Lightning (dinghy)
The Lightning is a sloop rigged sailing dinghy originally designed by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens in 1938 and was first sailed on Skaneateles Lake, NY, United States. More than 15,750 Lightnings have been built since then. There are over 500 fleets of Lightnings worldwide, many of which participate in dinghy racing.
 Class symbol | |
 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Olin Stephens |
| Year | 1938 |
| Design | One-Design |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 3 |
| Draft | 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m) |
| Hull | |
| Type | Monohull |
| Hull weight | 700 lb (320 kg) |
| LOA | 19 ft (5.8 m) |
| Beam | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Sloop |
| Mast length | 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m) |
| Sails | |
| Spinnaker area | 300 sq ft (28 m2) |
| Upwind sail area | 177 sq ft (16.4 m2) |
| Racing | |
| D-PN | 87.0 |
Awarded World Sailing Class status, the Lightning is sailed in more than 13 countries and in the Pan American Games, and the class provides a professionally managed association that is among the largest in all of one-design sailing. A World Championship is held every two years. North American, South American and European Championships are held each year as are innumerable regional and District championships.
There is room in the cockpit for four to six to daysail, but a crew of three is employed when racing. On most racing teams, the skipper helms the boat and handles the mainsail. The front crew on a racing team handles the jib upwind and is responsible for spinnaker pole handling downwind. When racing, a middle crew is relied upon for trimming the spinnaker downwind and has boat balance as a primary responsibility upwind.
The Lightning's rig is simple, but offers sophisticated sail shape controls. The hull features a hard chine design that combines the stability that provides sail-carrying power, with flat bottom sections that promote planing. The Lightning's hard chine and 130 lb centerboard give her the stability and power of a small keel boat going to weather in strong winds and allow her to carry a very large spinnaker for breathtaking offwind rides.
At 700 pounds (318 kg), length of 19'0" (5.8 m) and beam of 6'6" (2 m), the Lightning is easily trailered. Draft with the centerboard down is 4'11" (151.3 cm) and 5" (12.8 cm) with the centerboard raised.
The International Lightning Class Association (ILCA) protects the boat's design and licenses custom and private builders to build boats under its administration.
Lightnings can compete in mixed-fleet handicap racing with a D-PN of 87.0.[1]
Events
Open World Championships
Year |
Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 Milford, CT USA |
 Thomas Allen III |
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| 1963 Lima Peru |
Thomas Allen III |
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| 1965 Toronto Canada |
Thomas Allen III |
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| 1967 Toronto Canada |
Louis Pocharski |
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| 1969 | Bruce Goldsmith |
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| 1971 | William Shore |
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| 1973 | Bruce Goldsmith |
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| 1975 Salinas Ecuador |
 Mario Buckup |
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| 1977 Spiez Switzerland |
Thomas Allen III |
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| 1979 | Glenn Darden |
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| 1981 | Walmor Gomez |
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| 1983 | Jay Lutz |
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| 1985 | William Shore |
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| 1987 Cartegena |  Manuel González |
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| 1989 Athens | .svg.png){kind=small} Peter Hall |
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| 1991 Annapolis | David Dellenbaugh |
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| 1993 Ilhabela, Brazil | Manfred Kaufmann Renato Kaufmann Marcelo Batista da Silva |
Fernando Hackerott Frederico Costa Riccardo Costa |
Claudio Biekarck Gunner Ficker Edu Melchert |
| 1995 Kuopio, Finland | Tito González Rodrigo Zuasola German Schacht |
Thomas Allen IV Jim Allen Jane Allen |
Bill Faude Jared Drake Brian Taboada |
| 1997 Montréal | Larry MacDonald Jody Swanson Ian Jones |
Manuel González Juan Francisco Novion German Novion |
Tim Healy Maria White Bill Healy |
| 1999 Salina, Ecuador | Alberto González Pablo Barahona Claus Engell |
Jeff Linton Amy Smith Linton Mark Taylor |
Tim Healy Bill Healy Anthony Kotoun |
| 2001 Marsala Italy |
Jeff Linton Amy Smith Linton Mark Taylor |
Matt Fisher Dan Moriarty Rick Bernstein |
William Faude Ernie Dieball Jared Drake |
| 2003 Miami | Tito González Jay Lutz Claus Engel |
Steve Hayden Barr Batzer Jamey Rabbitt |
Jim Crane Bill Crane Jim Allen |
| 2005 Viña del Mar | Alberto González Diego González Cristian Herman |
David Starck Ian Jones Scott Ikle |
Pablo Herman Luis Felipe Herman Claus Engell |
| 2007 Athens | Jeff Linton Amy Smith Linton Jahn Tihansky |
Allan Terhune Katie Terhune Dave Perkowski |
Steve Davis Brian Hayes Laura Jeffers |
| 2009 Lake Champlain (Colchester, VT) | Matt Fisher Dan Moriarty Tobi Moriarty |
David Stark Jody Stark Ian Jones |
Tito González Diego González Cristian Hermann |
| 2011 Buzios, Brazil | Tito González Diego González Cristian Hermann |
Claus Biekarck Gunner Ficker Marcelo Batista da Silva |
Thomas Sumner Felipe Brito Fillipe Gil |
| 2013 Castiglione del Lago, Italy | David Stark Jody Stark Ian Jones |
Justin Coplan Danielle Prior Micheal Carney |
Ched Proctor Jamie Ewing Meredith Killion |
| 2015 Crystal Beach (Ontario, Canada) | Geoff Becker Jimmy Barnash Laura Beigel |
Jody Starck Ian Jones Skip Dieball |
Billy Martin Janel Zarkowsky Chappy Hopkins |
| 2017 Salinas Ecador |
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| 2019 Expoo Finland |
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Youth World Championsips
Year |
Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 Peru | |
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| 1980 Onterio Canada |
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| 1982 Sicily, Italy | |
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| 1984 Brick, NJ USA | |
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| 1986 Olivos, Argentina | |
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| 1988 Tampere, Finland | |
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| 1990 Point Abino, Canada | |
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| 1992 Point Abino, Canada | |
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| 1994 Neuchatel Switzerland |
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| 1996 Brick, NJ USA 19 Boats |
 Carlos PLAZA Francis PLAZA |
Adam BURNS Cap PIN |
Adam DUNN John VICKERS |
| 1998 Salina Ecuador 16 Boats |
USA 14640 |
GRE 14377 |
COL 14057 J. CAMILO BUSTOS Camilo SALCEDO Nicolas DEEB |
| 2000 Athens Greece 18 Boats |
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Jose Maria BETTINI Cofone JUAN Valette FRANCO |
| 2002 Rockester 13 Boats |
15152 Thomas Sumner Pedro Soares Mark Pineda |
14056 Erik Johnson Karl Johnson Kate Brush |
15103 Travis MAIER Meredith PELTON Robert RAMIREZ |
| 2004 São Paulo Brazil 14 Boats |
BRA-14330 Thomas Sumner Felipe Brito Mark Pineda |
BRA-14378 Marcelo BELLOTTI Eduardo MOLINA Alejandro CARRI |
BRA-14894 Joao HACKEROTT Constantin VASSILAS Jorge ZARIF |
| 2006 Jyväskylä Finland 10 Boats |
BRA 14894 Thomas Sumner Felipe Brito Felipe Brito |
GRE 15077 Panagiotis VERGINADIS Timos VLACHOS Theodoros POULAKOS |
USA 14146 Nicholas Aswad Connor Aswad Peter HAZELETT |
| 2008 Quebec Canada 11 Boats |
15298 Taylor Lutz Luke Vreeland Bernie Roesler |
14901.svg.png){kind=small} |
15166 Matthew SCHON Timmy CRANN Jason LUTZ |
| 2010 Salinas Ecador 16 Boats |
ECU 14379 Jonathan Martinetti Pedro Velez Eduardo Viteri |
ARG 1 Tomas DIETRICH Tomas PELLEJERO Gaston BISIO |
BRA 15333 Rafael KRAUSZ Otavio BIRMAN Nicolas BRANCHER |
| 2012 Järvenpää Finland 16 Boats |
CAN 14895 Adam MacDonald Abby Bennett Sam Jones |
USA 15122 TimmyCRANN Lauren JONES Alica BLUMENTHAL |
USA 15202(3) Mike GEMPERLINE Scott VINING Stuart WALLACE |
| 2014 Ontario Canada 24 Boats |
BRA 15333 Felipe Rondina Jose Afonso Hackerott Thomas Sylvestre |
USA 15166 Jonathan LUTZ Alexandra JONES Nicholas SERTL |
CHI 11011 Cristobal MOLINA LORCA Jens KUHLENTHAL PFEFFER Pedro Andres VERA CARRERA |
| 2016 Salinas Ecuador 20 Boats |
BRA 15333 Felipe Rondina Thomas Petrie Sylvestre Christian Lacerda Shaw |
ARG 13360 Martin Cloos Bautista Menendez Lucas Elias |
ECU 14675 Matias Dyck John Birkett Jose Andres Lecaro |
| 2018 Voula Greece 16 Boats |
USA 14748 Jeffrey Hayden Brian Hayes Jr. Meredith Ryan |
GRE 15144 V Gourgiotis G Tsoulfas M Kypraios |
BRA 15333 J Hackerott E Van Deursen M Peek |
Masters World Championsips
Year |
Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Salina, Ecuador | Jack Elfman Cindy Lister Mike Holly |
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| 2001 Marsala Italy |
Richard Hallagan Hendrix Ten Eyck Tammi Jamison
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| 2003 Miami | Jim Crane Larry Bone Kip Hamblet |
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| 2005 Concón, Chile | Phillip Kerrigan Jay Deacon |
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| 2007 Athens | Bill Mauk Vladimir Kulinichenko Michel Sumpton |
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| 2009 Colchester, VT | Jim Crane Brenda Crane Tom Allen |
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| 2011 Buzios, Brazil | Claus Biekarck Gunner Ficker Marcelo Batista da Silva |
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| 2013 Castiglione del Lago, Italy | Ched Proctor Jamie Ewing Jay Lurie |
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| 2015 Ontario, Canada | David Dellenbaugh Jeff Eiber Jay Lurie |
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| 2017 Salinas Ecuador 23 Boats |
USA 15507 Ched Proctor Meredith Killion Todd Wake |
BRA 14893 Claudio Biekarck Gunnar Ficker Marcelo Silva |
USA 15590 Jeff Linton Amy Smith Linton Steve Davis |
| 2019 Expoo Finland 27 Boats |
USA 15507 |
USA 9 |
CAN 15499 |
Pan American Games
The class is regularly used in the pan american games.
See also
- Blue Jay Sailboat a smaller version of the lightning.
References
- "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.