1970 Sparkman & Stephens

LIGHTNING’s interior is classic Sparkman & Stephens, finished in a traditional Herreshoff style with white-painted bulkheads, varnished mahogany joinery, and a teak-and-holly cabin sole. The interior has been exceptionally well cared for, with the varnish, paint, period light fixtures, and other finish details all in excellent condition. The overall effect is warm, practical, and unmistakably that of a classic offshore yacht.

The aft companionway leads down a set of mahogany steps into the galley, located to starboard. The U-shaped galley has a Shipmate three-burner propane stove and oven, a large top-loading refrigerator/freezer compartment aft, and a stainless-steel sink forward. A fold-out counter provides additional working surface and storage, while a sliding-door locker outboard has shelving for dishes, provisions, and other galley gear.

Opposite the galley is the navigation station, with an outboard-facing chart table and three drawers below. Additional drawers and lockers are located above, along with the VHF, Tank Tender, and generator controls. A microwave is also incorporated into the navigation area. The upgraded electrical panel is located immediately aft of the nav station and is particularly neat and well organized.

Moving aft, the head is located between the navigation station and aft cabin. It features a VacuFlush toilet, stainless-steel sink, counter space forward, and good storage below and outboard. A large opening port provides ventilation and natural light. The head also provides en suite access to the aft cabin.

The aft cabin is arranged with a double berth to starboard and a single berth to port, separated by a central hanging locker and bank of drawers. Additional drawers and lockers are located beneath the berths, with a small dressing settee to port. It is a practical and comfortable arrangement well suited to extended cruising.

Forward of the galley and nav station, the salon has a traditional offshore layout with pilot berths outboard and above the main settees. An L-shaped settee is to port and a straight settee to starboard, arranged around a distinctive gimbaled drop-leaf table. The table incorporates lifting-top storage compartments, adding useful capacity without compromising the open feel of the salon.

Forward of the salon is the crew cabin, with a single berth to port and starboard. A ladder provides direct access to the deck through the forward companionway. There is a good-sized hanging locker, hull-side lockers above the berths, and additional drawers and storage beneath.

The forward crew head has a electric-flush toilet to starboard, with storage above and outboard. To port is a counter with stainless-steel sink and mirror.

A watertight door leads forward into the forepeak, which is configured with a single pipe berth. A large overhead hatch provides direct access to the deck, while a dedicated locker provides access to the anchor chain. The forepeak also includes a small work space, tool storage, and a swim ladder with teak rungs.

LIGHTNING’s interior is a good example of the practical, seamanlike interiors for which these classic Sparkman & Stephens yachts are known. The Herreshoff-style finish, substantial mahogany joinery, teak-and-holly sole, generous storage, and well-preserved period details give the boat a character that is increasingly difficult to find in modern yachts.

• 12v top loading refrigerator and freezer
• Shipmate propane three burner stove/oven
• Trident propane solenoid control panel
• (2) aluminum propane tanks
• Hot/cold pressure water
• 7 gallon water heater
• GE microwave
• (2) Vacuflush toilets
• Extra racing cushions for salon and forward stateroom
• Red Dot engine driven cabin heat

• Raymarine A70D chartplotter
• Standard Horizon Matrix AIS+ GX2150 VHF radio
• Standard Horizon RAM3+ cockpit remote VHF mic
• (2) Simrad AP22 controllers
• (2) Simrad IS20 multi displays
• (2) Simrad IS20 wind displays
• Alpine AM/FM/CD stereo receiver
• Alpine stereo remote at cockpt
• Danforth binnacle compass

• 12v DC and 120v AC electrical systems
• Custom AC/DC electrical distribution panel with AC and DC voltmeters and ammeters and corrosion meter
• Xantrex TrueCharge2 battery charger
• Xantrex Battery Monitor
• Group 24 engine start battery
• (2) Lifeline 8D AGM house batteries
• Smartplug 30amp 125v shore power inlet and 50’ shore power cord

• Volvo D2-55 55hp diesel engine (1863 hours)
• Volvo control panel with tachometer, temperature, oil pressure and voltmeter gauges
• MS25L direct drive transmission
• 1 1/4” stainless propeller shaft
• Tides Marine dripless shaft seal
• Racor primary fuel filters and fuel polishing system
• Stainless steel throttle and shift controls on binnacle
• 6kw Fischer Panda AC generator
• Manual bilge pump
• (2) electric bilge pumps
• Tank Tender tank level monitor

LIGHTNING is finished in white Awlgrip with a gold sheer stripe and blue boot stripe. The deck is surrounded by a substantial raised bulwark with a varnished teak caprail, giving the yacht a traditional profile and excellent security offshore. The deck layout is clean, functional, and distinctly seamanlike, with varnished teak details throughout.

At the bow is a double anchor roller with a vertical capstan-style anchor windlass and a large, uncluttered flush foredeck. Five custom cowl vents are arranged along the foredeck. A large opening hatch at the forward end provides access to the forepeak sail locker, while a second hatch farther aft provides access to the crew quarters just forward of the mast.

LIGHTNING carries a single-spreader aluminum mast with rod rigging. The primary winches are three-speed Barients located just aft of the mast. Three sets of secondary winches provide additional sail handling, with two sets located at the forward end of the cabin top and two sets in the cockpit. The mainsheet is led aft to the cockpit, while the remaining halyards and reefing lines are controlled at the mast. The rig and deck layout retain the traditional, seamanlike character expected of a serious offshore yacht, keeping sail handling straightforward and putting the crew where they need to be when working the boat.

The tan non-skid provides a subtle contrast to the varnished teak trim and complements the yacht’s traditional styling. Both companionways feature substantial varnished teak trim and fold-away tan canvas dodgers, with a matching tan canvas mainsail cover.

Aft, the cockpit is surrounded by a varnished teak coaming and fitted with bare teak seating and sole. There is excellent storage throughout, with large lazarette lockers to port, starboard, and aft. The propane locker is located aft of the cockpit on the aft deck.

The helm is centered around a substantial stainless-steel binnacle with handrail and a custom stainless-steel wheel fitted with a leather cover. The cockpit layout is open, practical, and well suited to both offshore sailing and extended cruising.

• Keefe vertical capstan anchor windlass with rope drum
• 66lb stainless plow anchor
• 3/8 galvanized chain rode
• Danforth type secondary anchor
• Cockpit cushions
• Tan canvas dodger for cockpit and folding dodgers for forward and mid companionways

• Single spreader aluminum mast with rod rigging
• Aluminum boom
• Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster
• Lewmar mainsheet traveller
• Spintec stainless steel genoa furler
• Dacron mainsail
• Dacron genoa
• ¾ oz spinnaker
• 1.5 oz spinnaker in sock
• Spinnaker pole
• Reaching strut
• Tan canvas mainsail cover
• (2) Barient 44 3 speed primary winches with coffee grinders
• (2) Barient 32 2 speed secondary winches at cockpit
• (2) Barient 28 2 speed tertiary winches at cockpit
• (2) Barient 10 single speed winches at cockpit for mainsheet traveller
• (2) Barient 26 2 speed winch at cockpit for mainsheet
• (2) Barient 28 2 speed winches at forward cabin top
• (5) Barient 26 2 speed winches at mast
• (1) Barient 22 2 speed winch at mast

• Magma propane BBQ
• Swim ladder with teak treads
• Fenders and dock lines

Ownership and Racing History

Lightning is a 57-foot sailing sloop designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built in 1970 by Stephens Marine of Stockton, California. Her U.S. Coast Guard Official Number is 625300, her hull identification is M-158, and her sail number is 8901.

Lightning was originally owned by Theo Stephens and Barre (Barry) Stephens. In 1970, with Theo Stephens as skipper, she won the City of San Francisco Perpetual Trophy at the St. Francis Yacht Club Big Boat Series and repeated the class victory in 1971.

She was subsequently owned by Dr. Larry Carr of San Francisco and continued to race on San Francisco Bay. In 1980, Carr transferred the yacht to Phillips Marine Stores, Inc., of Newport Beach, a ship’s chandlery. Phillips Marine subsequently sold her that year to John M. Woodley through Newport Beach yacht broker Tom Corkett.

Woodley moved Lightning to the Pacific Northwest in 1980. She raced there from approximately 1980 through 1983, including the 1981 Swiftsure Yacht Race. Lightning later won the Swiftsure Yacht Race in the later 1980s. In 1982, she returned to San Francisco to compete in the St. Francis Yacht Club Big Boat Series. After 1983, her racing program became less frequent as she transitioned primarily to family cruising, although she continued to participate occasionally in Swiftsure.

Woodley/Milne Family Ownership

Ownership later passed to Jane Woodley, who transferred a 50-percent interest to Scott Milne and Shelby Milne. Lightning has remained within the Woodley/Milne family since 1980, preserving her connection to the Stephens Marine tradition and to West Coast offshore racing.

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com