Another aerial from Jeff Russell that captures the glare on Green Lake.

DN North American Championship Day 2

GREEN LAKE, WI
Regattas are supposed to offer a range of conditions, and the second day delivered exactly that. Light air that could not make up its mind.

We were able to complete three races for each fleet, starting with Gold.

Canada’s John Curtis won the Gold fleet race. It was good to see his persistence pay off. The Canadian contingent has logged the most miles over the past week, from Wawasee to Green Lake, and they did not let the brutal cold slow them down. If anything, they seemed to thrive. They must have antifreeze in their veins.

Another Canadian followed with a win in the Silver fleet. Paul Chamberland took the victory there.

The Bronze fleet race was won by junior sailor Sebastian Sorensen, and that result brought a lot of smiles. It has been great to watch his progress. Sebastian sails under a U.S. sail number, but he is also from Denmark and splits his time between the two countries.

The sunshine was welcome, but it came with a tradeoff. As the day wore on, glare off the ice became a real factor. By late in the day the weather mark was positioned directly into the sun, making it difficult to see and adding another layer of challenge for the sailors.

Off the ice, the speed clinic held Wednesday night was well attended. About 30 sailors gathered to ask questions and dig into technique with Chris Berger, Ron Sherry, and T. It was an engaged group and a good reminder of how much shared knowledge exists in this class.

Looking ahead, conditions are expected to change dramatically. As PRO Pat Heppert shared in his message last night, Friday is shaping up for good winds and continued fast ice.

Once the North American Championship concludes on Friday, we will move directly into U.S. Nationals racing as time allows. Sailors have been asked to self select their fleet preference.

This year marks the first time the class has tried this format. On off Worlds years, the class voted to hold both the North American Championship and a separate U.S. Nationals. The Nationals are a non ranking regatta, which allows us to skip qualifiers and go straight into racing.

Another major regatta also gets underway, with two courses running on the lake. The International Skeeter Association regatta begins, with A Class and B Class Skeeters, along with Nites and Renegades, all sailing.

Nina Fleming and I are staying on to help with that event on Sunday, because apparently we just cannot get enough of brutal cold.

After two days of contrast, we are ready for fast races and higher winds.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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We anticipate a great day of racing on Friday, January 30, with good winds, and continued fast ice. As a result, we are going to have registration and check-in for the US Nationals TONIGHT, Thursday night, January 29, at 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., in the hotel lobby. Once we complete the North American Championship tomorrow, we will proceed directly into US Nationals racing as time permits. Instead of qualifiers, be ready to choose your fleet preference.

DN NORTH AMERICAN SCHEDULE: The racing schedule for Friday will be Skippers meeting at 9:00 a.m. at the launch, and first race will be at 10:00 a.m.. the fleet rotation will be Gold, Silver, Bronze. Please note that there will be two race courses on the lake tomorrow. The DN course will be the one that is closer to the launch, roughly in the area where we were today.

DN North American Championship Day 1

Getting to the starting line this year has been a bit like surfing. You watch and move when the right wave finally lines up.

The championship first gathered at Lake Wawasee in Indiana, where we were put on hold for several days while we waited to see what the storm would bring. It delivered snow and shut that option down. At the same time, Green Lake in Green Lake, Wisconsin, was quietly forming hard black ice, so the call was made to relocate.

Once on site, we faced another postponement due to sustained below zero temperatures.

Day 1 finally arrived yesterday, Wednesday, January 28. Sunny, but cold. We delayed the skippers meeting and qualifiers until 11:00 a.m., hoping for some moderation. It was still below 10°F.

The wind was brisk and unsettled, swinging and shifting across the course. It was fascinating to watch the top sailors catch on to the shifts almost immediately. In conditions like this, the wind becomes a moving puzzle and the best sailors solve it fastest.

The race committee was efficient and set the course. Qualifiers were banged off quickly.

The scoring team hit the jackpot when Green Lake resident and long time DN sailor Joe Norton let us use his enclosed Ranger UTV with a heater. It fit the three of us, Nina Fleming, Ann Foeller, and me, and made a long cold day more manageable.

Joe’s generosity did not stop there. On the postponement day, he hosted a tour of his Norton Boatworks shop where he has been restoring classic wooden boats for many years. He is famous for it, and the tour drew a full house. Afterward we all went to lunch together. It was a great way to spend a postponement day.

Commodore Rob Holman kept making the rounds and checking on sailors and volunteers to be sure everyone was OK in the cold. I will not lie, this was one of the coldest days we have spent out there.

We were done by about 3:30 p.m. and happy to be off the lake. Thanks to the entire race committee for sticking it out under demanding conditions.

Last night we held the Annual Governing Meeting after a long cold day.

For today, Thursday, January 29 in Green Lake, the forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and northwest winds around 5 to 10 mph. Lighter winds should help a bit but also slow racing down a bit, and the sun makes a real difference on days like these.

Racing is wisely delayed again today, with racing planned to begin at 11:00 a.m. for Day 2 of the DN North American Championship.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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The Skipper’s meeting is now scheduled for 10 AM with racing tentatively to follow at 11 AM for Wednesday, January 28.

Official Notice – Tuesday Racing Postponed

Date: 26 January 2026

After much feedback, discussion and deliberation, the decision has been made to postpone on Tuesday for safety reasons, due to the combination of wind, temperature, and 3 mile distance to starting line.

There will be no skippers meeting and no racing on Tuesday, January 27.

A practice course will be set up similarly to Monday.

Link to the starting line-ups for Day 1 of the DN North American Championship.
LINK
NOTE: Post updated to reflect start date of Wednesday, January 28.

Western Region Commodore Tim Mower and the Green Lake Ice Yacht Club ice checking crew.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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Regatta Update – Arrival at Green Lake

Monday, January 26: Today’s Schedule – Heidel House

Mandatory check-in is from 3:00–5:00 PM in the Heidel House lobby.
Opening Ceremonies begin at 5:30 PM, followed immediately by a Racing Clinic hosted by PRO Pat Heppert, on the ground level in the Pleasant Point Ballroom next to Waves Pub & Grill

Parking note:
Vehicles with trailers should use the gravel parking at the top of the hill when entering the Heidel House property. Parking near the hotel fills quickly when trailers take multiple spaces, and several other groups are arriving today. Thank you for helping keep parking available for everyone.

Day 0 Report
Ice sailing demands quick reactions and a willingness to adapt. It is often a sport of hurry up and wait.

Roughly a third of the fleet traveled to Syracuse, Indiana, where we waited out the postponement. We were fortunate to have a beautiful resort in which to pass the time. Many sailors did get out on the ice in bitter cold conditions. Each morning, the breakfast room was packed with iceboaters looking out over Lake Wawasee, watching the intrepid Canadian crew and others sail in temperatures that never seemed to bother them. In fact, they appeared to thrive in it.

When not on the ice, much of the fleet gathered in the lobby, again overlooking the lake, waiting to see what Mother Nature had in store for us. On Saturday night, we filled a long table and shared a great dinner together.

By Sunday morning, the snow had arrived, and it was clear that sailing at Wawasee was no longer viable. Pat did his due diligence, taking the ATV out on the lake to scout conditions and make his report. Unfortunately, what he found did not compare favorably to what was developing at Green Lake.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday, the lobby buzzed with excitement as we stayed in constant contact with members of the Green Lake Ice Yacht Club, receiving updates as their lake finished coming in. Those reports ultimately made the decision clear.

Travel on Sunday was challenging. Roads in Indiana and Illinois were in poor condition and largely unplowed, which was striking to those of us from Minnesota and Wisconsin. After pushing through lake-effect snow near Chicago, conditions improved dramatically. Clean, wide roads carried us north, and by evening many of us arrived safely in Green Lake and at the Heidel House.

The Green Lake Ice Yacht Club was immediately on the phone offering help in every possible way, which we greatly appreciate.

As this is written, it is –6°F. Pat has already been back out to the lake for his own assessment and is setting a practice course for sailors who want time on the ice.

Adding to the momentum, the International Skeeter Association regatta has been tentatively called on for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and Green Lake is also hosting its Winter Carnival this weekend. For the next several days, Green Lake will truly be the iceboating center of the world.

We are fully embracing the cold and winter this week.

More updates to follow.

Nicholas Mabboux KC5508

Regatta Update – Postponement and Site Decision

Late this afternoon, the Board held a scheduled call with our weather service. The forecast has changed materially since earlier predictions, with significantly more snow now expected on Sunday, January 25 in the Syracuse, Indiana area.

Based on this updated information, we are postponing both check-in and racing scheduled for Sunday, January 25.

What this means now

Sunday, January 25: No check-in or racing.

A final decision on whether we remain at Lake Wawasee or relocate to Green Lake, Wisconsin will be announced by 5:00 PM on Sunday, January 25, or sooner if conditions allow.

This decision is dependent on observed snowfall amounts, ice conditions, and forecast confidence.

Schedule going forward

If we remain at Lake Wawasee:
Monday, January 26: Check-in from 3:00–5:00 PM (as stated in the Notice of Race)
Tuesday, January 27, 2025: First day of racing at the time stated in the Sailing Instructions

If we relocate to Green Lake, Wisconsin:
Monday, January 26: Check-in from 3:00–5:00 PM
Tuesday, January 27, 2025: First day of racing at the time stated in the Sailing Instructions

Green Lake note:
Sunday, January 25: Ranked sailors will be sailing at Green Lake, Wisconsin.

We understand the disruption this creates for travel and planning. This decision was made to preserve the integrity of the racing and to avoid committing competitors and volunteers to conditions that may not be raceable.

Please continue to monitor official communications. Updates will be issued as soon as decisions are made. Thank you for your patience.

Tim Mower Western Region Commodore
Rob Holman Commodore
IDNIYRA Governing Board