Lightning Fleet Promotion

Here is an idea to grow a local Lightning fleet: Give a loaded boat to a team of fresh-faced lovely ladies and watch how many similarly aged gentlemen decide that racing Lightnings is something they would like to do too.



2010 BUFFALO CANOE CLUB LIGHTNING BOAT GRANT AWARDED TO THE TEAM OF CHRISTINE MOLONEY, KAYLA OAK, AND JULIANNE MACDONALD.

The Buffalo Canoe Club is pleased to announce that the 2010 BCC Lightning Boat Grant has been awarded to the team of Christine Moloney, Kayla Oak, and Julianne MacDonald. Christine and Kayla will be entering 10th and 11th grade, respectively, at the Nichols Schools in Buffalo NY and Julianne will be entering 10th grade at Waterdown High School in Carlisle, Ontario. We wish this team the best of luck as they represent the BCC and Fleet 12 at many regattas across the northeast including the Junior North Americans.

Similar to the ILCA Boat Grant Program, the BCC Boat Grant Program provides a team of junior sailors with a top quality racing Lightning, practice and racing sails, and support from two established Lightning sailing mentors.

The BCC Lightning Boat-Grant program started in 2008 with the financial and service help of many Fleet 12 members. The program currently consists of a single boat. There are two committees assigned to the program, as well as two mentors. The Selection Committee reviews the applications and decides who each year’s recipient will be. The Boat Maintenance Committee repairs and maintains the boat, keeping it in top notch condition. The mentors are responsible for helping guide the BCC Boat Grant Team throughout the sailing season.

In 2009 Connor Mangan, Lauren Jones, and Jeffrey Markarian were the first recipients of the BCC Boat Grant boat. Their season culminated with a second place finish in the ILCA Junior North Americans. This summer, Connor, Lauren and Jeffrey will participate in the Youth World Championship in Salinas Ecuador.