LATEST NEWS
2021 U.S. Nationals: Congratulations Ron Sherry US44 Gold & Andy Allen US5451 Silver
2021 Nationals Results
Thank you to all competitors, Vice Commodore Jody Kjoller, PRO Dan Heaney, with assistance from George Gerhardt, Dave Ray, and Brian, for making an effort to race and help run an exciting regatta in some of the coldest conditions we’ve seen in a while. Stay tuned for some photo galleries from Gretchen Dorian, who is not only an ace photographer; she also makes sure the weather marks don’t fly away when the wind knocks them down.
U.S. Nationals: Day 2 PM Report, Results, & Day 3 Schedule
Day 1 Gold Fleet Race. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Preliminary Results
Patience paid off this morning as the Race Committee postponed racing on the half-hour because of lack of wind. Finally, at 11:30, Dan Heaney and George Gerhardt, who had been standing in the middle of Black Lake watching the wind readings, reported that the breeze had filled in and there was enough to race. The wind was about 10 – 15 mph, and between the intermittent snow squalls, each fleet went around the track for a total of 3 races. Both of my weather apps failed to predict the wind today, showing that getting to the lake is the only way to know if the wind is there. Temperatures were frigid again, but it seemed like everyone has adapted to the conditions.
U.S. Nationals
SCHEDULE FOR DAY 3
Thursday, January 28
10 AM First Race
Gold Fleet
Three races are planned for each fleet.
Be prepared for possible postponement onshore with the light wind forecast.
U.S. Nationals: Day 1 PM Report, Results, & Day 2 Schedule
Preliminary Results
It was a long cold day on the ice with a good breeze, excellent racing action. Manageable snowdrifts on the course made for challenging sailing, especially if sailors have never had to deal with the art of dodging drifts and keeping a DN up speed. I wish I had photos to post, but the cold meant economizing movements, focusing on writing numbers, and taking pictures of the score sheets for our tabulators, Ann and Bob Foeller. I know I speak for everyone when I say how tired I am tonight.
SCHEDULE FOR DAY 2
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26
10 AM First Race
Silver Fleet
2021 U.S. Nationals Day 1 AM Report
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Time for a quick update from Cheboygan, MI before heading to Black Lake, site of the U.S. Nationals, a non-ranking DN regatta. The breeze finally came up yesterday afternoon which allowed for some training races. Winds look better today but it’s going to be cold out there. Follow along with as-they-happen results from our off shore race committee tabulators, Ann and Bob Foeller, who are in Toledo, OH.
2021 U.S. Nationals Starting Line Up for Day 1
The starting line-up for the mini-qualifier and the first Gold fleet race is posted below.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Day 1
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
9 AM: Skippers’ Meeting out on the race course, (NOTE: Skippers’ meeting will not be in the pits because there are different launches.)
10 AM First race, mini-qualifier
| Silver Fleet/ Gold Qualifier | |||
| Fleet | SailNo | HelmName | Start Pos. |
| S | US 1576 | BRIAN JONES | 1 |
| S | US 5498 | RICHARD GORDON | 2 |
| S | US 5608 | NICK HOVLAND | 3 |
| S | US 5630 | KAREN BINDER | 4 |
| S | US 4789 | CHRIS CLARK | 5 |
| S | US 445 | BOB CAVE | 6 |
| S | US 3433 | ROBERT CUMMINS | 7 |
| S | US 5127 | HUGH STEVENS | 8 |
| S | US 216 | RICHARD POTCOVA | 9 |
| S | US 530 | BOBBY CUTTING | 10 |
| S | US 2500 | ERIC SMITH | 11 |
| S | US 5397 | ERIN BURY | 12 |
| S | US 4137 | KEN SMITH | 13 |
| S | US 4974 | STAN JONES | 14 |
| S | US 4532 | BILL EKLUND | 15 |
| S | US 5647 | MATT MEYER | 16 |
| S | US 4783 | RHEA NICHOLAS | 17 |
| S | US 5435 | JODY KJOLLER | 18 |
| S | US 5824 | ROLF VAN HOUTEN | 19 |
| S | US 294 | LOU LOENNEKE | 20 |
| S | US 1277 | HAL BOWMAN | 21 |
| S | US 5470 | THOMAS DAWSON | 22 |
| S | US 5760 | NOAH JONES | 23 |
| S | US 4203 | PAT FITZGERALD | 24 |
| S | US 5358 | DAVID FROST | 25 |
| S | US 5486 | DAVE ELSMO | 26 |
| S | US 5652 | SAMUEL BARTEL | 27 |
| S | US 5451 | ANDREW ALLEN | 28 |
| S | US 5053 | GEORGE REIS | 29 |
| S | KA 2 | PETER NORTON | 30 |
| S | US 4192 | RANDY ROGOSKI | 31 |
| S | US 5654 | GAIL TURLUCK | 32 |
| S | US 5219 | KENT BAKER | 33 |
| S | US 1313 | BOB RAST | 34 |
| S | US 2237 | MIKE STEWART | 35 |
| S | US 4155 | RICK LEMBERG | 36 |
| S | US 5430 | BILL CUTTING | 37 |
| S | US 637 | JOSEPH MEADE | 38 |
| GOLD FLEET | |||
| Fleet | SailNo | HelmName | Start Pos. |
| G | US 3283 | JOHN WILLIAMS | 1 |
| G | Q 11 | 2 | |
| G | US 4926 | STEVE ORLEBEKE | 3 |
| G | US 3 | JIM GROGAN | 4 |
| G | US 4 | GRIFFIN SHERRY | 5 |
| G | US 60 | JOHN HARPER | 6 |
| G | Q 8 | 7 | |
| G | US 4638 | GUY LOVEJOY | 8 |
| G | US 5166 | CHRIS BERGER | 9 |
| G | US 807 | ROBERT FRANCIS | 10 |
| G | US 5352 | DANIEL HEARN | 11 |
| G | Q 12 | 12 | |
| G | US 4882 | RICHARD WOLLAM | 13 |
| G | Q 9 | 14 | |
| G | US 321 | MIKE BLOOM | 15 |
| G | US 3705 | ROBERT HOLMAN | 16 |
| G | US 5224 | JAMES THIELER | 17 |
| G | Q 3 | 18 | |
| G | US 44 | RON SHERRY | 19 |
| G | Q 10 | 20 | |
| G | US 5633 | PETER JOHANSON | 21 |
| G | Q 5 | 22 | |
| G | Q 2 | 23 | |
| G | Q 7 | 24 | |
| G | Q 4 | 25 | |
| G | Q 6 | 26 | |
| G | Q 1 | 27 | |
2021 U.S. Nationals Called ON for Black Lake in Michigan
The sign we’ve been waiting for. Photo: Catherine Firmbach
U.S. Nationals Information Page
The 2021 U.S. Nationals has been called on for Black Lake in northern Michigan. Online registration ends on Monday, January 25 at 7 PM ET. First day of racing is on Tuesday, January 26. See Schedule of Events below.
WHAT TO KNOW:
- Online registration is mandatory. Register and pay online at this link.
- Proof of Insurance: Please either upload when you register or email to debwhitehorse@gmail.com
- Text Notifications: Competitors will receive updates via text messaging. There’s no need to download any app. Please plan ahead and bring your phone to the race course. A spare recharging battery can also be helpful and perhaps your reading glasses.
After each race is scored, a photo of the line up sheet for the next race will be sent out via text messaging to discourage congregating around the competitors and Race Committee. The line up sheet will be posted but competitors must observe social distancing. Please do not crowd around the line up sheet and Race Committee. - If you have registered and paid for the regatta and are NOT coming, please let us know so that you won’t be added to the draws. We are assuming that you are attending if you we don’t hear from you.
ICE REPORT:
Link to ice report video.
Via Vice Commodore Jody Kjoller:
Ja
nuary 23, 2021: No wind today so we ran and pushed for miles. A working seam cuts the lake in about half. We went left out of the launch. 2 took one shore line, 2 took the other. Tons of room to sail. Small areas of stiff snow but not hard to push thru and separated by almost a mile for the most part. Surface is about 1/2 – 3/4 very textured snow ice that is very easy to cut through to a pretty decent hard surface. Barely a dusting of snow. Easily raced in 6+ mph wind. Overall I’d rate it a 6 (or a Maumee Bay 9).
LAUNCH:
Launch #1
UPDATE 25 January: There is a better launch for those with big trailers at Onaway State Park.
Launch #2
Eisen Trail, Grant Township, MI
Plus code: FPQP+66 Black Lake Bluffs, Michigan
Use caution when accessing the launch. It’s a very narrow, icy, and curvy road. Use extreme caution. Light single axle trailers can be rolled on but please spread out.
LODGING:
1. Best Western River Terrace
847 S Main Street
Cheboygan, Michigan 49721
1(800) 780-7234
(231) 627-5688
$85 double queen
$72 king
2. Waterway Inn
6100 M68
Indian River, MI 49749
231-238-9370
3. Northwoods Lodge
390 S. STRAITS HWY.
INDIAN RIVER, MI 49749
231.238.7729
4. Star Gate
4646 S. STRAITS HWY.,
INDIAN RIVER, MICHIGAN 49749
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Monday, January 25 7 PM: Registration Closes. No exceptions.
Tuesday, January 26
9 AM: Skippers Meeting in the pits
10 AM: First mini-qualifier
Following needed days: Races start at 9 AM
Awards follow immediately after the final race is completed and results are tabulated
2021 U.S. Nationals Update #4
Photo: Robert Jaeger
IMPORTANT U.S. NATIONALS SCHEDULE CHANGE:
The first day of racing for the U.S. Nationals has been moved to Tuesday, January 26, 2021. The primary site is Black Lake in northern Michigan. Ice reports from Black Lake are very encouraging. High winds prevented sailing on Black lake today, and it will be sailed by ranked sailors on Saturday. We are hoping to make the final confirmation on Saturday by 7 PM ET.
If you plan to attend the regatta, please either register or email us debwhitehorse@gmail.com to help plan with logistics.
Next update on Saturday, January 23, by 7 PM ET.
2021 U.S. Nationals Update #3
Photo: Catherine Firmbach
U.S. Nationals Information Page
IMPORTANT U.S. NATIONALS SCHEDULE CHANGE:
To give more time for scouting and get a clearer picture of the forecasted weekend weather event, the first day of U.S. Nationals racing has been moved to Monday, January 25, 2021. Registration will close on Sunday evening, January 24, 2021, at 7 PM.
Our ice scouts in Michigan and Wisconsin have been busy driving to lakes, checking conditions, and sailing when possible. Many thanks to our dedicated class members who spend a lot of time finding a suitable regatta site.
We will update you on Friday, January 22, 2021, by 8 PM ET.
2021 U.S. Nationals Update #2
Photo: gretchendorian.com
U.S. Nationals Information Page
IDNIYRA ice scouts in the Central and Western regions continue the hunt for a U.S. Nationals regatta site. There’s a weather system forecasted to move through southern Wisconsin that could bring snow to the Madison area over the weekend and bears watching. Potential regatta sites include northern Michigan, Lake Mendota in Madison, WI, and Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. We will update you on Friday, January 22, 2021, by 8 PM ET. The racing schedule has not changed with this postponement of site selection.
2021 U.S. Nationals Update #1
Photo: Copyright Catherine Firmbach
U.S. Nationals Information Page
The Governing and Race Committees had a conference call tonight about the 2021 Nationals. Potential regatta sites include northern Michigan, Lake Mendota in Madison, WI, and Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. A site location announcement will be posted by 9 PM ET Wednesday evening, January 20, 2021.
Important Dates:
- January 20: Site location announced
- January 21: Site location final confirmation
- January 23: Registration closes 7 PM local time
- January 24: Skippers Meeting 9 AM
First mini-qualifier 10 AM - Following needed days: Races start at 9 AM
- Awards follow immediately after the final race is completed and results are tabulated
2021 Western Region Championship Update #6: Postponed Until Feb 6-7
Via DN Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166
Western Region Championship Postponed
Earlier this week, the Madison area ice looked quite promising. However, during the week it failed to improve much and the weather that is rolling through today and tomorrow will likely leave the ice unsuitable for the DN WRC. So, regrettably, once again we have chosen to postpone.
With the DN US Nationals scheduled for Jan 23-30, the next available weekend for the WRC will be Feb 6-7.
The next update is Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021.
The Western Region Championship is a two-day regatta in either Minnesota, Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana.
Current Newsletter
DN VIDEOS
Minnesota Ice Sailing Association
- main lake sailed Minnetonka December 31, 2024
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
- John Eastman, R.I.P. April 26, 2025