# Lightning World Championship

The Lightning World Championship is a bi-annual international sailing regatta for lightning (dinghy), organized by the host club on behalf of the International Lightning Class Association and recognized by World Sailing, the sport's IOC-recognized governing body. The class gained class status in November 1962 from World Sailing, so its first Worlds were in 1963, although an International Regatta was held in 1961.

## Editions

| Edition | Edition | Edition | Host | Host | Host | Boats | Participant | Participant | Participant | Ref |
| No. | Date | Year | Host club | Location | Nat. | Boats | Sailor | Nat. | Cont. | Ref |
| 01 | | 1963 | Club de Regatas Lima | Lima | Peru | 35 | 105 | 8 | 3 | |
| 02 | 9-19 Sept | 1965 | Circolo Canottiere Napoli | Naples | Italy | 43 | 129 | 12 | 4 | |
| 03 | | 1967 | Royal Canadian Yacht Club | Toronto | Canada | 37 | 0 | 8 | 3 | |
| 04 | | 1969 | Yacht Club Olivos | Olivos, Buenos Aires | Argentina | 43 | 129 | 12 | 3 | |
| 05 | | 1971 | Merenkavijat Yacht Club | Helsinki | Finland | 40 | 121 | 10 | 3 | |
| 06 | | 1973 | Buffalo Canoe Club | Fort Erie, Ontario | Canada | 39 | 117 | 8 | 3 | |
| 07 | | 1975 | Salinas Yacht Club | Salinas, Ecuador | Ecuador | 49 | 147 | 10 | 3 | |
| 08 | | 1977 | Yacht-Club Spiez | Spiez | Switzerland | 54 | 160 | 12 | 4 | |
| 09 | | 1979 | Rush Creek Yacht Club | Heath, Texas | United States | 52 | 156 | 11 | 3 | |
| 10 | | 1981 | Gran Hotel Pucon | Pucon | Chile | | | | | |
| 11 | | 1983 | Circola Velici | Napoletani | Italy | 41 | 123 | 8 | 3 | |
| 12 | | 1985 | Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club | Beach Haven, New Jersey | United States | 40 | 121 | 8 | 3 | |
| 13 | | 1987 | Club Naval Castillogrande | Cartagena | Colombia | 39 | 117 | 9 | 3 | |
| 14 | 2-7 July | 1989 | Yacht Racing Club of Athens / Piareaus Sailing Club | Athens | Greece | 45 | 135 | 8 | 3 | |
| 15 | | 1991 | Severn Sailing Association | Annapolis | United States | 39 | 117 | 8 | 3 | |
| 16 | | 1993 | | lhabela Island | Brazil | 42 | 126 | 7 | 3 | |
| 17 | 2-8 July | 1995 | Kuopion Pursiscura | Kuopio | Finland | 35 | 105 | 6 | 3 | |
| 18 | 8-13 June | 1997 | St Claire Yacht Club and Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club | Montreal, Quebec | Canada | 58 | 175 | 9 | 3 | |
| 19 | 22-29 Nov | 1999 | Salinas Yacht Club | Salinas, Ecuador | Ecuador | 45 | 135 | 7 | 3 | |
| 20 | 20-24 July | 2001 | Circolo Velico Marsala | Marsala, Sicily | Italy | 44 | 132 | 9 | 3 | |
| 21 | 13-18 Apr | 2003 | Coral Reef Yacht Club & Biscayne Bay Yacht Club | Miami | United States | 60 | 180 | 11 | 3 | |
| 22 | 19-26 Nov | 2005 | Higuerillas Yacht Club | Higuerillas | Chile | 45 | 135 | 8 | 3 | |
| 23 | 21-27 July | 2007 | Yacht Club of Greece | Athens | Greece | 48 | 145 | 12 | 5 | |
| 24 | 11-29 Sept | 2009 | Mallets Bay Yacht Club | Colchester, Vermont | United States | 60 | 180 | 10 | 5 | |
| 25 | | 2011 | Clube Armacao de Buzios | Buzios, Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 30 | 90 | 9 | 5 | |
| 26 | 6-14 June | 2013 | Club Velico Castiglionese | Castiglione del Lago | Italy | 46 | 139 | 10 | 5 | |
| 27 | 18-25 July | 2015 | Buffalo Canoe Club | Fort Erie, Ontario | Canada | 63 | 190 | 10 | 5 | |
| 28 | 21-25 Nov | 2017 | Salinas Yacht Club | Salinas, Ecuador | Ecuador | 56 | 168 | 12 | 5 | |
| 29 | 12-17 June | 2019 | Espoo Yacht Club | Espoo | Finland | 49 | 147 | 12 | 5 | |
| N/A | 13-22 May | 2021 | | Charleston | United States | Postponed due to COVID | Postponed due to COVID | Postponed due to COVID | Postponed due to COVID | |
| 30 | 17-21 May | 2022 | Carolina Yacht Club | Charleston | United States | 50 | 150 | 8 | 4 | |
| 31 | 23-27 Nov | 2023 | Club Naval Santa Cruz de Castillogrande | Cartagena | Colombia | | | | | |

## Medalists

| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1963 | US 7811  Thomas Allen III (USA)  Anne Allen (sailor) (USA)  Bruce Goldsmith (USA) | US 8513  Bob Seidelmann (USA)  John Walton (USA)  Bob Bray (USA) | US 8390  Carl Eichenlaub (USA)  Michael O'Bryan (USA)  Stan Brander (USA) |
| 1965 | US 9411 - ATOM II  Thomas Allen III (USA)  Anne Allen (sailor) (USA)  Bruce Goldsmith (USA) | US 8529 - SHAZAM  Alan Raffee (USA)  Dennis Conner (USA)  Carol Mclaughlin (USA) | US 9110 - HYPERTENSION  David M. Peterson (USA)  M.J. O'Meara (USA)  J.W. Healy (USA) |
| 1967 | US 10199  Dr Louis Pocharski (USA) UNKNOWN UNKNOWN | 10411  Thomas Allen III (USA) | 8510 Bergantz USA |
| 1969 | US 11367 - Snoopy  Bruce Goldsmith (USA)  Pamela Goldsmith (USA)  Jim Dressel (USA) | 9390 - Cat  James R Crane (USA)  Robert B. Crane (USA)  Robert Lansing (USA) | 11011 - Atom  Thomas Allen III (USA)  Anne Allen (sailor) (USA)  John Schneider (USA) |
| 1971 | US 11501 - Finesse  William Shore (sailor) (USA)  Bonnie Shore (USA)  Robert Bone (USA) | US 11491 - Tickled Pink  Jack Mueller Jnr. (USA)  J. Mueller (USA)  Nancy Mueller (USA) | US 11099 - Spook  Louis Pocharski (USA)  Janet Shore (USA)  F. Healey Jnr. (USA) |
| 1973 | US 12422 - Snoopy  Bruce Goldsmith (USA)  Pam Goldsmith (USA)  David Peters (sailor) (USA) | US 12060 - Hang On Sloopy Jim Dressel Nancy Dressel Gary Cameron | US 10599 - Shoe Shine Baby Bob Seidelmann Bill Clausen Karen Huntsman |
| 1975 | B 12414  Mario Buckup (BRA)  Ralph Christian (BRA)  Joaquim Feneberg (BRA) | US 10114  William Shore (sailor) (USA)  Bonnie Shore (USA)  Mark Bryant (sailor) (USA) | US 12422  Bruce Goldsmith (USA)  Pam Goldsmith (USA)  Bob Smither (USA) |
| 1977 | 13111  Thomas Allen III (USA)  Brenda Allen (USA)  Tom Allen (USA) | 7495 Mario Buckup BRA Joaquim Feneberg BRA Ralph W. Christian | 11658 Jim Crane Steve Nightingale Eugene Peters |
| 1979 | US 13226  Glenn Darden (USA)  Kelly Gough (USA)  Doug Shelton (USA) | US 13226  William A Shore (USA)  Bonnie Shore (USA)  Mark BRYANT (USA) | US 13333  Jim Crane (USA)  Bill Crane (USA)  Gene Peters (USA) |
| 1981 | Walmor Gomez (BRA) UNKNOWN UNKNOWN | Glenn Darden (USA) UNKNOWN UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN |
| 1983 | US 11420 - Speedy  Jay Lutz (USA)  Dick Escalara (USA)  Michael Healy (USA) | I 13706  Sergio Messina (ITA)  Antonino Nizza (ITA)  Pasquale Vitaggio (ITA) | BL 12489  Claudio Biekarck (BRA)  Gunnar Ficker (BRA)  Ralph Berger (BRA) |
| 1985 | US 14021 - Eclipse  William Shore (sailor) (USA)  Karen Neri (USA)  Betsy Gelenitis (USA) | BL 12812 - Flash Rider  Mario Buckup (BRA)  Michael Anthony Norris (BRA)  Christina Maricke (BRA)  Marttin Norris (BRA) | US 11739 - Speedy Again  Jay Lutz (USA)  Jody Lutz (USA)  Dick Escalera (USA) |
| 1987 Cartegena | X 11099  Manuel González Maz (CHI)  Alberto Gonzalez (CHI)  Rodrigo Zuazola (CHI) | KC 14057  Eddy Martin (CAN)  Perry Owen (CAN)  Jay Mann (CAN) | US 14175  William Shore (USA)  Brad Read (USA)  Steve Hayden (USA) |
| 1989 | KC 13968  Peter Hall (CAN)  Mark Osterman (CAN)  Alain Boucher (CAN) | US 14045  Matt Fisher (USA)  Greg Fisher (USA)  Joyce Ferguson (USA) | US 14176  Ched Proctor (USA)  Kathryn Ritchie (USA)  Doug Barlow (USA) |
| 1991 | US 11346  David Dellenbaugh (USA)  Kip Hamblet (USA)  Hale Walcoff (USA) | KC 14499 Larry MacDonald (CAN) Jody Swanson (CAN) Trevor Born (CAN) | US 14296 Brad Read (USA) Elizabeth Alison (USA) Terry Hutchinson (USA) |
| 1993 | BRA 12657  Manfred Kaufmann (BRA)  Renato Kaufmann (BRA)  Marcelo Batista da Silva (BRA) | BRA 11721 Fernando Hackerott (BRA) Frederico Costa (BRA) Riccardo Costa (BRA) | BRA 14203 Claudio Biekarck (BRA) Gunnar Ficker (BRA) Edu Melchert (BRA) |
| 1995 | Chile Tito González (sailor) Rodrigo Zuasola German Schacht | United States Thomas Allen IV Jim Allen (sailor) Jane Allen | United States Bill Faude Jared Drake Brian Taboada |
| 1997 | CAN 14834 Larry MacDonald (CAN) Jody Swanson (USA) Ian Jones (sailor) (USA) | CHI 14709 Manuel González (CHI) Juan Francisco Novion (CHI) German Novion (CHI) | USA 14763 Tim Healy (sailor) Maria White (sailor) Bill Healy (sailor) |
| 1999 | Chile Alberto González Pablo Barahona Claus Engell | United States Jeff Linton (sailor) Amy Smith Linton Mark Taylor (sailor) | United States Tim Healy (sailor) Bill Healy (sailor) Anthony Kotoun |
| 2001 | USA-15083 Jeff Linton (sailor) (USA) Amy Smith Linton Mark Taylor (sailor) | USA-15045 Matt Fisher (sailor) (USA) Dan Moriarty (sailor) Rick Bernstein | USA-14740 William Faude (USA) Ernie Dieball Jared Drake |
| 2003 | CHI 11011 Tito González (CHI) Jay Lutz Claus Engel | USA 14752 Steve Hayden (sailor) (USA) Barr Batzer Jamey Rabbitt | USA 14900 Jim Crane (sailor) (USA) Bill Crane (sailor) Jim Allen (sailor) |
| 2005 | Chile Alberto González Diego González Cristian Herman | United States David Starck Ian Jones (sailor) Scott Ikle | Chile Pablo Herman Luis Felipe Herman Claus Engell |
| 2007 | United States Jeff Linton (sailor) Amy Smith Linton Jahn Tihansky | United States Allan Terhune Katie Terhune Dave Perkowski | Laura Jeffers |
| 2009 | United States Matt Fisher (sailor) Dan Moriarty (sailor) Tobi Moriarty | United States David Stark (sailor) Jody Stark Ian Jones (sailor) | Chile Tito González Diego González Cristian Hermann |
| 2011 | CHI 11011 Tito González (CHI) Diego González Cristian Hermann | BRA 15333 Claus Biekarck (BRA) Gunnar Ficker Marcelo Batista da Silva | BRA 14894 Thomas Sumner (sailor) (BRA) Felipe Brito (sailor) Fillipe Gil |
| 2013 | USA 15470 David Stark (sailor) Jody Stark Ian Jones (sailor) | USA 14036 Justin Coplan Danielle Prior Micheal Carney | USA 15507 Ched Proctor Jamie Ewing (sailor) Meredith Killion |
| 2015 | USA 15296 Geoff Becker (sailor) Jimmy Barnash Laura Beigel | USA 15499 Jody Starck Ian Jones (sailor) Skip Dieball | USA 15385 Billy Martin (sailor) Janel Zarkowsky Chappy Hopkins |
| 2017 | ARG 15597  Javier Conte (ARG)  Ignacio Giammona (ARG)  Paul Salerno (ARG) | USA 14298  Nick Sertl (USA)  Dylan Farrell (USA)  John Mastrandrea (USA) | PUR 14677 Raul Rios Sebastian Higuera Nicolas Deeb |
| 2019 | ARG 15597  Javier Conte (ARG)  Julio Alsogaray (ARG)  Paula Salerno (ARG) | CHI 14794  Felipe Robles (CHI)  Andres Guevara (CHI)  Paula Herman (CHI) | USA 15611 David Stark (sailor) (USA)  Tom Stark (USA)  Jenna Probst (USA) |
| 2022 | USA 15611 - "Team PatStrong" David Stark (sailor) (USA) Tom Stark (USA) Jenna Probst (USA) | CHI 11011 - "Ojo de Lince" Tito Gonzalez (CHI) Alberto Gonzalez Jnr. (CHI) Zeke Horowitz (USA) | ARG 15597 - "Argentina" Javier Conte Martina Silva Trinidad Silva |