FlashBlast - February 25, 2026
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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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| WINTER MEETING REMINDER, MEETING LINK AND AGENDA
The Annual Winter Meeting of the International Lightning Class Association will be held virtually via Zoom THIS Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 1100 Eastern Time. No items have been proposed for vote.
Agenda - Annual Winter Meeting March 28, 2026 - Also an opportunity to view a short video overview of the mold scanning process.
Please join the meeting virtually via the Zoom Platform, you will need to register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 as soon as possible.
|  | Nominations for Inaugural Class- DEADLINE April 1, 2026!
The mission is to celebrate the Lightning Sailboat and recognize the sailors, boat builders, sail makers, and individuals or organizations who have been instrumental in supporting and strengthening the Lightning Class since 1938.
Those honorees accepted each year based on the established criteria, will be formally recognized with displays in a designated Lightning Hall of Fame area of the Finger Lakes Boating Museum in Hammondsport, NY as well as online and public recognition by the Lightning Class. The deadline for 2026 Nominations are due by April 1, 2026.
| | President's Blog - David Starck
For those of you out there who enjoy pouring over financial statements (you know who you are), the P&L is usually a favorite. It gives you a quick snapshot or a financial scorecard for a short period of time. This is something the class leadership keeps a close eye on.
One of the key revenue drivers for the class is membership dues. We rely heavily on dues to keep the class going strong in several meaningful ways:
· Executive Secretary who is engaged with the Class
· A strong class office we have all come to rely on
· Advertising and promotion of the Class - have you seen our SOCIAL posts lately?!
· Regatta experiences at local, regional, national and international levels
· Professional fees, supplies and equipment | | | Make no mistake, the Lightning Class, through its incredibly generous membership and friends, is financially sound. Our balance sheet remains strong. In part to the inception of the ILCA Fund back in the early 1980's, Thank You George Fisher and friends! The various class specific Funds see wonderful donations annually, supporting so many meaningful projects and equipment upgrades driven by Class volunteers. And of course, the Fuel the Flash 2030 fundraising campaign is securing the class future for the next decades to come.
But the day-to-day “tacking and gybing” revenue we depend on to function is from membership dues. As the 2026 season begins, please make sure your membership is up to date, your crew is current as well as all your fellow fleet and district members. MEMBERSHIP MATTERS! A lot!
Membership is easy - Click Here!
Our Class Members give back so that the next generation can continue to do what we all love doing and that is sailing Lightnings. It starts with membership.
| | From the Lightning Lab Corner…
We have been working hard to provide a document Hosting A Lightning Lab - Resource Guide that you can download and use as you are thinking about hosting a Lightning Lab. This document is a resource to help you identify the goal of your Lab, give guidance best practices on a successful event and help you identify where the Class can assist in providing resources for your event.
The 2026 Sailing Season is now underway and most of the Fleets have their 2026 calendars planned, now is the time to find out when would be a good time to plan a Lightning Lab! Talk to your fleet members, find out what the interest is and plan something fun!
We would love to hear from you...any feedback or additional suggestions are welcome!
Sail Fast,
Lightning Lab VP, Lisa-Marie Lane | | | |
2026 Lightning Boat Census
Did you know that nearly 15,700 Lightnings have been built since 1938? And where are they all?
This year, the Lightning Class is going to find out. The Class is conducting a boat census to discover the whereabouts and condition of as many of our boats as possible. The Census will enable us to update our boat registry, engage with boat owners, discover how the boats are being used, and understand people’s plans for them. The results will be used to shape our efforts to grow existing fleets, create new ones, get good used boats into the hands of emerging U32 and collegiate skippers and increase our sailing footprint as we head towards our 100th anniversary in 2038.
Read more at Boat Census Kickoff Information or go straight to the census at Boat Census Survey. | | |
2026 Youth World Championship - June 22-26, 2026
Tuusulanjärven Purjehtijat, Lake Tuusula, Finland
Well, the sailing venue is FROZEN at the moment (see above) but it won't be come June.
So far, we have interest from BRA, CAN, CHI, ECU, FIN and USA. The country deadline is MARCH 1st! We are still waiting for confirmation from GRE, PER, ARG and the number of boats per country.
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.
|  | | MENDELBATT, PROCTOR, STARCK DOMINATE AT SOUTHERN CIRCUIT!
That’s a wrap for the 2026 Lightning Southern Circuit!
Congratulations to David Starck & Team for winning the overall Southern Circuit. | | | Southern Circuit Results Posted! → Here
Scuttlebutt Sailing News Article
Sail1Design Article
Both Articles are from a different prospective!
SAV Race 1 & 2 Photos Available! 3-5 & Awards coming soon! → Haven Media | | 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.
WANT more information - click here to WATCH a 5-minute video highlighting the
| | | | 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?
| | | | Hilton St Pete Raffle
The winner was drawn during the Winter Championship Banquet and Congratulations to Freddie Mitchell on winning the TWO-NIGHT STAY at the beautiful Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel!
Thank you to all who participated!
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Southern Circuit: David Starck, Tom Starck, Jenna Probst
Deep South Regatta: Ched Proctor, Eric Oetgen, Jay Lurie
Winter Master's Championship: David Starck, Tom Starck, Jenna Probst
Winter Championship: Mark Mendelblatt, Carolina Mendelblatt, Lara Dallman-Weiss
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
A weekend of Boat Maintenance, Learning, and Social activities for the benefit of Lightning owners & enthusiasts.
Monthly Lightning racing in Colombia!
All are invited to the legendary Navesink River!
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
Start your season with us. Enjoy inland lake sailing, professional race management, beautiful club and grounds, two hoists, boat ramp. NEW this year, some Classic Boats will be participating!
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
Try out a Lightning! The Lightning Fleet is hitting the Pacific Northwest BIG in 2026!
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!
Save the Date! NEW LIGHTNING Start!!
| | Major Championship Regattas |
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 | |