by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 12, 2026 | Home Page, Western Region Championship
Cold steel. Photo: Anna Suslova
2026 Western Region Championship Update
Last week’s warm temperatures have reduce the snow followed by cooler temperatures over the weekend have made some of the lakes sailable now.
Actively scouting lakes in the Western Region and hoping to pull off a regatta for the weekend of January 17-18.
Will provide an update as soon as the ice scouters finish their scouting missions.
Think Black Ice!
Tim Mower US5871
Western Region Commodore
by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 8, 2026 | Home Page, Western Region Championship
Waiting on conditions. Good attitude required. 2025 DN World Championship – Photo Anna Suslova
The 2026 DN Western Region Championships are being postponed.
The ice checkers have been scouring the lakes in search of ice and currently nothing is regatta quality.
Warm temperatures have changed the snow into slush and now need to have freezing temperatures to harden up the ice.
Colder temperatures are in the forecast so watch for updates.
With a significant weather system moving through Friday and Saturday, the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club will assess Lake Kegonsa on Friday. Whether racing happens this weekend will depend on conditions once the lake settles.
Tim Mower US5871
Western Region Commodore
by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 7, 2026 | Home Page, Western Region Championship
Photo: Anna Suslova
As of 2:45pm CDT today, January 7, the DN Western Region Championships are still on hold.
Report from Lake Kegonsa and Marinette, MI today is that these areas are looking promising but now need freezing temperatures to make the ice Regatta worthy after the recent rain.
Sites continue to be evaluated daily.
Regatta Decision for this weekend will be made tomorrow, Thursday, January 8. Continue to watch the Regatta Website for latest updates.
Tim Mower US5871
Western Region Commodore
The DN Western Region Championship is a low-pressure way to get into iceboat racing. It is a non-ranking regatta, which makes it a good place to learn, tune your boat, and get comfortable on the line.
The atmosphere is welcoming, and experienced sailors are generally happy to help newcomers. If you have been thinking about racing but have not jumped in yet, this is often the best place to start.
The Western Region includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. Like all ice sailing, the event is completely condition-dependent and will be postponed week by week until suitable ice is available.
by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 5, 2026 | Home Page, Western Region Championship
2026 DN WESTERN REGION UPDATE – JAN 5, 2026
With this week’s weather forecast of warming temperatures we will hopefully have some sites that will become available.
This regatta site(s) may not become available until midweek, at the latest Thursday, but we are actively checking ice and hope to have the regatta this weekend.
Please watch the website for updates.
Keep the rust of the runners!
Tim Mower US5871
Western Region Commodore
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 31, 2025 | Home Page, Western Region Championship
2025 Western Region Championship Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Via Western Region Commodore Tim Mower:
Unfortunately the DN Western Region Championship originally scheduled for January 3-4 will need to be postponed due to present lack of sailable ice.
The ice checkers have been quickly responding with detailed reports on ice conditions all over, unfortunately their reports are stating the available ice is not up to regatta conditions at this time.
Some of the lakes have not frozen over yet but should be soon with cold temps forecasted.
Will continue obtaining reports and hope to reschedule soon.
Have a Happy New Years!
Tim Mower US5871
DN Western Region Commodore
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 29, 2025 | Home Page, Western Region Championship
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Western Region Championship
January 3 – 4, 2026
NOTICE OF RACE
Via Western Region Commodore Tim Mower:
Ice checks are underway in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the southern UP of Michigan, and surrounding areas. After the snow event that hit Minnesota and Wisconsin yesterday and moved east today, many locations received too much snow to be viable.
At this point, the Madison, WI lakes, Lake Kegonsa and Lake Monona, are looking the most promising for the Western Region Championships.
A final decision will be made Wednesday or no later than Thursday.
The next update will be posted by Thursday, January 1.
Get your runners sharpened. Or at least knock the rust off.
Tim Mower US5871
Wester Region Commodore
