Lightning Class Specifications:
Design Number: 265
LOA: 19′-0″
LWL: 16′-0″
Beam: 6′-6″
Draft: 4′-11″
Displacement: 700 lbs
Sail Area: 177 sq ft
The Lightning was designed in 1938. She’s a hard chined centerboarder capable of planing. From her humble beginnings the boat has evolved in to a fairly technical racing boat. Over 15,000 boats have been built to this design.
It is rumored that the rights to this design were sold to the Lightning Class Association in 1939, and that Olin Stephens often stated he regretted it. The story is in fact true, the plans were sold to the Association on September 1, 1939 for $200. I have heard him explain away the situation by saying he never really thought the design would take off. I do think the gesture paid off in the long run however: many sailors started sailing in Lightnings and eventually moved into larger S&S boats so I think Olin ultimately did realize value from the transaction.