Mansfield Sailing Club and Lightning Fleet 150 is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The club and fleet were founded when eight Lightning skippers from Mohican Sailing Club decided to set up a sailing club on the, then, newly created Clearfork Reservoir. Sailboat racing has continued every year since. Other sailboat classes have been raced but Lightnings in Fleet 150 have been a constant.
The Lightning is a nineteen feet long sailboat with a crew of three, including the skipper. It was originally designed in 1938 and is now one of the largest sailboat classes with more than 15,000 world-wide. Lightnings have been sailed at Mansfield since the club started in 1953.
Race committee chair Marion Zaugg of the Mohican Sailing Club explained that the Mohican Sailing Club was founded in 1945 and was the parent group to the Mansfield club. Many clubs were chartered after World War II when hot-molded plywood and fiberglass was developed and sailboats became more affordable. Before then, every boat was custom made and was much more costly.
The Mansfield Sailing Club is located near the intersection of Ohio Route 97 and Gass Road,, just west of Lexington, where boaters and visitors can enjoy the club’s docks, shelter, picnic areas, and restrooms. The docks and their moorings may only be used by club members, though remaining facilities are open to the general public.
The Mansfield Sailing Club is officially sanctioned by the International Lightning Class Association. The club welcomes new members and anyone interested can learn more on their website at www.mansfieldsailingclub.com.
