2026 Lightning North American Championship: Lake Michigan DARES you to show up.

Greetings fellow sailors of our beloved square boats. The passing of the US 250th Independence Day is a milestone. Now all the voices in my head are whispering or yelling about the NAs. Here are some not at all random thoughts:

First: We WANT you to come sail here on the West Shore of Lake Michigan. Our organizing teams have been working hard to be ready when you arrive. Our emphasis has been on creating enjoyable, well-executed experiences both on and off the water in both Milwaukee and Sheboygan. These two events have been in coordination and you will feel that coordination when you go through measurement only once and you put on your bow numbers…only once. We really hope you’ll attend. We are not blasé about your attendance. Your experience here matters to us.

Next: The race management group will be the same from the WMJs to the Nas. Richard Reichelsdorfer is the PRO. He was the PRO for the last time we hosted the Nas in 2014 He was the PRO for the Youth Worlds we hosted in 2022. He has experienced help on the mark set boats and at the Pin End. We have an incredible armada of race management boats in both locations. 

Next: On the Friday evening of the WMJs at South Shore Yacht Club, Harken will host a tour of its Wisconsin headquarters and US production facility. There will be a bus for the Juniors where they will find food. If anyone else would like to attend, they are most welcome. Next: There will be NO QUALIFYING SERIES at the North Americans in Sheboygan. We will sail every race in the same single fleet. Every race (except the practice race of course) from the first one on Wednesday through to the last one on Saturday will be a championship race. 

Next: The Vakaros RaceSense system will be used at the North American’s in Sheboygan. That means you need to make provision to have a Vakaros Unit on your boat. We will be using the system in Lightning Class Mode. Translation: We will not be using DTL, we will be using the system to call the starting line and as a component in how we finish boats. Vakaros have rental units available. There will be Vakaros technical support available from the time you arrive. Look at the NOR over the next couple of days for amendments that detail official language. Please just make sure your unit is fully charged when you arrive, and that it is running the latest firmware. 

Last: Please register so we can plan for the social events and the crash boats. And PLEASE COME AND SAIL

2026 Lightning North American Championship

Sail Sheboygan, Sheboygan Yacht Club Sheboygan, WI

August 10 - 15, 2026

Register Here!