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The Lightning was designed by Sparkman and Stephens in 1938 in upstate New York, and there are now 15,000 Lightnings racing in 500 fleets around the world. This centerboard sloop has a hull that is hard-chined for stability, but with flat sections to enable planing. Raced with a crew of three, the boat carries a 300-square-foot spinnaker that, along with the jib, is handled by the front crew. The skipper drives and manages the mainsail, while the middle crew trims the spinnaker and is responsible for balance. The Lightning has one of the oldest class associations, and boats from past decades are still competitive with newer boats. See also the smaller-scale Blue Jay. The Lightning is an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) International Centreboard Class Association. For more information, read the Lightning Wikipedia article.