Video above shows why we postponed racing today.
Via PRO Pat Heppert
Attention DN Racers!!
Due to today’s high winds, please read ALL of the following announcements:
Racing on Friday, February 7 will be held as scheduled, with a 9 AM skippers meeting and a 10 AM first race start. The starting order will be Bronze, Silver, Gold.
Today’s high winds resulted in many trailers and boats blowing around, even some that were tied down and anchored. Several parties have been at the lake to secure the trailers and boats in the launch area. We are confident that anything remaining in the launch area is now secure for the night, and the winds are decreasing. However, at least some boats were blown across the lake and will need to be retrieved tomorrow. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE DOING ANYTHING.
The ice is assumed to not necessarily be safe, even in the areas we have been sailing. We are now completely starting over on ice scouting. Treat it like it’s a whole new lake that you haven’t been to before.
Do NOT immediately drive cars across the bridges in the morning. The ice has already shifted, and the pressure ridge is actively changing. The fishing club will inspect bridges in the morning, and we will have no trouble getting off tomorrow afternoon.
Do NOT go sailing before the skippers meeting. There are absolutely new cracks, holes, and heaves that the race committee will be inspecting at first light.
The race committee has several 4-wheelers with trailers to help search and retrieve boats and trailers as needed.
The Western region 4-wheeler will be utilized to set the race course.
The rest of the race committee 4-wheelers will be used to help search and retrieve boats and trailers as needed.
Many ice screws and ropes have been used to secure everything today. Please inspect your trailer and boat moorings, and bring all the ice screws and ropes that do not belong to you to the skippers meeting at 9 AM, along with any other lost and found items.
NA PROVISIONAL RESULTS
We all met on the ice this morning, but before anyone started setting up, it was clear that enthusiasm for racing was low. The IDNIYRA Governing Committee gathered and determined that the wind forecast—with gusts up to 50 mph—was too high for racing. The decision was made to postpone racing for the day, and the announcement was met with a round of applause from the competitors. The lack of sails-up underscored that the conditions weren’t suitable for competitive racing.
As I write this, I can see the wind picking up, confirming that the governing board made the right call. PRO Pat Heppert encouraged competitors to take advantage of the lay day and check out another sport known for speed—the famous Oshkosh Experimental Aircraft Museum, just a few minutes up the road.
Meanwhile, back at the hotel, there’s still plenty to keep sailors entertained. Those staying in Fond du Lac’s Radisson Hotel can enjoy its large swimming pool, hot tub, restaurant, and bar, making for a relaxing break from the ice.
Updated Schedule for Friday, February 7
9:00 AM – Skippers Meeting
10:00 AM – First Race
Fleet sequence: Bronze → Silver → Gold
We plan to sail 3 more races in each fleet, aiming for a total of 7 races for each fleet, conditions permitting
North American Prize Giving will take place on the ice at the conclusion of the regatta
The 2025 DN North American Championship will conclude tomorrow, as we are in the direct path of an incoming snowstorm forecasted for Saturday.
Taking full advantage of the lay day, Pat Heppert brought out one of his shop-creations—a Mini Skeeter. When I left the ice, sailors were lined up, waiting for their turn to take a ride.
Tomorrow, we get back to racing. Stay tuned for updates!
Peter Johanson takes a detour to the dark side – taking a ride in Pat’s Mini Skeeter – but can you really ever have enough iceboats?
Skipper’s meeting.
Stay updated with the latest results, photos, and behind-the-scenes coverage:
Website – Visit IDNIYRA.org for official announcements, race updates, and results.
Though it’s officially Day 1 of the North American Championship, it’s Sailing Day 4 for all of us here, and the fleet is showing no signs of slowing down.
The ice has tightened back up with colder temperatures—11°F when we arrived at the lake—providing solid racing conditions. The scoring team had the luxury of scoring from inside cars driven to the starting line, which made a huge difference in staying warm and efficient. Thanks to this setup, we completed four races in each fleet, despite a 160-degree wind shift.
The qualifiers were sailed early, and once things were set, the race committee got into a groove, firing off 12 races under the direction of the maestro of ice, Pat Heppert. Racing was tight across all fleets, with plenty of different winners mixing it up. The Gold Fleet saw four different winners in four races, proving just how deep the competition runs. Silver and Bronze fleets were just as competitive, as the results show.
Looking ahead, the forecast is calling for heavy air tomorrow, with gusts—but we’ll see if the predictions hold.
In the meantime, here are some more photos from event photographer Anna Suslova. Stay tuned for updates as the championship continues!
Stay updated with the latest results, photos, and behind-the-scenes coverage:
Website – Visit IDNIYRA.org for official announcements, race updates, and results.
Vice Commodore Rob Holman presents 2025 World Champion Matt Struble with the Gold Cup. Photo: Anna Suslova
2025 Worlds Results
The 2025 DN World Championship concluded with a memorable evening at Sunset on the Water, February 4, where sailors, race committee, and supporters gathered to celebrate three days of intense racing. The banquet and awards dinner honored the champions and recognized the efforts of everyone who made the event possible.
A special part of the evening was the raffle, organized by the youth sailors under the direction of Youth Sailing Program Manager Sam Bartel. Their efforts helped support the next generation of DN racers and added to the fun of the night.
Enjoy the photo gallery from the evening below!
Meanwhile, Day 1 of the North American Championship is in the books—a full report will follow soon.
Thank you to all who attended! Banquet Awards Ceremonies – Photos by Anna Suslova
Gold Fleet Top 10: Matt Struble US183, Lukasz Zakrzewski P155, Robert Graczyk P31, Michal Burzczynski P114, Tomasz Zakrzewski P55, Oskar Svensson S714, Joonas Kiisler C53, Gustav Linden S887, Steve Orlebeke US4926, Karol Jablonski P36
Silver Fleet: Daniel Hearn US 5352, David Elsmo US5486, Jeff Roseberry US5687, Nicolas Mabboux KC5508, Paul Chamberland KC5700, Ben Witman US5603, Rob Holman US3705, Andy Allen US5451, Chris Gordon US5590, Matt Meyer US5646
Bronze Fleet: Diderich Van Riemsdijk S867, Trevor Trepton US5753, Richard Lemberg Sr. US4155, Bill Eklund US5432, Alexander Leach US244, Chris Teal US5285, Jim Foster KC5515, Chris Clark US4789, Tim Mower US5871, Michael Rian US467
Maggie McGary US2453, winner of the Magic Runners donated by the Jankowskis
First place Women’s Anja Fiedler G390,
Junior sailors who competed in the 2025 World Championship. From left Oskar Svensson S714, Sebastian Sorensen US 5479, Gustav Linden S887, Sam Bartel US1011, Maggie McGary US2453, Jack Brellinthin US130, Andrew Roeder US5706
Stay updated with the latest results, photos, and behind-the-scenes coverage:
Website – Visit IDNIYRA.org for official announcements, race updates, and results.
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.
