The 19 foot "Gussie Feathers," hull number 579, was built in 1943 in Skaneateles, New York. The Lightning class came to Barnegat Bay in 1939 and was a one design sail class in the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association for several years. It came fully rigged with hard chine of planked sides, double planked bottom, mahogany trim, canvassed deck, and brass fittings.