by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 4, 2018 | 2018, Home Page
DNs line up to race on Lake Kegonsa.
1. It’s Cold
2. Styrofoam
3. Western Regional Championships postponed
4. Hope
That sums it up, campers. The entire Western Region remains locked in single digit temperatures through Saturday, but there’s hope for Sunday. In Madison a high of 29 is forecast. I’ll be digging out my shorts and tank top.
With the frigid temperatures of the last two weeks, we’ve got lots of ice now. Thick ice. Unfortunately, most of it is covered with snow. Dry, stiff snow. Where we have a combination of ice and snow, we’ve got drifts. Styrofoam-like drifts. Takes skinny runners and lots of breeze to power through.
Green Lake, in Green Lake, WI and west end of Lake Mendota in Madison, WI were still teasing us for Westerns, but high pressure is going to keep the wind light for Saturday. Not the engine we’d need to power through the styrofoam. At best we might have gotten in a 1-day regatta. Not good, if you can avoid it. No Westerns, but team maDisoN is going to set up for scrub racing Sunday on the west end of Lake Mendota. Breeze in the mid teens and temps to 29 degrees should allow for racing. Technically this Middleton, WI. Launch at Captain Bill’s.
Large portions of Green Lake and Lake Geneva are open, as are areas along the west shore of the bay of Green Bay. Warming temperatures next week could also improve some of our more lightly drifted sheets. So, remain hopeful that we can pull off Westerns next weekend, and join us for scrub racing this Sunday.
Think Ice!
Daniel Hearn
Western Region Commodore
by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 3, 2018 | 2018, Home Page
2017 DN Western Region Championship on Lake Monona, Madison, WI
Via Daniel Hearn, Area Commodore DN Western Region
Dear Ice Sailors:
I am postponing a final decision on the possibility of the championships happening this weekend until mid day tomorrow (Thurs. 1/4). At this point a suitable venue has not been found. The most promising of the many sheets considered was Green Lake in Green Lake, WI. It was sailed yesterday in heavy wind by our brave ice checkers in single digit temperatures. They found very hard styrofoam-like drifts of an inch to inch and a half spotted among clear ice. In the heavy wind they were able to power through the drifts, but unless winds were at least 8-9 mph, racing would not be possible. Last night the area received another half inch of snow, so the drifts will likely increase in size. Nonetheless, the sheet will be checked again today. Weather for Saturday will be single digits until mid afternoon. Warming temps will come for Sunday, but snow is also in the forecast.
All venues in Minnesota are reported to be snow covered. Pete Johns and Ken Smith are sailing Lake Decatur today, so that remains a possibility. Lake Seneshwein (sp?) in southern Illinois received 6″ of snow. Lake Carlisle in southern Illinois has no snow, but froze very rough. The bays of Green Bay winding up to the UP have shown promise, but may have also received snow. Temps in these further north areas will remain no higher than low single digits through the weekend.
Please send any more ice information my way, but for now we are postponed with the hope that the following weekend will work out. There remain large portions of Green Lake and Lake Geneva which are still open, so with calm wind, those could set up to excellent sheets.
Think Ice!
Daniel Hearn
Western Regional Commodore
by Deb Whitehorse | Nov 10, 2017 | 2017, Home Page
Photo: Kurt Mayer: 2017 DN Western Region Championship on Lake Monona, Madison, WI
Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn has released the Notice of Race for the 2018 WR Championship. This is a perfect opportunity for those new to racing to give it a try. Please contact us for more information. The Western Region covers the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri though the regatta has mostly been held in either Wisconsin or Minnesota.
2018 Notice of Race
Download in pdf: NOTICE OF RACE 2018 IDNIYRA Western Region
Western Lakes Regional DN Championship Regatta
January 6-7, 2018
Organizing Authority: International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association
Host: North American Western Region
1. Rules:
All races will be governed by the Racing Rules of the National Iceboat Authority; the By-Laws of the IDNIYRA, and Official Specifications of the DN Ice Yacht; the Notice of Race, including any amendments to the Notice of Race, (except as any of these are altered by the sailing instructions) and the Sailing Instructions. The Sailing Instructions can be modified at the Skippers Meeting and by a notice posted on the official notice board.
Eight (8) race regatta format – 3 race minimum in the Gold Fleet will constitute the regatta. Fleets – Gold & Silver Fleet, Rookie Division as part of the lowest fleet; Volunteer split for fleets.
2. Eligibility:
All DN class yachts meeting the requirements of the Official Specifications and whose skippers meet the requirements of the By-Laws of the IDNIYRA as stated in the section IDNIYRA Regattas are eligible to enter and race in the championship.
Proof of personal or race liability insurance ($300,000 minimum) will be needed at time of registration.
3. Site Information and Postings:
A. The primary site is within the North American Western Region
B. Site and Headquarters Information will be determined by the regatta organizer.
C. Official regatta information, updates and accommodations: DN America Forum & Western Region Hotline – 608-313-5156
4. Entry and Fee:
A. The official entry form must be submitted and signed at registration.
B. The entry fee is $35, payable at site of regatta in US dollars.
5. Schedule of Events:
•Friday: 7-9 PM Registration at Regatta Hotel Headquarters
•Sat 8-9 on ice registration
•Sat 9:30 Skippers Meeting
•Sat 10:30 First DN start
•Sunday 10:00 First DN start. No race will start after 2:30 PM
6. Sailing Instructions:
Official Sailing Instructions will be provided at registration.
7. Prizes:
Trophies will be awarded to the top five places in each fleet plus Top Woman, Top Junior, Top Rookie, Top Senior (50-59), Top Master (60 to 69) and Top Grand Master (70+)
by Deb Whitehorse | Sep 6, 2017 | 2017, Home Page
Dates for two regional DN regattas have been announced.
WESTERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
Date: January 6-7, 2018
Location: Best ice in the Western Region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, or Iowa)
EASTERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
Date: January 13-14, 2018
Location: Best ice in the Eastern Region
