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.
Western Region Update
A quick update from today. If conditions were like this every day, iceboating would be the most popular sport in the world. The weather and setting could not have been more beautiful. The bright sun kept us warm as we waited for the wind to make an appearance. The predicted westerly filled in and the flag dropped for the first race at 1;16 PM.
The Silver fleet will start Sunday’s rotation. The flag drops at 10 AM for the final day of the 2019 Western Region Championship. Results here
Western Region Championship Called ON for Jan 5-6 @ Lake Pepin
DN Sailors:
It’s On!
The Western Regional Championships are confirmed for this weekend, Jan. 5-6 on Lake Pepin in Lake City, Minnesota.
Provisional Results SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Conditions
The ice surface is smooth to pebbly, rated a 7+ from two ranked/experienced DN racers who sailed it today. (See attached photos). Ice thickness is reported to be 8”. Weather forecast is calling for above freezing temperatures—sunny and high of 46 degrees on Saturday; cloudy with high of 39 degrees Sunday. Wind forecast for Saturday is 8 mph until 1:00 p.m., then starting to diminish. Sunday winds 8-10 mph throughout the racing day.
Let’s Get Our Money’s Worth
Note that we have a 9-race format scheduled and we will be working hard to be as efficient as possible in order to make that happen. We have the option to start a race as late as 3:00 p.m., but we would prefer to avoid that in consideration of our longer distance travelers. Please be ready to help out the Race Committee if assistance is requested. If rules allow, I would like to move the start time Saturday up ½-hour to 10:00 a.m. Please plan accordingly.
Accommodations
AMERICINN: Group rate at AmericInn. Reference “Western Region” to get $79.99/night group rate for double queen with breakfast. Amenities include pool and hot tub. 651-345-5611.
Note: The special rate is ONLY available if you call the hotel in Lake City directly!!!!
AmericInn by Wyndham Lake City
Website
1615 N Lakeshore Drive Lake City, Minnesota 55041-9023
+1-651-314-5611
Map
THE WILLOWS:
Willows on the River Condominium Resort
100 Central Point Road
Lake City, MN 55041
1-651-345-9900
THE SUNSET:
Sunset Motel & Resort
1515 N Lakeshore Dr, Lake City, MN 55041•(651) 345-5331
Registration
At AmericInn Friday evening and on ice Saturday morning, if necessary. Please click here to pre-register or you can email Deb Whitehorse secretary.idniyra@gmail.com to confirm your attendance and to provide your fleet preference—Gold or Silver. (Depending on numbers, there may be one or two fleets, though prizes will be awarded for two fleets).Launch
Roschen Park. Drive on if you so choose, but be aware this is a frozen section of a river.
Many thanks to Mike Miller and Tommy Meyer for scouting this sheet today. And to all others who provided information on other potential venues.
See you there!
Daniel Hearn
Western Region Rear Commodore
US 5352
Western Status Update
Via Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn:
DN Sailors:
Lake Pepin is being sailed today as a possible venue for the Western Region Championships to take place this weekend, Jan. 5-6. I will have a full ice report with video and pictures by late afternoon. At this point, no other good possibilities have been identified, though anything else served up will still be considered. Send any other reports ASAP. Recent snow events have taken out, for now, the lakes that were previously frozen. Many lakes in the southern portion of our region remain open, however, so more possibilities with the next cold weather/calm winds stretch. I hope to make a final call by end of day today. Stay tuned, and think ice!
Daniel Hearn
Western Region Rear Commodore
US 5352
2019 Western Regional Regatta Notice of Race
Download NOR in pdf
Via Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn:
Western Region DN Sailors and Guests:
Sharpen’m up! Western Region Championships are approaching.
Wanted to call you attention to a couple changes incorporated into our 2019 NOR.
1. Regatta Race Format
Now a 9-race regatta, should conditions permit. Maximum of 5 races per day, with no race on Sunday starting after 3:00. Are we likely to get 18 races completed (assumes two fleets) across two consecutive days? Probably not, but would be nice to have the flexibility to maximize a weekends’ racing opportunity however the weather unfolds, with a reasonable limit on number of races in a single day.
2. Entry Fee
Now $40 for those 26 and older, and $25 for those 25 and under. Just five bucks more…and where else can you have so much fun for $20/day?! To encourage new blood, we’re giving the young set a break—we really need them to secure the future of our great sport. We are also in need of a modest cash infusion to keep our ATV in good condition. This Fall we had a complete tune up performed, and we installed stiffer springs, to accommodate our typical 2-person load and/or trailer towing duties.
3. Prizes
No more Senior Trophy. We’ll continue with Master, Grand Master and other specialty trophies. With most of us over 50 anyway, the trophy has really lost it’s meaning. Good reminder of why encouraging and helping the young set any way we can is so important!
See you on the ice!
Daniel Hearn US 5352
Western Region Rear Commodore
2019 Notice of Race
Western Lakes Regional DN Championship Regatta
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.
Nine (9) race regatta format – five (5) race maximum per day; three (3) race minimum in the Gold Fleet will constitute a completed regatta. Fleets – Gold & Silver with volunteer split for fleets; Rookie Division as part of the Silver Fleet.
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: idniyra.org & the DN America Forum
4. Entry and Fee:
A. The official entry form must be submitted and signed at registration.
B. Entry Fee
1. 26 and older: The entry fee is $40, payable at site of regatta in US dollars.
2. 25 and younger: The entry fee is $25, 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 3:00 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 Master (60 to 69), and Top Grand Master (70+)
2018 Western Region Championship Final Results
The 2018 DN Western Regionals are in the books. Even though temperatures were above 10 F today, the overcast skies made it seem even colder than Saturday. Winds were up from yesterday at 8-15 mph. The ice remained hard and fast.
Congratulations to Steve Orlebeke for his win in the Gold Fleet and Mike Barnett in the Silver Fleet. Many thanks to the Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn, PRO Dan Heany, Race Committee helpers Fred Stritt, Julie Jankowski, and Jori Lenon, and scorer Mercedes Auger. Thanks to Loretta Rehe for tabulating back at the Home Office in Michigan.
PROVISIONAL 2018 WESTERN REGION REGATTA - JANUARY 13 - 14, 2018 LAKE MENDOTA MADISON, WISCONSIN Gold fleet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pos Sail# Name Race> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 US 4926 ORLEBEKE, STEVE 1 1 4 ( 4) 1 1 1 3 12.00 2 US 4691 DENNIS, JOHN (S) ( 6) 4 1 3 3 3 3 1 18.00 3 US 5166 BERGER, CHRIS (S) 4 ( 9) 8 1 2 5 2 4 26.00 4 US 4824 CHRISTENSEN, MARK (S) 2 ( 11) 3 6 4 2 4 5 26.00 5 US 4975 EVANS, ROBBIE (S) ( 8) 7 2 2 5 4 5 2 27.00 6 US 5432 BLOOM, MIKE (S) 3 2 6 ( 11) 7 6 6 6 36.00 7 US 5352 HEARN, DANIEL (S) 10 ( 10) 7 8 6 7 8 7 53.00 8 US 5508 SUGAR, TIM 5 6 11 9 ( 13) 8 9 8 56.00 9 US 4923 JEFF, SOLUM ( 12) 8 10 5 8 9 10 9 59.00 10 US 5486 ELSMO, DAVID 11 3 5 12 9 (DNS) 7 12 59.00 11 US 5501 ORLEBEKE, PETER 7 5 9 7 ( 11) 10 11 10 59.00 12 US 5536 SCHMITT, MATT 9 12 12 10 ( 12) 11 12 11 77.00 13 US 4249 GLICK, DAVE (M) 13 13 13 13 ( 14) 13 14 13 92.00 14 US 602 MEYER, TOM (M) 14 14 DNS (DNS) 10 12 13 14 92.00 Scoring system: IDNIYRA Worlds Silver fleet --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pos Sail# Name Race> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 US 5507 BARNETT, MIKE 1 ( 2) 1 1 2 1 2 1 9.00 2 US 5522 METZLOFF, KYLE 3 4 2 ( 4) 3 2 1 2 17.00 3 US 5479 HEARN, BRIAN 2 1 3 ( 5) 4 3 3 3 19.00 4 US 4203 FITZGERALD, PATRICK (GM) 8 3 ( 10) 9 6 4 4 4 38.00 5 US 548 HOVLAND, NICK 6 7 4 2 ( 12) 5 9 6 39.00 6 US 5517 THOMPSON, JASON (S) 4 9 ( 9) 8 5 6 6 5 43.00 7 US 5602 KICKHAFER, MATTHEW (JR) 10 5 8 7 8 7 5 (DNS) 50.00 8 US 3433 CUMMINS, ROBERT (GM) 9 ( 12) 7 6 9 8 7 8 54.00 9 US 2360 JOHNS, PETE (GM) 7 8 6 10 7 9 12 (DNS) 59.00 10 US 1277 BOWMAN, HAL (GM) 5 6 DNS (DNS) 10 10 8 7 64.00 11 US 5397 FOSSATI, DANNY (N) 12 10 12 12 1 (DNF) 11 10 68.00 12 US 4137 SMITH JR, KEN (M) 13 11 5 3 11 12 (DNS) DNS 73.00 13 US 4602 KICKHAFER, DAVID (S) ( 14) 13 11 11 13 11 10 9 78.00 14 US 1313 RAST, ROBERT (M) 11 14 13 DNS (DNS) DNS DNS DNS 110.00 15 US 888 ROSTEN, THOR (JR) 15 DNS DNS (DNS) DNS DNS DNS DNS 123.00 16 US 294 LOENNEKE, LOUIS (GM) DNS DNS (DNS) DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 126.00 Scoring system: IDNIYRA Worlds
DN Western Region Update for Sunday 1-14
Photo Jori Lenon; Steve Orlebeke loses his head to become more aerodynamic
ATTENTION: RACING TO START AT 11 AM SUNDAY, JAN 14
Via Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn
Let’s be ready to start first race tomorrow at 11 AM. The temperature is forecast to be 9 degrees by 11 AM and 12 degrees at noon.
2018 DN Western Region Championship Day 1 Results
Line up for the DN Western Region championship on Lake Mendota.
Good Cold Racing
Sailors persevered the single digit temperatures, bright sunshine, and 5-10 mph winds on the regatta’s first day. Many thanks to all who hung in there including the hard working race committee.
PROVISIONAL2018 WESTERN REGION REGATTA - JANUARY 13 - 14, 2018 LAKE MENDOTA MADISON, WISCONSIN Gold fleet ------------------------------------------------------------------ Pos Sail# Name Race> 1 2 3 4 Points ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 US 4926 ORLEBEKE, STEVE 1 1 4 4 10.00 2 US 4691 DENNIS, JOHN (S) 6 4 1 3 14.00 3 US 4975 EVANS, ROBBIE (S) 8 7 2 2 19.00 4 US 4824 CHRISTENSEN, MARK (S) 2 10 3 5 20.00 5 US 5432 BLOOM, MIKE (S) 3 2 6 10 21.00 6 US 5166 BERGER, CHRIS (S) 4 8 8 1 21.00 7 US 5501 ORLEBEKE, PETER 7 5 9 6 27.00 8 US 5508 SUGAR, TIM 5 6 10 8 29.00 9 US 5486 ELSMO, DAVID 11 3 5 11 30.00 10 US 5352 HEARN, DANIEL (S) 10 9 7 7 33.00 11 US 5536 SCHMITT, MATT 9 11 11 9 40.00 12 US 4249 GLICK, DAVE (M) 12 12 12 12 48.00 13 US 602 MEYER, TOM (M) 13 13 DNS DNS 54.00 Scoring system: IDNIYRA Worlds Silver fleet ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pos Sail# Name Race> 1 2 3 4 Points ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 US 5507 BARNETT, MIKE 1 3 1 1 6.00 2 US 4923 SOLUM, JEFF (S) 4 1 3 2 10.00 3 US 5479 HEARN, BRIAN 2 2 4 6 14.00 4 US 5522 METZLOFF, KYLE 3 5 2 5 15.00 5 US 548 HOVLAND, NICK 7 8 5 3 23.00 6 US 5602 KICKHAFER, MATTHEW (JR) 11 6 9 8 34.00 7 US 4203 FITZGERALD, PATRICK (GM) 9 4 11 10 34.00 8 US 5517 THOMPSON, JASON (S) 5 10 10 9 34.00 9 US 2360 JOHNS, PETE (GM) 8 9 7 11 35.00 10 US 4137 SMITH JR, KEN (M) 14 12 6 4 36.00 11 US 3433 CUMMINS, ROBERT (GM) 10 13 8 7 38.00 12 US 1277 BOWMAN, HAL (GM) 6 7 DNS DNS 49.00 13 US 5397 FOSSATI, DANNY (N) 13 11 13 13 50.00 14 US 4602 KICKHAFER, DAVID (S) 15 14 12 12 53.00 15 US 1313 RAST, ROBERT (M) 12 15 14 DNS 59.00 16 US 888 ROSTEN, THOR (JR) 16 DNS DNS DNS 70.00 17 US 294 LOENNEKE, LOUIS (GM) DNS DNS DNS DNS 72.00 Scoring system: IDNIYRA Worlds
DN Western Region Update: First Start @ Noon
Attention DN Western Region Competitors!
The first race start has been moved to 12:00 noon CST in order to allow the temperatures to moderate. It’s -3F at 6AM.
If you have friends on the road, please let them know.
REGISTRATION: Registration will be in the parking lot at the launch site from 10:00 – 11:00 AM CST.
See you on the ice. It’s going to be a beautiful,sunny day on Lake Mendota!
2018 DN Western Region Regatta ON for Madison
Via DN Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn.
The DN Western Region regatta is called ON for Madison, WI for January 13-14, 2018 on Lake Mendota. Launch out of Mendota County Park. Both Mendota and Monona were inspected and Mendota’s sheet was found to be the better of the two sheets. You will need a Dane County Lake Access Permit to launch from this site. See information below.
See Notice of Race
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
•Friday: 7-9 PM Registration at Regatta Hotel Headquarters @ AmericInn, 101 West Broadway, Monona, WI
•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
LAUNCH INFORMATION
Mendota County Park
5133 Co Hwy M
Middleton, WI 53562
DANE COUNTY LAKE ACCESS PERMIT REQUIRED
Buy at the launch site or buy online at this link: https://www.reservedane.com/permits.aspx
HOTEL INFORMATION
Regatta Headquarters: AmericInn Lodge and Suites Madison South
101 W. Broadway
Madison, WI
608-222-8601
americinn.com
20 rooms available (queens)
$79 – $99 plus tax
Pool, hot tub, breakfast
Country Inn and Suites by Carlson
400 River Place
Madison, WI
608-221-0055
countryinns.com
15 rooms available
$109 Friday, $96 Sat. plus tax
Pool, hot tub, breakfast
Sleep Inn and Suites
4802 Tradewinds Pkwy
608-221-8100
sleepinnmadison.com
21 rooms available for Fri and Sat
$84 plus tax
Pool, hot tub, breakfast
2018 Western Region Championship Update
The DN Western Region Championship is tentatively scheduled for January 13-14, 2018. Here’s an update from Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn.
UPDATE 2: January 11, 2018 @12:30 PM CST
Please be patient. I understand many are anxious for the call, but I won’t have enough information to make a decision until sometime Friday morning. Right now it’s 47 degrees in Madison and we’ve got lots of water on top of ice on all the Madison area lakes. Same on Green Lake, Winnebago, Delavan and Lake Geneva. When the temps drop back below freezing this afternoon and get down to 9 degrees overnight, we could have either hockey rinks or runner swallowing shell ice and drain holes. The radical temperature shift could also create cracks/heaves. Unfortunately, I’m just not going to know until tomorrow. A number of us will be on Middleton Bay on the west end of Lake Mendota early tomorrow morning. It is our intention to inspect and sail, and call the event “ON” if at all possible. Lake Mendota remains our most probable possibility, but the other lakes mentioned above are not out of consideration. Others will be inspecting those tomorrow morning, as well.
Stay tuned…
Daniel Hearn
Western Region Commodore
US 5352
Ice Sailing Friends:
The Western Regional Championships remain a possibility for this weekend. Here’s what I know—
The big Zamboni is working overtime this week on the Madison area lakes. We’ve been above freezing during the day all week with a high of 46 expected Thursday, along with some rain. This should all but eliminate the modest amount of snow we have on our ice. Then, we’re back to 12 degrees overnight Thursday, with a high of 20 on Friday and down to Zero overnight Friday. All of these factors could set us up for a choice between sheets on the Madison area lakes, but there is a possibility that we could receive some mixed precipitation Thursday evening as temperatures drop back down. If we’re lucky, the precip will have ended as the temps drop back below freezing.
Don’t believe it’s been warm enough to the north to eliminate the snow that has landed on the ice.
To the south, the warm temps have not allowed Lake Geneva to lock up yet to safe sailing conditions. Have not heard any more about Lake Decatur or any other sheets in southern Illinois or Indiana.
Have not heard any promising reports coming out of the bays of Green Bay.Please keep ice reports coming my way!
All of this means that I am anticipating a late go/no-go call, possibly as late as noon on Friday. Have your stuff ready to go, because it just might happen! Many sailors are anxious to get in some tiller time before the North Americans, which open the following weekend. If we can’t pull Westerns off this weekend, we will postpone until after North Americans.
The 4LIYC will be checking ice on Friday. If sailable conditions exist, at a minimum, you can anticipate that scrub racing will be happening. I’m placing my personal bet on the west end of Lake Mendota.
Until later this week…
Daniel Hearn
Western Region Commodore
US 5352
Current Newsletter
DN VIDEOS
iceboat.org
- Regatta Watch: 2025 Northwest Postponed to Jan 24-26 January 15, 2025
Minnesota Ice Sailing Association
- main lake sailed Minnetonka December 31, 2024
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
- Pushaw Lake January 14, 2025
New England Ice Yacht Association
- Quaboag Follow up January 16, 2025