US Nationals – Day 2 Report

by | Feb 2, 2026 | 2026, 2026 North American, Home Page

Sebastion Sørensen US Nationals Silver Fleet Champion. Photo: Rachel Bartel for @harken_inc

The Final Day U.S. Nationals and the Long Goodbye

Saturday marked the final day of a long and demanding DN North American Championship week at Green Lake. By then, the North Americans were decided, the awards presented, and the fleet had a choice to make. Pack up or keep sailing.

Many chose to keep sailing.

In 2025, the DN class voted to change the format of the North American Championship from a fourteen race series to seven races, followed by an optional nonranking regatta for those who wanted to continue the week. The idea was simple. Crown the champions, then let sailors sail if the ice allowed.

Green Lake delivered.

Light air arrived for the U.S. National Championship, just enough to get racing started. Gold Fleet completed three races. Silver Fleet completed two before the wind finally shut down. A third Silver Fleet race exceeded the time limit and was black flagged. By midafternoon, it was clear the week had run its course.

U.S. National Championship results LINK
Gold Fleet Champion James “T” Thieler
Silver Fleet Champion Sebastian Sørensen

Sebastian Sørensen’s week deserves special mention. Still a junior sailor, he has had a breakout season, showing composure, speed, and consistency well beyond his years.

Thanks Where They Are Due

A regatta of this scale depends on people who show up early, stay late, and work in difficult conditions.

Host Western Region Commodore Tim Mower took on his first major organizing role and saw it through. We are grateful for his steady hand and willingness to step up.

PRO Pat Heppert beat the sunrise each morning, scouting the lake to find the best possible course. He did it every day, even in bitter cold, adjusting continually as conditions changed.

Measurers and line helpers Dave Ryan and Paul Hickman, both from the Toledo Ice Yacht Club, accepted every challenge with good humor and professionalism.

Scoring on the ice was handled by Nina Fleming and Anne Foeller (with myself as caller.) Tabulation in the back office was handled by Bob Foeller, keeping results accurate and timely as racing progressed. Nina hails from Maine and has extensive experience with land sailing officiating. Bob and Ann are long-time Toledo Ice Yacht Club members.

At the weather mark, Fred Stritt from Lake Delavan, WI ran his command post, in constant communication with Pat, tracking wind changes and confirming that all competitors made the course. He was assisted throughout the week by Dan Williams.

Thanks to Maureen Bohleber, Green Lake Ice Yacht Club member and Nite Fleet Commodore, for local knowledge and onsite support when it mattered.

Thanks to Greg Mullett of the Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club for line technical support.

4LIYC member Daniel Hearn deserves special recognition. He does whatever is asked, often before it is asked. He also played an important mentoring role for Sebastian Sørensen. When Sebastian was on the line, Daniel was there with a quiet word of advice and support.

Thank you to the Green Lake Ice Yacht Club for hosting us, for an unforgettable social event, and for making sure we always had what we needed.

Thanks to Joe Norton for opening his shop for a tour on our cold lay day and for lending the scoring team his Ranger.

Thanks to Ron Sherry, T. Thieler, and Chris Berger for staying late to answer questions at an evening clinic organized by Tim Mower, after already putting in long days on the ice.

Special thanks to Brian Jones for a memorable sing along of a song he wrote about iceboating, which set the tone for an evening that brought the DN and ISA communities together.

Thank you as well to the governing board for being available throughout the week for decision making and guidance. Commodore Rob Holman, Vice Commodore Karen Binder, Eastern Region Commodore James T. Thieler, Mountain Lakes Region Commodore Paul Chamberland, and Central Region Commodore Peter Johanson.

Finally, thank you to every competitor who made the choice to join us for this week. We faced some challenging days. We adapted. We persevered. And once again the DN class brought a championship week to a proper finish.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
Regatta Information Page
US Nationals Results
North American Results
Facebook

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Western Region Commodore Tim Mower congratulates US Nationals Gold fleet winner T Thieler
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Sebastian Sorensen US Nationals Silver Fleet First Place
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Photo: Jim Stevenson
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Photo: Jim Stevenson
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Photo: Jim Stevenson
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Photo: Jim Stevenson

 

Official 2026 DN North Americans Apparel Store Is Open

by | Dec 18, 2025 | 2026 North American, Home Page

A small sampling of the official 2026 DN North Americans apparel. Many more styles and options are available in the online store.

Official 2026 DN North Americans Apparel Store Is Open

The 2026 DN North American Championship apparel store is now live.

We are using Coral Reef again for on demand gear. This means no inventory limits, a wide range of sizes and cuts, and the ability to order what you want when you want it. Items are produced on demand and ship directly to you.

Official apparel store:
https://stores.crsapparel.com/DNapparel2026/shop/home

What you will find in the store

  • Short sleeve and long sleeve tees
  • Men’s and women’s cuts
  • Tech fabrics and blends suited for racing, rigging, and travel
  • Official event graphics consistent with the 2026 North Americans branding

Registration reminder

The early registration deadline is approaching. Registering before the deadline saves money and helps the organizing team plan more accurately.

If you know you are coming, now is the time to act. Oder apparel early and register before fees increase.

2026 DN North American and Nationals NOR Posted & Registration Now Open

by | Dec 8, 2025 | 2026, 2026 North American, Home Page

2026 DN North American and U.S. National Championships Notice of Race Posted and Registration Now Open

2026 North American & Nationals Home Page
The Notice of Race is live and registration is open for the 2026 DN North American and U.S. National Championships. You will find everything on the regatta page, including the Notice of Race and the link to register. Sailing Instructions will follow.

The regatta is hosted by the Western Region. Tim Mower, Western Region Commodore, is the Regatta Chair. The regatta site will be selected based on the best ice available. If the Western Region has no suitable ice, the search will expand to the other regions to find the best possible racing conditions.

Racing is scheduled for January 25 through January 31, 2026.

We are also working on regatta merchandise that you will be able to order and have shipped to your home. More information will follow.

Save money. Regatta fees increase on January 1, 2026. Register now and keep a few dollars in your pocket. Rookies and juniors do not incur late fees.

A critical reminder on liability insurance. Every sailor must have current home or renter insurance that covers them during the regatta period. Proof of insurance must be submitted by January 22, 2026 to be included in the random draw for starting positions. Only sailors who complete registration and submit insurance by that date will be placed in the initial draw. You can upload your insurance during registration or email it afterward.

This is the first year for the new format. The class voted to change the North Americans to a seven race series. After the North Americans, we will run the U.S. Nationals, another seven race regatta. The U.S. Nationals is non ranking. If you are new to racing or want experience without the pressure of championship scoring, the U.S. Nationals may be the right place to start.

Please review the details for mandatory check in in the Notice of Race before you travel.

The Western Challenge on Lake Minnewaska in Starbuck, MN gave us a strong start to the season with good ice, good wind, and a fleet that showed up ready to sail. If that weekend lit a fire under you, carry it forward. Register today.

New this year. If you want to give the regatta a little extra help, we now offer optional donation levels during registration. These gifts go directly to race operations and volunteer support.

A reminder for newcomers. If you are a new sailor or you have not been a class member in the last five years, you can race both regattas with a two year membership for $54.

Register here

Read the Notice of Race here

Visit the regatta information page