Western Region Championship Home Page

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.

2018 DN Western Region Regatta Update: Postponed

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

2018 Western Region Champship Update

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

DN Western Regional Regatta Photo Album


A pair of photographers were on Lake Monona shooting the 2017 DN Western Region regatta. They have posted their photo set on Flickr and are encouraging us to download and use as we like.

“My wife and a I had a great time Saturday and Sunday Jan. 7-8 watching the DNs race on Lake Monona and taking a few photos.  I’ve put 26 photos up in a album on my Flickr page, here is the link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kdmeyer/sets/72157676991377862

Possibly somebody will enjoy a picture of themselves;  the images are full-resolution and free to download with my compliments.  Managed to catch both champions including #183 with quite a bit of air under one of his blades.

Thank you, we met some nice people and enjoyed being spectators.”

2017 DN Western Region Regatta Provisional Final Results

The 2017 DN Western Region regatta was completed today on Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin. The breeze filled in late in the morning which allowed for another 3 races in each fleet today.

Congratulations to Gold fleet winner Matt Struble US 183 and Silver fleet winner Bob Rast US 1313 . Thank you to all who came from near and far to participate.

2017 Western Regional Regatta - January 7 - 8, 2017

Lake Monona
Madison, WI


Gold fleet
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pos    Sail#          Name        Race>     1    2    3    4    5    6  Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1   US  183     STRUBLE,         MATT     1    1    2    1    3 (  4)   8.00
  2   US   44      SHERRY,      RON (S)     2    2    1 (  6)   1    6   12.00
  3   US 4926    ORLEBEKE,        STEVE     3    4    5 ( 12)   4    1   17.00
  4   US 4691      DENNIS,     JOHN (S)     4    7 (  8)   2    2    2   17.00
  5   US 4824 CHRISTENSEN,     MARK (S)  ( 10)   3    3    4    5    8   23.00
  6   US 5224     THIELER,        JAMES     5    6    4    3    7 ( 11)  25.00
  7   US 5166      BERGER,        CHRIS     6   10    6    5 ( 14)   3   30.00
  8   US 5501    ORLEBEKE,        PETER  ( 20)   8   11    7    8   10   44.00
  9   US 5486       ELSMO,        DAVID  ( 22)   9   10    8    6   17   50.00
 10   US 5536     SCHMITT,         MATT    11   16    7 ( 26)  10   14   58.00
 11   US 5352       HEARN,   DANIEL (S)    13   13   13 ( 21)   9   18   66.00
 12   US 4975       EVANS,   ROBERT (S)     9   14   17 ( 23)  15   12   67.00
 13   US 5298       BROWN,    SCOTT (S)    19   11    9 ( 22)  12   19   70.00
 14   US 4148       DIXON,      TIM (S)  ( 25)  20   12   10   24    5   71.00
 15   US 5522    METZLOFF,         KYLE    18   15   14   13 ( 19)  13   73.00
 16   US 5415      MILLER,        CHRIS     8    5   19 ( 27)  17   25   74.00
 17   US 4882      WOLLAM, RICHARD (GM)    12   12   22   11   21 ( 23)  78.00
 18   US 5432       BLOOM,     MIKE (S)     7   19   16    9 (DNF) DNS   81.00
 19   US 4155     LEMBERG,  RICHARD (M)    17   17   15 ( 28)  13   26   88.00
 20   US    4      SHERRY, GRIFFIN (JR)    21   21   20   17 ( 22)   9   88.00
 21   US 4923       SOLUM,    JEFF (SR)    14 ( 24)  23   14   16   22   89.00
 22   US 5451       ALLEN,     ANDY (S)    15   22   18   19   27 ( 28) 101.00
 23   US  445        CAVE,      BOB (M)    26   27 (DNS)  16   26    7  102.00
 24   US  602       MEYER,      TOM (M)    16   18   21 ( 29)  28   21  104.00
 25   US 5430     CUTTING,     BILL (S)    29  DNS (DNS)  15   18   15  107.00
 26   US 3271   JANKOWSKI,     MIKE (M)    24   25 (DNS)  24   20   16  109.00
 27   US 5507     BARNETT,         MIKE    23  DNS (DNS)  25   11   24  113.00
 28   US 2360       JOHNS,    PETE (GM)    28   23 (DNS)  20   23   20  114.00
 29   US 4868    RICHARDS,    JULIE (M)    27   26 (DNS)  18   25   27  123.00

Scoring system: IDNIYRA Worlds




Silver fleet
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pos    Sail#          Name         Race>     1    2    3    4    5    6  Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1   US 1313       RAST,     ROBERT (M)  (  5)   3    4    2    2    3   14.00
  2   US 4335      GLICK,       DAVE (M)     6    6 (  8)   1    3    4   20.00
  3   US 5172   BETZOLDT,      GLENN (M)     7    4 (  7)   3    5    5   24.00
  4   US 4203 FITZGERALD,    PATRICK (M)  ( 15)   2    2   11    7    8   30.00
  5   US 5517   THOMPSON,     JASON (SR)     4 (DNS)   1    8    4   15   32.00
  6   US 5369     MILLER,       MIKE (M)     1    1    3    4 (DNF) DNS   38.00
  7   US 5506       HURD,    CHARLIE (M)     8   15   11    6 ( 19)   1   41.00
  8   US 3433    CUMMINS,    ROBERT (GM)  ( 13)   8   10    9    8    6   41.00
  9   US  452      DIXON,        LOU (M)     3    5    9   12 ( 14)  13   42.00
 10   US  581      RENJI,        CLINTON  ( 19)   9    6    5    6   16   42.00
 11   US 5471     CLEARY,            TIM    12   10    5    7   13 ( 14)  47.00
 12   US 5479      HEARN,      BRIAN (N)     9   11   13   14 ( 16)   9   56.00
 13   US 5405     BUSHEY,     SAM (JR,N)    14   12 (DNS)  16    9   11   62.00
 14   US 4802  KICKHAFER, MATTHEW (JR,N)    18    7   14 ( 20)  20    7   66.00
 15   US 4137   SMITH JR,        KEN (M)    17   14   15   10   12 ( 18)  68.00
 16   US 1277     BOWMAN,       HAL (GM)    10  DNS (DNS)  17   11    2   69.00
 17   US 5299    CAMARDA,       ANDY (N)     2  DNS (DNS)  21    1   23   76.00
 18   US 5603     WITMAN,     BEN (JR,N)   DNS (DNS)  12   15   18   10   84.00
 19   US 5158     BUSHEY,       JOHN (M)    16   13 (DNS)  24   15   19   87.00
 20   US   65       GRAY,    ROBERT (GM)    11  DNF (DNS)  18   17   17   92.00
 21   US 4602  KICKHAFER,     DAVID (SR)   DNS  DNS (DNS)  13   10   12   93.00
 22   US  900     KAISER,       HANK (M)    22   16   17 ( 22)  22   20   97.00
 23   US 5352       HULL,     RONNIE (N)    23   17   16 ( 23)  23   21  100.00
 24   US 4140     HOEPER,      PETER (M)    21  DNF (DNS)  19   21   22  112.00
 25   US 5362  ROSENTHAL,            JIM   DNS   18   18 (DNS) DNS  DNS  123.00
 26   US  148     WALTER,            IAN    20  DNS (DNS) DNS  DNS  DNS  136.00
 27T   P   71 ZIOLKOWSKI,     LESZEK (M)   DNS  DNS (DNS) DNS  DNS  DNS  145.00
 28T  US  294   LOENNEKE,     LOUIS (GM)   DNS  DNS (DNS) DNS  DNS  DNS  145.00

Scoring system: IDNIYRA Worlds


DN Western Region Championship Provisional Results: Day 1

2017 Western Regional Regatta
January 7 – 8, 2017

Lake Monona
Madison, WI


Gold fleet
---------------------------------------------------------------
Pos    Sail#          Name        Race>     1    2    3  Points
---------------------------------------------------------------
  1   US  183     STRUBLE,         MATT     1    1    2    4.00
  2   US   44      SHERRY,      RON (S)     2    2    1    5.00
  3   US 4926    ORLEBEKE,        STEVE     3    4    5   12.00
  4   US 5224     THIELER,        JAMES     5    6    4   15.00
  5   US 4824 CHRISTENSEN,     MARK (S)    10    3    3   16.00
  6   US 4691      DENNIS,     JOHN (S)     4    7    8   19.00
  7   US 5166      BERGER,        CHRIS     6   10    6   22.00
  8   US 5415      MILLER,        CHRIS     8    5   19   32.00
  9   US 5536     SCHMITT,         MATT    11   16    7   34.00
 10   US 5298       BROWN,    SCOTT (S)    19   11    9   39.00
 11   US 5501    ORLEBEKE,        PETER    20    8   11   39.00
 12   US 5352       HEARN,   DANIEL (S)    13   13   13   39.00
 13   US 4975       EVANS,   ROBERT (S)     9   14   17   40.00
 14   US 5486       ELSMO,        DAVID    22    9   10   41.00
 15   US 5432       BLOOM,     MIKE (S)     7   19   16   42.00
 16   US 4882      WOLLAM,  RICHARD (M)    12   12   22   46.00
 17   US 5522    METZLOFF,         KYLE    18   15   14   47.00
 18   US 4155     LEMBERG,  RICHARD (M)    17   17   15   49.00
 19   US 5451       ALLEN,     ANDY (S)    15   22   18   55.00
 20   US  602       MEYER,      TOM (M)    16   18   21   55.00
 21   US 4148       DIXON,      TIM (S)    25   20   12   57.00
 22   US 4923       SOLUM,    JEFF (SR)    14   24   23   61.00
 23   US    4      SHERRY, GRIFFIN (JR)    21   21   20   62.00
 24   US 3271   JANKOWSKI,     MIKE (M)    24   25  DNS   79.00
 25   US 2360       JOHNS,    PETE (GM)    28   23  DNS   81.00
 26   US 4868    RICHARDS,    JULIE (M)    27   26  DNS   83.00
 27   US  445        CAVE,      BOB (M)    26   27  DNS   83.00
 28   US 5507     BARNETT,         MIKE    23  DNS  DNS   83.00
 29   US 5430     CUTTING,     BILL (S)    29  DNS  DNS   89.00

Scoring system: IDNIYRA Worlds




Silver fleet
--------------------------------------------------------------
Pos    Sail#         Name        Race>     1    2    3  Points
--------------------------------------------------------------
  1   US 5369     MILLER,     MIKE (M)     1    1    3    5.00
  2   US 1313       RAST,   ROBERT (M)     5    3    4   12.00
  3   US  452      DIXON,          LOU     3    5    9   17.00
  4   US 5172   BETZOLDT,    GLENN (M)     7    4    7   18.00
  5   US 4203 FITZGERALD,  PATRICK (M)    15    2    2   19.00
  6   US 4335      GLICK,     DAVE (M)     6    6    8   20.00
  7   US 5471     CLEARY,          TIM    12   10    5   27.00
  8   US 3433    CUMMINS,   ROBERT (M)    13    8   10   31.00
  9   US 5479      HEARN,        BRIAN     9   11   13   33.00
 10   US 5517   THOMPSON,   JASON (SR)     4  DNS    1   34.00
 11   US  581      RENJI,      CLINTON    19    9    6   34.00
 12   US 5506       HURD,  CHARLIE (M)     8   15   11   34.00
 13   US 4802  KICKHAFER, MATTHEW (JR)    18    7   14   39.00
 14   US 4137   SMITH JR,      KEN (M)    17   14   15   46.00
 15   US 5405     BUSHEY,     SAM (JR)    14   12  DNS   55.00
 16   US  900     KAISER,     HANK (M)    22   16   17   55.00
 17   US 5352       HULL,       RONNIE    23   17   16   56.00
 18   US 5158     BUSHEY,     JOHN (M)    16   13  DNS   58.00
 19   US 5299    CAMARDA,         ANDY     2  DNS  DNS   60.00
 20   US 5362  ROSENTHAL,          JIM   DNS   18   18   65.00
 21   US 1277     BOWMAN,     HAL (GM)    10  DNS  DNS   68.00
 22   US   65       GRAY,  ROBERT (GM)    11  DNF  DNS   69.00
 23   US 5603     WITMAN,     BEN (JR)   DNS  DNS   12   70.00
 24   US  148     WALTER,          IAN    20  DNS  DNS   78.00
 25   US 4140     HOEPER,    PETER (M)    21  DNF  DNS   79.00
 26T  US  294   LOENNEKE,   LOUIS (GM)   DNS  DNS  DNS   87.00
 27T  US 4602  KICKHAFER,   DAVID (SR)   DNS  DNS  DNS   87.00
 28T   P   71 ZIOLKOWSKI,   LESZEK (M)   DNS  DNS  DNS   87.00

Scoring system: IDNIYRA Worlds


DN Western Region Regatta ON for Lake Monona, Madison, WI

The weekends regatta will be held on Lake Monona in Madison, Wi. Launch site will be at the Olin Park 1156 Olin-Turville Ct., Madison Wi. Same place as last years NA’s, on the SW corner of the lake.

Dan Hearn and Deb have been working with the City Parks Dept for a bulk parking pass to avoid parking costs to the racer. More info by Thursday or Friday.
The ramp is suitable for trailers to back right on 12 inches of ice. Be careful of the small stream to the left side.
A small heave is located about 100 yards from the launch so be careful in crossing. We expect to mark the best crossing area with orange cones on Friday. No other hazards noted.
The ice is very nice black hard ice with zero snow cover, rated a 7-8 by a ranked sailor today.

Regatta Headquarters at Clarion Suites at the Alliant Energy Center
2110 Rimrock Rd.
Madison, WI 53713
Map
( same as last years NA’s)
Guest can give us a call at 608-284-1234 and ask for the Ice Sailing Regatta group rate.Studio Suite with 1 Queen Bed- $99.00+ tax
Studio Suite with 2 Queen Beds-$109.00+tax
One Bedroom Suite with 1 Queen Bed- $109.00+tax
(All of our rooms have a queen sized pull out sleeper sofa)

We offer complimentary-

Full breakfast buffet
Evening social hour with complimentary beer, wine soda and light snacks
Wi-Fi Internet
Indoor Pool and whirlpool
24 hour business center
All Suite Hotel- All of our rooms have a refrigerator, microwaves and a large open floor plan
Choice Privilege point eligible

UPDATED REGISTRATION SCHEDULE:
Clarion Hotel Dining Area
Friday 5:30-6:30 PM and 8-8:30PM
Saturday 8:30-9:15 AM Launch Site (look for Deb and Loretta in a vehicle near ramp)
If you have registered for the 2017 Worlds and have provided Insurance info, I will have your records. $35 entry fee payable cash or check(no pay pal)

SATURDAY NIGHT:
Banquet
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Fat Jack’s BBQ
Map
6207 Monona Dr,
Monona, WI 53716
Cost: $15 + tax, pay your server
All you can eat ribs and chicken

 
See you this weekend!

Mike Miller
Western Region Commodore

2017 Western Regional Regatta Called ON

Wisconsin has ice all over the place!

Madison Wi is the primary location. Could be Kegonsa or Monona. They have smoothed over some today and going to rain a bit more tonight. Above freezing temps for another 24 hours, followed by cold and wind. Ice will thicken on both lakes. No snow in the forecast with moderating temps by the weekend should lead to great ice.

We also have a good report of huge grade 7 ice on Winnebago at Fond du Lac. Sailed yesterday and today by Bob Cummins. They are a little closer to possible snow and mixed overnight, but could be plan B. Pete Johns is checking Senachwine again as another option.
Get your gear ready along with a copy of your insurance. Stay tuned for final call by Wednesday evening.
Should you have better ice to report, my cell is 612-868-2949.

Mike Miller US5369
Western Region Rear Commodore

NOTICE OF RACE: 2017 Western Lakes Regional Championship

DSC00305

Download in PDF
2017 Notice of Race
Western Lakes Regional DN Championship Regatta
January 7-8, 2017

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 ten 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+)

THE DN ICE YACHT

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.

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