Andy Loree was an active member of the PYC's Lightning fleet. He mentioned that he had data from 1964-1980, and we agreed that these should be preserved. He scanned and sent the documents a few months ago, and I am finally getting them coded. Procrastination strikes again.
2023-02-25 Andy added these comments:
Good News (I hope), I have located and attached as .pdf files the remainder of PYC Lightning Fleet #340 reports from the class annual yearbooks.
The 1962 report would pertain to 1961, which is apparently when Fleet #340 received its charter (etc). PYC may have hosted Lightning races prior to the fleet receiving its charter, which I'd have no records of.
I combined the yearbook entries from years 1981-85, which all stated "no report" except for a few hopeful additional words in 1984.
I believe these, plus the files you've already linked on the website, constitute the "entire recorded history" of the fleet....or at least as recorded in the Class annual yearbooks.
Other comments
2023-03-08
From Joan Cuchna:
I remember one particular race in the 70’s on Tim Miller’s Lightning on a Sat morning in a dense fog — you couldn’t see the other boats coming around mark A, but you could hear voices. SOOO STRANGE!
From Paul Slotsema:
Thanks, Dave! I think it’s pretty interesting and important to consider all of this history.
With a currently healthy Ensign fleet and the Nationals in Pentwater this year it would be easy to think that these activities could be self perpetuating. However, reading the Lightning Fleet 340’s reports it’s not hard to imagine that those sailors thought the same thing.
We’ve definitely got to keep contributing our time, keep getting the kids involved, and especially make sure we keep having fun!
From Dave Bluhn:
Thanks Dave! Reading those reports really does bring back fond memories! Many of the younger Lightning sailors also crewed regularly on the Northern Light for the Mac races we did between roughly 1973-1980.
I really would be great if we could get a few photos of Lightnings at the new club. They have a very prominent place in our history! I’l bet Andy has some good photos!
