NORTH LIGHTNING CLIENTS ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Top 24 Teams At The Worlds In Finland Powered By North Sails

The 30th Lightning World Championship was held in beautiful Espoo, Finland. Defending champion Javier Conte (ARG) with teammates Ignacio Giammona and Paula Salerno were able to hold off several strong challenges to defend the World Championship. Conte joins Lightning legends Tito Gonzalez (2003-05) and Tom Allen (1961-63-65) as the only three to successfully defend their Worlds title.

While the 2017 title came a bit easier for Team Conte, this year the team faced strong challenges from several teams in the 49 boat fleet. Felipe Robles (CHI) with Andres Guerva and Paula Herman started the series with a 1,2 for an early lead. They continued to sail well with solid finishes including winning the final 2 races of the series but a couple of 9th place finishes added just enough to put them 3 points out of the top place on the podium. David Starck (USA) sailing with his brother Tom and Jenna Probst posted all top 7 finishes in the 8 race series for the final podium spot just 6 points behind Team Conte.

The week before the World Championship the class held its European Championship in conjunction with the International Lightning Masters Championship. Ched Proctor (USA), Meredith Killion and Bill Faude scored a 1,3,1,2 to secure his 3rd International Masters Championship. Team Proctor edged out the all family team of Tom Allen (USA) with sister Jane and daughter Shelby (2,1,2,3). Larry MacDonald (CAN) with Jody Starck and Ian Jones filled out the top 3.

In the Open European Championship, Team Conte showed the fleet what they might expect by winning 3 of the 6 races and besting Class President Todd Wake (USA) with his son Doug and Jeff Coppens, by 2 points to earn that title as well. Bill Mauk (USA) with young guns Rafael Menendez and Alberto Gonzalez Jr. sailed a magnificent series to take 3rd place.

The next World Championship will be held in 2021 in Wrightsville Beach, NC (USA) with qualifying at the 2020 North American Championships in Cleveland, OH.

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