July 23, 2026

2026 ILCA District 20 Championships Recap

2026 ILCA District 20 Championships Hosted by Ephraim Yacht Club – Event Recap

Despite challenging smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting across the region, the intrepid members of Ephraim Yacht Club successfully hosted the 2026 ILCA District 20 Championships. Twenty-six racers traveled from Chicago, Madison, Minneapolis, Lake Geneva, and surrounding areas to compete in Ephraim’s beautiful Eagle Harbor.

Day 1 – Strong Winds and Big Waves

Racers were greeted with demanding conditions on Day 1: steady 20 knot winds out of the north with gusts up into the 30’s. 3-4 ft waves made all three races exciting and challenging for racers and the race committee. A total of three races were able to be run. By the end of the day competitors enjoyed the Amazing Race BuTet. Everyone left fully and tired after a long day of racing.

Day 2 – Light Winds Turn Around

Day 2 brought a complete 180 in terms of weather conditions. At the 9:30 skippers meeting there was barely a whisper of wind. Slowly it began to build and eventually the race committee was able to set a course and get two races in.

A total of 5 races were run over the weekend.

Final Results

ILCA 7

Robert Christie – Wayzata Yacht Club
Roman Plutenko – Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club
Lars Hansen – Wayzata Yacht Club

ILCA 6

JP Crabb – Chicago Yacht Club
James Moorhead – Lake Forest Sailing
Alex Prendergast – Chicago Yacht Club

Special Thanks

From our Regatta Chair, Geoff Werner: This regatta would not have been possible without the hard work and support of many volunteers:

Ed Purcell – PRO
David Lucey – Provided his boat Commotion for Race Committee use
Pete Moegenburg – Race Committee
Cain Goettelman – Start boat and mark setting in difficult conditions
Jay Lott – Windward mark support
Lisa Olson – Scoring and registration
Penelope Whiteside – Dock support and event prep
Laura O’Rourke – Beautiful trophies
Marta Fonseca – Ongoing support from the beginning
Claudia Werner – Breakfast each morning, Amazing Race Buffet, and being an incredible partner and “rock” throughout the event

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this regatta a success. It was a fantastic weekend of sailing and camaraderie at Ephraim Yacht Club!

UP AND COMING:

Joani Lewis Social Sail – July 23

Have you ever wanted to try sailing but weren’t sure where to start? The Joani Lewis Social Sail from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. is designed especially for adults who are new to sailing or have little sailing experience. Participants will join experienced sailors for a relaxed one-hour sail on the bay—a wonderful opportunity to experience the joy of sailing in a fun, friendly, and welcoming environment. Afterward, everyone is invited back to shore to enjoy wine, cheese, and Door County cherry pie while getting to know fellow members and sharing stories from the water.