Lightning Boat Grant Program – Now Accepting Applications!

By Airwaves writer Martha Pitt

Attention sailors:  Want to experience high level sailing in a competitive boat, have all of your sailing paid for this summer while receiving mentoring from a class veteran? The International Lightning Class Association has just the opportunity!

            The Lightning Boat Grant Program offers sailors age 19 and older the opportunity to sail a race ready Lightning for the season.  Recipients receive a championship condition boat, practice and race sails, a mentor, and funds to cover the sailing related expenses for the 2013 summer racing season (May-September).

Spring Classic Regatta, Lake Pymatuning, PA. 39 Boat Start. 

            The program started in 2007, and is entering its 7^th season.  It began as an opportunity for both the class to expand by drawing in young talented racers, and for aspiring young sailors to break into the circuit, those who may not have the funds to buy their own boat and pay for a racing program; it is geared towards college students and recent graduates looking to race in a competitive one-design fleet at minimal cost.  The recipients receive a boat for a season and set up their own program for the summer season for almost no cost. As a testament to the success of the program, multiple boat grant recipients have purchased their own Lightnings after their grant summer was over.  Past recipients include, Bobby Martin in ‘07(Boston University ’08), William Brown ’08 (Brown University ’10), Clinton Hayes ’08 (University of Vermont ’10), Caroline Patten ’11 (HWS ’11), James Simmons ’12 (URI ’12), . Though generally new to the boats, with the great equipment and guidance from other Lightning sailors, the grant recipients have faired well racing with top-ten finishes at major regional events and top-thirty finishes at the North Americans. James Simmons used his grant boat to qualify for the World Championships next summer in Italy; he has recently purchased a boat and will be headed to Italy in June 2013 to compete. The Class’s strong international presence also assures the Boat Grant teams a chance to compete against athletes from around the world during the summer season.

            I was able to speak to Will Brown who was a grant recipient back in 2008 and has since remained involved, now acting as the co-chair of the Lightning Boat Grant Committee. To Will, the program has been a success in large part because of the mentors and the great members of the class. For him, “one of the more challenging aspects was learning how to properly tune the boat, but every member of the class was more than willing to help. The fleet is one of the deepest and most talented fleets I have sailed in which leads for very serious racing but it also has a great off the water atmosphere with tons of sailor camaraderie.” Though some might be intimidated by the strength of the class and its deep field of competitors, for Will, that was one of the greatest benefits; “I mean — forty plus boats on the line at a dozen regattas each summer? That’s pretty amazing. And with this much talent, your team absolutely gets better at each regatta.” 

Justin Coplan – 2008 Grant Recipient – winning race #6 of the 2009 World Championship, Burlington, VT (60 boat fleet, 10 Countries represented)

            2008 recipient Clinton Hayes had a similar experience; “the boat is a great introduction to the fundamentals of small keelboat sailing without having to own a keelboat. We learned a lot of basics of rig tuning that is transferable to all types of sailing. Everyone in the class is super friendly, always willing to help. They are known for competitive racing and fun times. I can say from personal experience that this is true.” The summer of 2008 marked the 70^th Anniversary Regatta for the class with 125 boats competing in the event in Newport, RI, and Hayes insists that he will be back for the 80^th! “Its a great boat,” commented Hayes, “so easy to set-up and travel with but a real challenge to sail well. The level of the top 20 at 2008 NA’s was ridiculous! I hope to get back into Lightning racing when I settle down a little.”

Will Tyner – 2011 Grant Recipients, Team Tyner – Bow 42, racing in the 2011 North American Championship, North Cape, MI (56 Boat Fleet)

          For Andy Camarda, who sailed at URI and was a boat grant recipient in 2010, insists that “the summer of the boat grant was the best summer of my life. The fleet was great, super supportive, everyone would answer questions and were generally a lot of fun.  The racing was tight and I learned a ton about close racing tactics and boat tuning.” Andy is from Chicago where there is no Lightning fleet, but if there was one he says that he would buy a Lightning in a minute! The highlight of his summer was going to the Pan Am qualifiers in Tampa, FL. The extremely tight 20 boat fleet made racing very exciting, and Camarda’s golden moment was winning one of the races!

Andy Camrada – 2010 Grant Recipients – Team Camrada sailing at the 2010 Spring Classic, Pymatuning, PA (39 Boat Fleet)

            L
ast year’s recipient, Jamie Simmons, has found a new passion for sailing in the Lightning class, and it has given him a new outlet to race now that he has graduated. “This is a good direction to go after college sailing” explains Simmons. “It was a great experience, the racing was exciting and everyone is easy going and super friendly. I look forward to sailing more Lightning regattas.”

Jamie Simmons – 2012 Grant recipients, Team Simmons – Bow 36, racing in the 44 boat fleet at the Atlantic Coast Championship, Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Photo: Arthur E. Petrosemolo

            If you are interested in this unique opportunity, the application can be found on the Lightning class website – www.lightningclass.org. 

Applicants are graded on the following criteria:

1. Plan for use of boat, including projected regatta schedule.  Applicants will need to provide a narrative describing who will be sailing, what they plan to do with the grant money, where they plan to go to practice and compete, when they plan to sail, and how they will get there. They should describe their transportation resources, options or needs, etc.

2.   Proximity to an existing Lightning Fleet

3.   Strength of sailing resume

4.   Recommendations

5.   Ability to care for the boat and where it will be stored.  

An interview of top applicants is also factored in. Applications are due on December 31^st and applicants will be notified prior to March 15^th. The ILCA will award at least two teams grants for the program.