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Lightning
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2008 |
| WORLDS |
1,2,3 |
| ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPS |
1,2,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| CENTRAL ATLANTIC DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 |
| 70th ANNIVERSARY REGATTA |
1,2,4,6,8,9 |
| CPYC EARLY BIRD REGATTA |
1,2,3,4 |
| DOC GILBERT REGATTA |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| INDY OPEN |
1 |
| MID-CONTINENT REGATTA |
1,2,3,5 |
| LEUKEMIA CUP, Texas |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| LONG JOHN REGATTA |
1,2,4 |
| CALIFORNIA CIRCUIT |
1 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - Overall |
2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - St Pete |
1,2,5,7,8,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - Miami |
1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - Savannah |
1,3,4,5,7,8,9,10 |
2007
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| PANAM GAMES |
Gold, Silver, Bronze |
| WORLDS |
2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 |
| EUROPEANS |
1,2,3 |
| INTERNATIONALS MASTERS |
1,2,3 |
| NORTH AMERICANS |
2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10 |
| NORTH AMERICANS -President Div |
1,2,3 |
| NORTH AMERICANS -Governor Div |
1,2,3 |
| JUNIOR NORTH AMERICANS |
1,2,3 |
| MASTERS NORTH AMERICANS |
1,2,3 |
| WOMENS NORTH AMERICANS |
1,2,3 |
| BLUENOSE REGATTA |
1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10* |
| LAST BLAST REGATTA |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| FRIGID DIGIT REGATTA |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| NJ STATE CHAMPS |
1,2,3,4,5,6,9,10 |
| BUFFALO YOUTH INVITATIONAL |
1,2,3 |
| MIDWEST DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| TEXAS DISTRICTS |
1,2,4 |
| DIXIE DISTRICTS |
1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT |
1,3,4,5,6,7,10 |
| PYMATUNING SPRING CLASSIC |
1,2 |
| DOC GILBERT POTOMAC CUP |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| JUBY WYNN REGATTA |
1,2,3 |
| NO GAS REGATTA |
1,2,3* |
| JACKSON SPRING FLING |
1,2,3,4,5 |
2006 |
| SOUTH AMERICANS |
1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9 |
| NORTH AMERICANS |
1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| US PAN AM TRIALS |
1,2,3 |
| YOUTH WORLDS |
1 |
| SUGAR BOWL REGATTA |
1,2,3 |
| ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPS |
1,2,3,4 |
| CANADIAN OPEN |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| BLUENOSE REGATTA |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10 |
| FRIGID DIGIT REGATTA |
1,2,3 |
| SNOW BALL REGATTA |
2,4,5 |
| DIXIE DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| TEXAS DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| SPRING CLASSIC REGATTA |
1,3,4,5 |
| LONG JOHN REGATTA |
1 |
| CALIFORNIA CIRCUIT |
1 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - St. Pete |
1,2,3,5,6,8,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - Miami |
2,3,4,5,8,9 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - Savannah |
1,3,4,5,7,8,9,10 |
2005
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| WORLDS |
1*,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| MASTERS WORLDS |
1,2 |
| NORTH AMERICANS - CHAMP |
1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| NORTH AMERICANS - PRES |
1,2,3,6,7,8,10 |
| ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPS |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| BLUENOSE REGATTA |
1,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12.. |
| FRIGID DIGIT REGATTA |
1,2,3,5,6,8,9,11 |
| CANADIAN OPEN CHAMPS |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| MANAHAWKIN BAY CUP |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| DIXIE DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| OHIO DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| CENTRAL ATLANTIC DISTRICTS |
1,3,4,5 |
| FLORIDA DISTRICTS |
1,2 |
| CALIFORNIA DISTRICTS |
1,3 |
| SOUTHERN DISTRICTS |
1,2,3 |
| TAWAS BAY SUMMER REGATTA |
1,2,3,5 |
| PYMATUNING 4TH JULY REGATTA |
1,2,3 |
| SE DISTRICTS/VODOO REGATTA |
1,2,3 |
| DOC GILBERT POTOMAC CUP |
1,2,3 |
| PSRA SPRING REGATTA |
1,2,3 |
| HERNANDO DE SOTO REGATTA |
1,2 |
| EARLY BIRD REGATTA -Westport |
1,2,3 |
| LAKE LANSING 40TH TUNE UP |
1 |
| SODUS BAY SPRING REGATTA |
1,2,3 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT OVERALL |
1,2,3,5,6 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - St. Pete |
1,2,3,5 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - Miami |
1,2,3*,5 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT - Savannah |
2,3,4,5 |
| PYMATUNING SPRING CLASSIC |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| LONG JOHN REGATTA |
1,2 |
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2004
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| NORTH AMERICANS |
1,2,3,5,6,7*,8,9 |
| NORTH AMERICANS President Cup |
1,2,3*,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| NORTH AMERICANS Governors Cup |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT OVERALL |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT -
St. Pete |
1*,2,3,4,5,6,7,8*,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT -
Miami |
1,2,3*,4,5,6,7,10* |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT -
Savannah |
1,2,3,4,6,7*,8*,9,10 |
| BORDERLINE REGATTA |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| FRIGID DIGIT REGATTA |
1 |
| CENTRAL ATLANTIC DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| CT/RI DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| OHIO DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| DIXIE DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| TEXAS DISTRICTS |
1,2,3,4,6 |
| NORTH CAPE GREAT LAKES
CHAMPS |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| PYMATUNING SPRING
CLASSIC |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
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2003
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| WORLDS |
1,2*,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| NORTH AMERICANS -
Champs |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| NORTH AMERICANS -
Masters |
1*,2,4,5*,6,7,8,9,10 |
| NORTH AMERICANS -
Junior |
1,2,4,5,6,7 |
| NORTH AMERICANS -
Women |
1,2,3,4 |
| NORTH AMERICANS -
President Cup |
1,2,3,5,6,8,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT -
Overall |
2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT -
St. Pete |
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT -
Miami |
2,3,4,5,6,7*,8,9,10 |
| SOUTHERN CIRCUIT -
Savannah |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10 |
| SUGAR BOWL REGATTA |
1,2,3,4,5, |
| ORANGE BOWL REGATTA |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. |
| BLUE NOSE REGATTA |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| GREAT LAKES REGATTA |
1,2,4,5 |
| PYMATUNING SPRING
CLASSIC |
1,2,3,4,5 |
No other sailmaker in the Lightning Class offers sail designs to match your sail trim and tuning preferences. With 4 of the class' top sailors working hard to continually develop and update our sails and our tuning setups, and provide you with all the information in our Tuning Guide, you can be sure that you are truly on the leading edge of Lightning boatspeed.
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"Brian Hayes held a 3-day tuning seminar for Green Bay Lightning Fleet 112 in early May of this year which covered on the water practice starts and races with Brian giving tips to everyone on the water. Taking tips from this seminar we went to Sheboygan for MidWest Districts and won! Thanks to North Sails, Brian Hayes and the Lightning Class for having this resource to help everyone keep improving. Top 5 finishers were all North Sail Customers!".
Brian Phelan
Lightning 13817 |
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Matt Burridge, 2006 North American Champion
Juan Santos, 2006 South American Champion
Tito Gonzales, 2005 World Champion
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"It was great to get to spend more time with you before and during the NAs this year. It was a lot of fun off the water and boy, oh boy, was it great to use fast North Sails M-5 and 5A+ and a runner. You guys make the best sails for the widest range of conditions. They are just great products! ".
Matt Burridge
2005 North Americans Champion |
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"We just finished up the Lightning NA's at the Buffalo Canoe Club. I was again impressed with North One Design's service and professionalism. Their representation in the Lightning's is first class! I've traveled in plenty of sailing circles and watched sailmakers in action. I think your success in the Lightning class is due to your team's dedication and understanding of the class and it's members!".
Jody Swanson
2004 North Americans Champion |
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LIGHTNING COVERS |
Learn more about our Lightning covers, all handmade to the highest quality standards.
More info >>
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We offer two mainsail designs at North Sails One Design for the Lightning. Both designs are proven winners with many regional, National and World titles between them. All you have to do is choose the design that best suits your sailing style. Then bend them on and go sailing!! If you aren’t certain what the right fit is for you then call or email any of our Lightning experts so we can help you find the right “fit” for you and your team.
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M-5 MAINSAIL
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The M-5 Mainsail was designed as an all-around performer and has proven to be just that over the years.
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The M-5 Mainsail has been updated to feature a custom “North-blue” headboard and custom shaped clew and head patches to achieve an optimal smooth shape.
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The M-5 is built out 3.8 oz. yarn temper cloth.
• It is the ideal mainsail and tuning system for the sailor who enjoys “tweaking” his sails to fit his or her individual sailing style
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The M-5 Mainsail include: battens, sail numbers, insignia, vision / spreader and sail bag.
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"The
sail is great! We won the regatta (1,2,2). We had
speed and point off of the starting line in all breeze
and also had the ability to keep the boat going when
the breeze got really light with minimal adjustments
to the sheet and cloth/wire. I am very pleased with
the jib and will be ordering a main!"
Scott Anderson
1st Place Texas District Champs
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MF-2 MAINSAIL
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The MF-2 Mainsail is a proven fast design that encompasses both performance and ease of use into one tuning and trimming package.
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The MF-2 utilizes a “one-set” tuning program in which the lower shrouds and blocks are always set so that there is always 1 1/2" of prebend in the mast, whether it is blowing 2 or 22.
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The MF-2 excels where steering conditions may be less forgiving such as in shifty, puffy winds or heavy chop.
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The MF-2 is an ideal for those sailors who don't like to make many changes to their tune from condition to condition but want top-level performance.
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The MF-2 Mainsail is built out of 3.8 oz coated, high-performance fabric.
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The MF-2 Mainsail includes: Battens, sail numbers, insignia, vision / spreader and sail bag.
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Once you have decided on a tuning preference and main, choose from our 3 options in jibs. It is interesting that many Lightning sailors mix and match the jibs with tremendous results. The best choice depends on your "style".
5-A+ ALL PURPOSE JIB
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The 5A+ jib may be the "winningest" jib design in ILCA history.
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The 5A+ is designed with plenty of power for lighter conditions but can still be flattened quickly for lighter teams and heavier air.
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The 5A+ can be trimmed up to 5" inside the tip of the spreader for short periods of time but prefers to be trimmed 2-3” inside the spreader tip when you are “in the groove”.
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The 5A+ jib is most successful with the M5 tuning system.
JF-2 JIB
CP-2 JIB
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We have the perfect combination in spinnaker inventories based on performance, angle of sail and your pocketbook!
For top performance and durability, we offer the R-2 and the RC-1 spinnakers. Both spinnakers are fill radial with fully glued seams for smoothness and resistance to snags. Both are built from AirX fabric.
R-2 RADIAL SPINNAKER
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The R-2 Spinnaker is, without question, the fastest spinnaker in the class. The radial design makes it a durable sail that will hold it’s designed shape on both reaches and runs.
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While the R2 is designed to excel in running and broad reaching it is also outstanding on the occasional tight reach we sometimes come across on the Lightning circuit. This combination makes this sail the number one choice for nearly every Lightning sailors downwind inventory.
- Made out of AirX 600 cloth.
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RC-1 RADIAL SPINNAKER
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The RC-1 Spinnaker is a great spinnaker for the sailor who is looking for an all-purpose sail that performs best as a reaching sail.
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The RC-1 Spinnaker is the perfect choice for those who sail on inland lakes where the wind isn't exactly "steady" or for heavy air venues where tight reaching is still prevalent.
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The RC-1 is the same design as the proven C1 except it is in a more durable radial design that will allow increased durability.
- Made out of AirX 600 cloth.
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C-1 NYLON and BRUIN CROSSCUT
SPINNAKER
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Both the C-1 and Bruin are crosscut and made out of Fleetwing Nylon Spinnaker cloth.
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This cloth, which is ideal for CrossCut spinnakers, is durable and contributes to the long competitive life as well as to the ease of trimming both spinnakers.
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The Bruin has long been recognized for the downwind performer that it is. The Bruin is much more an all-around performer since a redesign flattened the middle section. This change improved the reaching abilities of the Bruin with little sacrifice to its proven broad reaching and running performance.
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The C-1 is a great CrossCut spinnaker that fits the bill for those who need one that performs well in tight reaching situations yet will get the job done broad reaching and running.
- Both the Bruin and C-1 are great values for crosscut nylon sails. If you are comparing crosscut nylon sail prices + proven performance these two sails are the best choice for a tight budget that wants top-level performance.
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FAQ: What's the differences between the R-2 and the Bruin Spinnakers?
 The R-2 spinnaker is more expensive due to the Airx fabric we use. This is the latest in spinnaker cloth and is plenty light (very close to the class minimum) but also a better, stronger fabric. Couple this with the fancy radial layout and it is a durable sail indeed.
The other advantage of a Radial layout is that because of the more controlled stretch we can build the spinnaker fuller for downwind sailing knowing that when stuck on a reach in breeze, the sail won't grow and become much fuller. The R-2 is a decent reaching spinnaker where the Bruin, while it performs ok on a reach, certainly wasn't designed to be our fastest reacher. The R-2 is the spinnaker that was 1,3,4,5 at the 2005 NAS.
Having said all this I still believe that there is a place for the Bruin spinnaker. It has proven to still be a quick spinnaker, especially downwind. It is a great choice especially where pricing is a consideration. For many years it was the sail "of choice" and it won its share of NAS. However, if all else was equal I would obviously suggest the R-2 for all the reasons above.
Answer by Greg Fisher
For additional Lightning FAQs, click here.
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"Very light wind, not my kind of weather, but it worked out. You know, since I received this set of sails from you I have only used them twice and won both regatta’s. Higgins Lake last year which was blowing like stink and Tawas this year where the wind never hit 6 kts."
-- Matt Princing, 2005 Tawas Bay Summer Regatta Overall Winner
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For more information on Lightning sails,
contact the North Lightning experts.
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