David Starck wins Lightning World Championship

Castiglione del Lago, Italy (June 14, 2013) – The Race Committee made every effort to get some racing in on Friday, June 14th, the last day of the Lightning World Championship, but the wind did not cooperate and there was no racing. Congratulations to the 2013 World Champions, David Starck, Jody Starck and Ian Jones from the USA. This is David Starck’s first Lightning World Championship win. This team hails from the Buffalo Canoe Club, Canada.

Lightning Boat Grant Alum Justin Coplan from Nyack Boat Club, Nyack, New York sailing with Danielle Prior and Mike Carney were runner-up. Last weeks International Master Champion Ched Proctor, Cedar Point YC, Connecticut finished third with his team of Jamie Ewing and Meredith Killion. Past World Champions Tito Gonzalez, Cristian Herman and Alberto Gonzalez, Jr from Chile finished fourth. The New Jersey Team of Will Brown, also a past Boat Grant Alum finished fifth with his team mates, ILCA President John Faus and Matty Schon.

This was the 27th World Championship for the Lightning Class. 2013 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Class. “We are very thankful for the Italian Lightning District and the staff at the Club Velico Castiglionese in Castiglione del Lago, Italy. They worked very hard and put on a tremendous event” states ILCA President John Faus. This will certainly go down in Lightning Class history as one to remember. Many sailors traveled to Italy with their families. Castiglione del Lago and the region of Umbria was a perfect setting for sailing and site seeing. With sailors ranging in age from 12 to 79, the Lightning Class still has a lot to offer all age groups.

There were 46 boats from over 10 Countries representing 5 different continents. There were over 30 female sailors sailing in the event, including Rosemarie Hartman from Finland who was sailing with her all junior team in her first World Championship regatta. There were 4 all family teams including, Tom Sutton, Diana Strickler Sutton and Jacob Strickler from Houston, Texas. Jacob was the youngest sailor in the regatta at 12 years old. Tom and Diana were celebrating their honeymoon as the two got married just before the regatta. A perfect honeymoon!

This was a very special regatta for Richard Hallagan from Rochester, NY. He celebrated his 20th Lightning World Championship. He has skippered at more Lightning World Championships than anyone else in the Class. His first Worlds were in 1969 in Argentina. He has sailed in 11 countries that represents 8 different languages. He was presented with a signed regatta poster by all participants.

The next Lightning World Championship will be held at the Buffalo Canoe Club, Canada in 2015 (date TBD). The Buffalo Canoe Club will also host the next Lightning Youth World Championship from June 28-July 2, 2014. The US qualifier for the next Youth Worlds will take pace this summer at the Womens, Junior and Master’s North American Championship in Nyack, NY August 14-17, 2013.

Final Results: http://www.lightningclass.org/racing/results/2013/worldchamp.asp

Other daily reports and photos: http://www.lightningclass.org/racing/results/2013/worldchampionshipreports.asp