by Deb Whitehorse | Jun 6, 2026 | 2026, Home Page
UPDATE: Funeral Information
Date: Friday, June 26
Visitation: 9 AM – 11 AM
Service: 11 AM
Location: Delavan United Methodist Church 213 S. 2nd Street, Delavan, WI. LINK TO MAP
Memorials in Janes name may be directed to Geneva Lake Sailing School LINK or Green Lake Area Animal Shelter.
Arrangements made by Toynton Funeral Home, 328 Kenosha Street, Walworth, WI (262) 275-2171.
Susie requests that if you attend the funeral, please wear your sailing apparel.
The DN community has lost one of its pioneers and most influential contributors.
Jane Pegel passed away on June 6, 2026, at the age of 92.
Jane began her iceboating career sailing the Skeeter I-169 Holy Smoke before transitioning to the DN class in the mid-1950s. Racing first as DN 305 and later DN 805, she became one of the sport’s top competitors. When Jane won the DN North American Championship in 1963, she became the first woman to win a major DN championship outright.
Her impact on the DN class extended far beyond racing results.
For decades, Jane served as chairperson of the DN Technical Committee, helping guide the development of the class and safeguard the one-design principles that remain the foundation of DN racing today. She was also a member of the group that established the National Iceboat Authority and helped formulate the right-of-way rules that continue to govern iceboat racing. She was also inducted in to the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2021.
Jane belonged to a generation that built the modern sport. Whether through competition, technical leadership, or rulemaking, her contributions shaped the DN class and influenced countless sailors who followed.
The DN class extends its condolences to her daughter, Susie Pegel, family, and friends.
Jane Pegel’s DN Statistics
IDNIYRA Commodore, 1961
IDNIYRA North American Championship Regatta
2 first place finishes in 1960 and 1963
7 second place finishes in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1978
1 fourth place finish in 1968
1 first place B fleet (Silver fleet) finish in 1981
Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Regatta
DN Class
11 first place finishes in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1984, 1990
41 times highest placing woman 1958, 1961 – 1963, 1965 -1967, 1969-1977
by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 5, 2021 | 2022, Home Page
The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) announced today nine sailors comprising its 11th anniversary class of inductees. The IDNIYRA is pleased to congratulate one of our own, Jane Pegel US805 for this well-deserved honor. More to come.
Jane Wiswell Pegel – a three-time Martini & Rossi (now Rolex) Yachtswoman of the Year and winner of several National and North American Championships in sailing and iceboating.
National Sailing Hall of Fame.
Giving back to the sport has been a prerequisite for Pegel. Her first service oriented post was as the fleet captain of the X Class in 1948. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Phi Beta Kappa, (1955) and helped organize a sailing team. Up until that time the “Hoofers” as it was called was more of a club sport. During the summers she was a sailing instructor at the Lake Geneva Yacht Club, home of another Hall of Fame sailor, Buddy Melges. In 1972 Melges and Pegel were both named Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year – Melges for winning a Gold Medal in the Olympic Games and Pegel for winning the M Scow Class National Championship and several other regattas that season. When asked if the lessons from ice boating apply to Scow sailing Pegel explains “In high performance boats there is a transfer especially on lakes where the wind is shifty. For those who sail fast boats we came alert to that magical thing that made one boat faster. We were forced to learn about design. Sailors that key into the variables that exist in the sport are what makes it so interesting.”
Continue reading Jane’s biography on the National Sailing Hall of Fame website.
Jane Pegel’s DN Statistics
IDNIYRA Commodore, 1961
IDNIYRA North American Championship Regatta
2 first place finishes in 1960 and 1963
7 second place finishes in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1978
1 fourth place finish in 1968
1 first place B fleet (Silver fleet) finish in 1981
Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Regatta
DN Class
11 first place finishes in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1984, 1990
41 times highest placing woman 1958, 1961 – 1963, 1965 -1967, 1969-1977
by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 5, 2017 | 2017, Home Page
Michaela Vatcheva is a sailor and aspiring film maker who lives in Madison, Wisconsin. She’s embarked on a project to document the legendary ice sailor, Jane Pegel. Michaela filmed the DN footage on Lake Kegonsa near Madison, Wisconsin on December 31, 2016.
“Who’s ready for a new beginning? This way, please!
I shot this video on the last day of 2016 and edited it in the wee hours of last night to share a little glimpse into the beautiful and harsh world of ice boating.
It is also a first peek into my passion project: I endeavor to make my first short film this year. It tells the story of legendary ice boat racer Jane Pegel, a strong woman, who dominated the ice and wind for 65 of her 83 years. Watch this space for updates on this journey. It’s already taught me so much!
Thanks, Deb Whitehorse, David Elsmo, Don Sanford and everyone else who is supporting my project and has welcomed me into this amazing community. Here we go!”
-Michaela Vatcheva
by Deb Whitehorse | Nov 29, 2023 | 2023, 2024
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Skeeter Sailor and Past Champions Iceboat Shop Trailer-Repair-Specialist, Ken Whitehorse
Junior Program Trailer Locked and Loaded
Submitted by Daniel Hearn
It’s an exciting day for ice sailing in the US of A! Thanks to 4LIYC’s Ken Whitehorse, with an assist from Paul Krueger, the chariot that will carry the next generation of American ice sailors into the future is ready to roll.
Can’t think of a better trailer for the job, as this one was formerly owned by the legendary, Jane Pegel, who always carried the torch for everything youth sailing. Now, the original aluminum frame, with high capacity rack system and dock box, is equipped with a new axle, bearings and leaf springs; new LED lights, a shiny new safety, new radial tires on new rims, and a new spare bias ply tire on a new rim.
Our new enthusiastic and visionary Junior Program leader, Sam Bartel, is now well equipped. He has gathered up an arsenal of DNs and Ice Optis which will ride on this trailer. And he’s got a back of newbie ice sailing kids lined up to give it a go at the Great Western Challenge. Pinch me, I must be dreaming!
Many thanks to Donny Anderson for the trailer donation for this cause. And to Dave Elsmo for the dock box donation. Think Ice! And let’s all help Sam refill the pipeline!
PK at the bench clamp
by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 22, 2022 | 2022, Home Page
While we don’t have photos from that 1966 regatta, here are classic DNs on Geneva Lake in early 1960s. 690: L. Wohrle, 445 Bob Cave, 378 Eric Sternkoff, 294 Lou Lonnecke. Photo from the Bob & Jane Pegel Collection
Mike O’Brien US3456 recently rescued a stack of vintage sailing magazines headed for the recycling bin. Mike, a three-time DN World champion, and one-time North American champion, shared a photo of an article from One Design about the 1966 DN North American championship. Gull Lake in Michigan hosted the regatta.
Gull Lake was also the site of the first DN World Championship in 1972. The DN class will observe the 50th anniversary of that first World Championship on January 21-28, 2023, hosted by the Western Region. It’s time to start thinking about sharpening your runners for the 2023 season!.
Mike O’Brien Runner Tracks Interview
