WHAT TO KNOW 2025 DN Eastern Region Championship Date: January 18 – 19 Location: Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire Launch:
Ellacoya State Park
280 Scenic Dr, Gilford, NH 03249 Map Lodging: Fireside Inn & Suites
17 Harris Shore Road RT 11 & RT, B Lake Shore Rd #11,
Gilford, NH 03249
+16032937526
Yvan Desy, Les Druiven, John Curtis, Robin Lagraviere, Peter Van Rossem Sr., Jacek Marzenski
Via Mike Druiven
The 2025 DN Canadian Championship regatta this past weekend on Hay Bay, Napanee, Ontario started Saturday without enough wind to sail until 1pm. In very light winds the field managed 3 races before a wind shift shut down racing for the day. On Sunday we waited for wind until noon with no breeze transpiring and no wind in the forecast. The regatta was concluded with the minimum 3 races achieved. Congratulations to Robin Lagraviere 5629 for taking home the Canadian trophy. The results page is here: https://www.sailwave.com/results/2025-DN-Canadian-Championship.htm
Thanks to Peter Van Rossem Sr. 2766, John Curtis 5514 and Jim Foster 5515 for scouting the region during the prior week, setting the course and Jacek Marzenski 5247 helping with marking hazards. The regatta races were managed by Mike Druiven 5992. Peter Van Rossem Sr. 2766 and John Curtis 5514 managed safety. Thank you to our volunteer scorers/starters Sue Fraser, Roger Bowes, Ali Meller and Jim Foster. Thank you to Lana Butler and Kathleen Curtis for handling registration and Deb Whitehorse for posting our results.
RESULTS
DN sailors gathered on the big ice of Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for the two-day Western Region Championship. Sailors from Lake Minnetonka, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania joined the action.
This year’s regatta highlighted family connections, with father-son teams David and Matthew Kickhafer and David and Cooper Frost, as well as father-daughter duo John and Maggie McGary, all competing together.
Lake Winnebago is famous for being home to the majestic stern steerers, and it was a real treat to see the ROSEMARY and FLYING DUTCHMEN sailing around during the regatta.
The launch site was ideal, conveniently located next to Sunset on the Water, a bar and restaurant—similar to Minnesota’s 2024 Western Region Championship. Coming off the ice for a hot lunch and a beverage made the weekend even better.
On Saturday, the weather tested both sailors and the race committee. The forecast predicted light winds, and while conditions were tricky, PRO Pat Heppert set up a race course about two miles from the launch. With the help of Dan from the Fond du Lac Yacht Club and Greg Mulliet from Michigan, the race committee ran an efficient and well-organized event. Special thanks to Fred Stritt, who monitored the weather mark and ensured the racing went smoothly—we all greatly appreciated it!
The light breeze on Saturday allowed for two Silver Fleet races and one Gold Fleet race before the wind completely died. The scene at the launch that day was busy, with motorcycles and quads tearing around a track nearby, adding an unusual backdrop to the regatta. There were also powered paragliders flying overhead, adding to the spectacle.
A large group gathered for dinner at The Sunset to catch up on the day’s sailing. The evening was made even more special by the surprise appearance of Anja Fiedler and Holger Petzke, who traveled from Germany and are here for the 2025 World Championship.
Sunday brought a dramatic change in weather, with enough breeze to keep everyone moving. However, freezing rain presented a new challenge, making visibility difficult. The decision was made to complete two more Gold Fleet races and one Silver Fleet race to wrap up the regatta.
Many thanks to Ann Foeller who tabulated scores from our satellite office in Toledo, Ohio.
2025 DN Western Region Championship Gold Fleet Top 5. From left: Dave Glick 5th, Mike Bloom 4th, Ben Witman 3rd, Daniel Hearn 2nd, Chris Berger 1st.
2025 DN Western Region Championship Silver Top 5: From left, Maggie McGary 5th, Pete Johns 4th, Erin Bury 3rd, Bill Eklund 2nd, Matt Myer 1st.
Gretchen Dorian’s photos from the 2024 Western Regional Championship are now available! Check out her full gallery here: https://www.gretchendorian.com/2024-DN-Western-Region-Championship A huge thank you to Gretchen for sharing her incredible talent with the DN community.
The 2025 DN Western Region Championship has been called ON for Lake Winnebago, Fond Du Lac, WI for January 11 – 12. There is a huge piece of old, black ice there. Ice thickness at the launch is 12″ and 8-10″ out on the race course. DNs have been sailing on Lake Winnebago the last two weeks.
Important Notes:
REGISTRATION
Online registration is mandatory and must be completed no later than 5:00 PM CT on
All DN participants must submit proof of liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $300,000. This is mandatory to compete. Please email your proof of insurance to secretary.idniyra@gmail.org as soon as possible. If you have submitted insurance for the 2025 Worlds, you do not have to submit again.
LAUNCH SITE Sunset On the Water
N7364 Winnebago Dr, Fond du Lac, WI 54935 IMPORTANT: Do Not Leaved Your Cars Or Trailers In The Parking Lot At The Sunset Bar. Please Park Across The Street In The Surf Shop Parking Lot Or On The Ice. You May Leave Trailers At The Surf Shop Overnight. Let’s strive to leave a good impression of ice sailors.
LODGING Radison Hotel & Conference Center
625 W Rolling Meadows Dr, Fond du Lac, WI 54937
+19206384175
Comfort Inn
77 Holiday Ln, Fond du Lac, WI 54937
+19209331159
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday: 5 PM CT online registration closes.
Saturday: 9:00 AM CT Skippers Meeting
Saturday: 10:00 CT First start. If fleets are split, Silver Fleet will start first.
Sunday: 10:00 CT First start. Races can start as late as 3:00 PM CT, at the discretion of the Race Committee.
SENIOR SHUFFLE UPDATE Senior Shuffle Information Page “We’ve got a beautiful sheet of ice on Lake Monona in Madison, but it’s not quite thick enough for this weekend. So, we’ll be 76 minutes north of Madison in Fond du Lac for the 2025 Western Regional.
When things wrap up on Sunday, we’ll head to Madison for the kick off of the first annual Senior Shuffle. We’ve got a great rate lined up at our oft used HQ hotel, The Clarion. Just $79/night and less than a mile from the Olin Park Launch.
We will have group social functions on both Monday and Tuesday nights. Standby for details. Prize giving on the ice Wednesday to wrap things up. All fun…no running…all are welcome, whether you are a “Senior” or not. All will race under the special senior rules. See you there!” Daniel Hearn
The DN is most popular iceboat in the world. Whether you are a racer or cruiser, your $25 membership in the IDNIYRA helps to promote the art and skill of DN ice yacht construction and the sport of ice yachting on all the hard waters of the world.
