Sail Stickers, and 10 sail awards were handed out. It was a very good year.
Ken Brown and David Werley share the top podium spot with 57 days logged, followed by Bob Shapiro at 52 and Jonette Werley with 50. Congratulations to them and to everyone else that participated in and enjoyed the G.O.T. Flashes Challenge in 2025.
From a fleet perspective Pymatuning smashed it, racking up a grand total of 329 days logged, followed by the Saginaw fleet with 97 and the Bow Lake Fleet at 73.
| | 2026 Classic Lightning Workshop Weekend
A collaboration of the International Lightning Class Association and the Finger Lakes Boating Museum, Hammondsport, New York
Not just for Classic Lightning Owners - a few spaces are still open!
A weekend of Boat Maintenance, Learning, and Social activities for the benefit of Lightning owners & enthusiasts. Cost for the program will be $220. Food and Lodging is the responsibility of the attendees.
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Regatta Mensual - Guastavo Tamayo, Gabriel Tamayo, Antonio Mila
South American Championship - Benjamin Fuenzalida, Alfredo Urzua, Diego Natho
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 - 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 through May 2026
Win a TWO-NIGHT STAY at the beautiful Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel, all fees and taxes included (not parking). Certificate expires 12/31/2026. Pick the dates of your choice (with confirmation from the hotel sales director). A perfect two-night getaway!
3 Days of Racing in St Pete - now the Midwinter Championship- leave your boat in the area and you will be ready for the St Pete Winter Champs in March!
Monthly Lightning racing in Colombia!
Includes a Master's Winter Championship and first Part of the Southern Circuit.
Nick Turney is back! Highlight of the Southern Circuit! You can't beat this deal!
Final stop of the 2026 Southern Circuit!
A weekend of Boat Maintenance, Learning, and Social activities for the benefit of Lightning owners & enthusiasts.
Monthly Lightning racing in Colombia!
Save the Date! Don't miss this FUN in Annapolis! IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the number of fleets participating in this event, including (7) SSA Fleets, boat storage space will be assigned for paid registrants on a first-come first-serve basis! REGISTER ASAP!
Lightning Class Finland - On The Rocks Regatta
64th annual spring regatta hosted by the Indianapolis Sailing Club on Geist Reservoir, NE of Indianapolis. Start your season with us. Enjoy inland lake sailing, professional race management, beautiful club and grounds, two hoists, boat ramp for classic boats, and a Kentucky Derby watch party with prizes before dinner on Sat.
Monthly Lightning racing in Colombia!
Excellent regatta to kick-off the season! Cool breeze, warm friendships and hot competition. Low entry fee, adult beverages served all weekend! Too much fun to miss!
Lightning Class Finland - Eagle Ranking
All are welcome to Columbia Sailing Club on Lake Murray!
Come sail on Malletts Bay for the ultimate in combinations - combined NE and CT/RI Districts with the annual Lake Champlain Spring Regatta!
| | Major Championship Regattas |
3 Days of Racing in St Pete - now the Midwinter Championship- 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!
Campeonato Nacional de Lightning
Come and experience Midsummer Nights in Finland!
Youth Worlds rotate to Finland!
Open to all Lightnings. Canadian qualifier for the 2027 Worlds, to be held in the U.S. Friday afternoon: optional clinic, debrief and dinner. (Details to come) Racing Saturday and Sunday.
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!
After a short break in 2025, Lightning action is back in Jacksonville! This year the regatta will be double billed and also serve as the Atlantic Coast Championships!
The Chilean National Championship is BACK in Pucon
| International Lightning Class Association
Laura Jeffers, Executive Secretary
(727) 942-7969 | |