The 2025 DN Western Region Championship is ON!
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
- No in-person registration will be accepted
PROOF OF INSURANCE
- 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.
WHAT TO KNOW
2025 DN Western Region Championship
Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions
DATES: January 11 – 12, 2025
LOCATION: Lake Winnebago, Fond Du Lac, WI
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 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.
2022 Western Regional Regatta: Location Update
2017 DN Western Region Championship sailed on Lake Monona, Madison, WI. Photo Credit: Kurt Mayer
PREVIOUS
2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date: January 8-9, 2022
Location: Tentatively called ON for Wisconsin. Location TBA
Final Confirmation/Next Update: Thursday, January 6, 2022 by 1 PM CT
Via IDNIYRA Western Region Commodore Chris Berger
Big Spirit Lake in Iowa is no longer under consideration for a Western Region Championship regatta site. Severe wind chill temperatures and high winds made sailing impossible, but a ranked sailor walked the lake today. Unfortunately, the drifts have hardened and are big enough to hinder safe sailing. However, there are potential sites in Wisconsin. Next update, Thursday, January 6 by 1 PM CT.
2022 Western Region Championship Tentatively Called ON for Spirit Lake, Iowa, Jan 8-9
Big Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake, Iowa on Sunday, January 2, 2022 Photo: Pat Heppert
PREVIOUS
2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date: January 8-9, 2022
Location: Tentatively called ON for Big Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Final Confirmation/Next Update: Thursday, January 6, 2022 by 1 PM CT
Via IDNIYRA Western Region Commodore Chris Berger
The 2022 IDNIYRA Western Region Championship is tentatively called on for January 8 – 9, 2022 for Big Spirit Lake in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Big Spirit Lake has 10″ of black ice, 95% snow-free. “The remaining snow on the better part of the lake will result in 1 – 2″ jumpers,” according to Pat Heppert who walked and drilled the lake today. There is enough ice for 2 courses. It will be sailed by ranked sailors on Thursday morning, January 6. Final confirmation will be made on Thursday, January 6 by 1 PM CT.
2022 Western Region Championship Postponed to Jan 8-9
PREVIOUS
2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date: Rescheduled for January 8-9, 2022
Location: TBD. The Western Region includes Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Indiana.
Next Update: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 by 5 PM CT
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166
The 2022 Western Region Championship has been postponed until January 8-9, 2022. Warm weather followed by a snow event has left us with no viable sites. With colder weather moving in, we are optimistic for good conditions the weekend of January 8-9. The next update is on Tuesday, January 4, by 5 PM CT. Have a Happy New Year!
2022 Western Region Championship NOR & Update
Line up for the 2018 DN Western Region championship on Lake Mendota, Madison, WI
2022 DN WESTERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIP NOTICE OF RACE
Date: January 1-2, 2022
Location: TBD. The Western Region includes Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Indiana.
NOTICE OF RACE
Sunday update via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166
We are keeping an eye on ice conditions across the region and hoping for the best. Prospects look questionable at this time but that could change. On Wednesday, December 29, 2021, by 1 PM CT, we will either call the regatta on or postpone. If you have ice, please let us know!
2022 Western Region Championship: Jan 1- 2, 2022
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166
The Western Region Championship has been scheduled for January 1-2, 2022 on the best ice in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana. Stay tuned for Notice of Race and more updates as January approaches.
2021 DN Westerns Regatta: Chris Berger Wins Westerns
From left: Daniel Hearn Gold fleet 2nd, Chris Berger Gold fleet 1st, Erin Bury Silver fleet 5th and Top Rookie, Martin Malcheski Gold fleet 4th, Bob Rast Top Grand Master Silver fleet 1st, Hal Bowman Silver fleet 4th, and seated Bob Cave Silver fleet 2nd and Top Master. Photo: Julie Jankowski
Rob Evans Gold fleet 3rd and Mimi Collins
Proving that serving as a DN Class Officer is not a hindrance to winning a regatta, Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166 came out on top at the 2021 Western Region Championship sailed on Lake Michigan at Menominee, Michigan, March 6-7.The fleet enjoyed two days of excellent competition in a variety of wind conditions. On Saturday, the studs on Chris’ plank failed, resulting in 2 missed races. As the fleet lined up for the regatta’s last race on Sunday, Chris and Daniel Hearn US5352 were tied for first place. Chris won the last race and won the regatta by one point.
Quite a few novice racers took the opportunity to join the regatta, and we hope to see them back on the line at the next race.
Bob Rast won the Silver Fleet. He wrote about it on his Facebook page:
Great weekend in Menominee. Thanks to Chris Berger and Mike Derusha for finding a great piece of ice for the regatta
Light air on Saturday put me in third place and I had to figure out how to get in front of Bob Cave, who had me by six points; Pat Fitzgerald who had me by one point; and fend off Hal Bowman who was one point behind me A couple turns of the front Staymaster powered it up and heavier air turned it into thrill ride. Pulled it off! Very happy to win a second time never really expected it
Special thanks to Mike Derusha US2545 for scouting the ice, finding the landing, and building bridges across the heaves. Thanks to the Race Committee, including Chief Judge Dan Heaney, assisted by George Gerhardt, Fred Stritt, Julie Jankowski, and Mercedes Auger.
2021 DN Western Region Championship Called ON for Menominee, MI March 6-7
The 2021 DN Western Region Championship has been called on for Menominee, Michigan March 6-7.
NOTICE OF RACE
Preliminary Results
WHAT TO KNOW:
- Online registration is mandatory. Register and pay online at this link.
- Proof of Insurance: Please either upload when you register or email to debwhitehorse@gmail.com
- Text Notifications: Competitors will receive updates via text messaging. There’s no need to download any app. Please plan ahead and bring your phone to the race course. A spare recharging battery can also be helpful and perhaps your reading glasses.
After each race is scored, a photo of the line up sheet for the next race will be sent out via text messaging to discourage congregating around the competitors and Race Committee. The line up sheet will be posted but competitors must observe social distancing. Please do not crowd around the line up sheet and Race Committee.
ICE REPORT
Western Region Commodore Chris Berger reports that there’s “ice as far as you can see” with numerous options for race courses. The ice thickness is 12 – 14″ and he rates it a 7. There’s a heave to cross from the parking area/pits to the course and Mike Derusha has built a ramp for easy access to the sailing area.
LAUNCH
Watermark Bay View Restaurant
Go through their parking lot and cross the lawn to ice.
LODGING
1.Best Western Riverfront Inn
715-732-1000
1821 Riverside Ave, Marinette, WI 54143
$75 Ask for DN Western Regatta Rate
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, March 5, 5 PM CT: Registration Closes. No exceptions.
Saturday, March 6
8:30 AM CT: Skippers Meeting
9 AM CT: First Race
Sunday, March 7
9 AM CT: First Race
Awards follow immediately after the final race is completed and results are tabulated
2021 Western Region Championship Update #13: Called ON for March 6-7
Photo: Rick Myslinski
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger:
We are optimistic about holding the 2021 Western Region Championship, scheduled for March 6-7, 2021. The warmer temperatures have cleaned the snow off from lakes in Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan and several sites are being scouted.
Sites under consideration are Escanaba, MI, Green Lake, WI, Madison, WI, Menominee, MI, and Oconto, WI.
Next update is on Thursday PM, March 4, 2021.
2021 Western Region Championship Called On For March 6-7
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger
The 2021 Western Region Championship has been called on for March 6-7, 2021. Primary site is Green Lake, WI. Next update is Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
2021 Western Region Championship Postponed
Via Western region commodore Chris Berger
The 2021 Western region championship is postponed. Next update is March 3, 2021.
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