Cameron Lightning Class Sailing Crew (1991)
Cameron Lightning Class Sailing Crew (1991) was a three-person sailing crew from Thunder Bay that won the Canadian Open Lightning Class Championships in 1991. The team was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.[1]
Overview
Season
The crew consisted of skipper Jim Cameron, Charlie Spence, and Janice Allard-Cameron. They competed in the Lightning Class, which involves a three-person team operating a 19-foot sloop-rigged dinghy. Prior to their national title run, the group had recently completed the World Championships where they finished in 17th place. In June 1991, the team traveled to Toronto, Ontario, to participate in the Canadian Open Lightning Class Championships, an event hosted by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.[1]
During the first day of the national competition, the crew faced a field of more than 24 other boats and navigated through high winds. The course layout included two triangles and a windward leg. The Thunder Bay team performed well in the opening rounds, securing two first-place finishes and one third-place finish. On the second day of the regatta, the crew recorded finishes of seventh, third, and fourth. These combined results earned the team the Canadian championship title.[1]
Following their victory in Toronto, the crew entered the North American Lightning Class Championships held in Newport, Rhode Island, during August 1991. The conditions were difficult as a hurricane had impacted the region immediately before the races. Despite having to navigate through debris on the water, the team finished in 6th place overall. This result stood as the highest ranking achieved by any Canadian entry at the continental event.[1]
Roster
The names below come from the Hall of Fame profile and its team photograph caption.[1]
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Cameron | skip | |
| Charlie Spence | player | |
| Janice Allard-Cameron | player |
Honours and achievements
- 1991 Canadian Open Lightning Class Champions
- Finished 17th at the 1991 World Championships
- Placed 6th at the 1991 North American Lightning Class Championships
- Top Canadian finishers at the 1991 North American championships[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Cameron Lightning Class Sailing Crew", team profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/team-profile/a72ef318-51a8-4d5c-bc4d-c75c74a46bf8 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.