Lightning (dinghy)
1464067
205822987
2008-04-15T17:01:11Z
192.91.75.29
{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" align="right" style="margin-left: 0.5em" width=300px
! bgcolor="6699FF" | '''''Specifications Under Current Rules'''''
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<center> [[Image:LightningSailboat.JPG|70px]]</center>
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{| align="left"
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| valign="top"|<small>Number of crew
| valign="top"|<small>''3''
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| valign="top"|<small>LOA
| valign="top"|<small>5800mm 19ft
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| valign="top"|<small>Beam
| valign="top"|<small>2000mm 6ft 6in
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| valign="top"|<small>Draft
| valign="top"|<small>1513mm 4ft 11in
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| valign="top"|<small>Hull weight (with fittings)
| valign="top"|<small>318kg 700lbs
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| valign="top"|<small>[[Mast]] Height
| valign="top"|<small>7900mm 26ft 2in
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| valign="top"|<small>Sail Area of total of Main and [[Jib]]
| valign="top"|<small>16sq.m 177sq.ft
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| valign="top"|<small>Sail Area of total of [[Spinnaker]]
| valign="top"|<small>28sq.m 300sq.ft
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: ''For alternate meanings, see [[Lightning (disambiguation)]].''
[[Image:Sailingboat-lightningclass.png|thumb|right|Lightning diagram]]
The '''Lightning''' is a [[sloop|sloop rigged]] [[sailing]] [[sailing dinghy|dinghy]] originally designed by [[Olin Stephens]] of [[Sparkman & Stephens]] in [[1938]] and was first sailed on [[Skaneateles Lake]], Skaneateles, [[NY]], [[USA]]. More than 15,000 Lightnings have been built since then. There are over 500 fleets of Lightnings worldwide, many of which participate in [[dinghy racing]].
Awarded [[International Sailing Federation|ISAF]] International 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 (sailing)|cockpit]] for two couples or a family to daysail, but a crew of three is employed when racing. On most racing teams, the [[Skipper (boating)|skipper]] drives the boat and handles the [[mainsail]]. The front crew on a racing team handles the [[jib]] [[Windward and leeward|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 [[Rigging|rig]] is simple, but offers sophisticated sail shape controls. The [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]] features a unique hard chine design that combines the stability that provides sail-carrying power, with flat bottom sections that promote [[Planing (sailing)|planing]]. The Lightning's hard chine and 130 [[Pound (mass)|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 (nautical)|beam]] of 6'6" (2 m), the Lightning is easily [[trailer]]ed. [[Draft (hull)|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.
== See also ==
*[[Blue Jay Sailboat]] a smaller version of the lightning.
== External links ==
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*[http://www.lightningclass.org/ International Lightning Class Association]
{{International Dinghies}}
{{Sailing Dinghies and Skiffs}}
[[Category:Boat types]]
[[Category:Dinghies]]
[[it:Lightning]]
[[fi:Lightning]]