Lightning Youth World Championship - Day 1

by International Lightning Class Association on 30 Jun 2014 The Lightning Youth World Championship kicked off Sunday, June 29th with 72 competitors from three different continents and five different countries. Principal Race Office Rob Ruhlman made a valiant effort to get some racing underway, ultimately completing one race on the first day.

The Brazilian Team of Felipe Rondina, Jose Afonso Hackerott and Thomas Sylvestre took the line honor of the first race. Cristobal Molina Lorca, Jens Kuhlenthal Pfeffer and Pedro Andres Vera Carrera from Chile were second and the American Team of Jonathan Lutz, Alexandra Jones and Nicholas Sertl finished third.

With the regatta underway many of the 'boxes' on our goal sheet have been checked. Equally tuned, nearly new fleet of 24 Lightnings-check! Great gear bags, lunch coolers and water bottles distributed-check! International camaraderie and bonding-check! Multi-national volleyball tournament with plenty of spectators-check! World Cup viewing with the Brazilian and Chilean teams watching side by side-check! Regatta organization and volunteer efforts among the finest-check! Great racing on Lake Erie at the home of many Lightning World and North American Champions-- . . . well, we're working on that.

The Buffalo Canoe Club is home to some of the best freshwater sailing, beach volleyball and beach ultimate Frisbee a teenager could hope for. Although Mother Nature has produced some 'It's Never Like This Here' breeze (or lack thereof), one race and an entire volleyball tournament has been completed and the international relationships are forming very quickly.

The forecast is promising and we are sure to get back on schedule.

The Lightning Youth Worlds provides an opportunity for young sailors 19 and under to meet, compete and create long-lasting friendships and connections to this International Class. The boats are provided, housing is provided, and although the level of competition is top-notch, the fun is abundant.

 Preliminary Results After Race Three

Pos	Team	R1	R2	R3	Total
1	USA 15166 Lutz / Jones / Sertl	3	2	1	6
2	BRA 15333 Rondina / Hackerott / Sylvestre	1	1	8	10
3	USA 15251 Probst / Webber / Sawyer	11	5	3	19
4	CAN 4870 Robinson / Robinson / Robinson	7	6	6	19
5	CHI 11011 Lorca / Pfeffer / Carrera	2	3	15	20
6	USA 15467 Huyard / Adelhelm / McCarthy	6	13	2	21
7	USA 14543 Fraize / Ross / Heubschmann	12	7	4	23
8	CAN 15499 Tougas / Sawyer / Strickland	17	4	5	26
9	USA 15276 Jones / Jones / Jones	5	12	9	26
10	FIN 14534 Aalto / Aalto / Virtanen	9	11	10	30
11	CAN 14567 Berger / Pacarar  / TBD	10	15	7	32
12	FIN 15415 Pesola / Bjork / Aro	13	8	12	33
13	CAN 14895 MacDonald / Bennett / Wiersma	4	10	22	36
14	USA 15208 Probst / Cahn / Braungat	16	9	17	42
15	FIN 15281 Hartman / Aromaa / Saari	8	16	19	43
16	USA 14875 Folds / Tomczak / Ward	19	17	11	47
17	USA 15464 Schon / Kardek / Husak	15	19	13	47
18	USA 14321 Wolaver / Wolaver / Light	14	14	21	49
19	USA 15319 Yannelli / Yannelli / Talbot	21	18	14	53
20	USA 14502 Tomczak / Probst / Tomczak	18	23	16	57
21	USA 14672 Trow / Jordan / Egloff	22	20	18	60
22	USA 15417 Godfrey / Godfrey / Russel	20	21	20	61
23	CAN 15495 MacDonald / Ryan / Dunbar	23	22	24	69
24	FIN 15369 Hemming / Hartman / Hemming	24	24	23	71