This is the second year of the Composites Program at The Landing School, a post-secondary, accredited educational institution that trains men and women in boatbuilding, yacht design, marine systems and composites. Students in the full-time program divide their days between classroom-based theory lectures and lab-based, hands-on work. The Lightnings will be a significant piece of the lab curriculum, filling 800 hours of training.
The Lightning, designed by the late Olin Stephens in 1938, was selected over more modern craft, including skiffs, multihulls and foilers, in part because the class’s precise measurements are strict enough to challenge the students to demonstrate their very best craftsmanship. The hulls will not be built production-style out of female molds; instead the hulls and decks will be built using various one-off methods from wet layup to vacuum-bagging to pre-preg. After they’re launched in June, both hulls will be measured and certified by the International Lightning Class Association. With more than 15,000 built, the 19-foot Lightning is raced in more than 150 fleets worldwide.The Landing School, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, has trained more than 1,200 people worldwide to work professionally in boatbuilding, yacht design, marine systems and/or composites. For more information, visit landingschool.edu.