2026 WESTERN REGION REGATTA STATUS AND REGISTRATION
The DN Western Region Championship has not yet been called on.
Registration will open once a regatta location is selected and officially confirmed. Updates on ice conditions and the event call will be posted here as they become available.
Important Notes:
REGISTRATION
- Online registration is mandatory and must be completed no later than 5:00 PM CT on Friday.
- No in-person registration will be accepted
PROOF OF INSURANCE
- All DN participants must submit proof of liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $300,000. This is mandatory to compete. Please email your proof of insurance to secretary.idniyra@gmail.org as soon as possible. If you have submitted insurance for the 2026 North American Championships, you do not have to submit again.
WHAT TO KNOW
2026 DN Western Region Championship
Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions
DATES: To be determined.
LOCATION: To be determined
LAUNCH SITE
LODGING
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
- Friday: 5 PM CT online registration closes.
- Saturday: 9:00 AM CT Skippers Meeting
- Saturday: 10:00 CT First start. If fleets are split, Silver Fleet will start first.
- Sunday: 10:00 CT First start. Races can start as late as 3:00 PM CT, at the discretion of the Race Committee.
OFFICIAL NOTICE BOARD
Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions
LATEST WESTERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS
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.
2021 Western Region Championship Update #5: Tentatively Called ON Jan 16-17
Photo: Catherine Firmbach
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166
The DN Western Region Championship is tentatively on for this weekend, Jan 16-17, 2021 in Madison, WI. Both lake Mendota and Monona are under consideration. However, there is precipitation in the forecast for Thursday PM into Friday AM. As a result the final call will not be made until noon Friday. If conditions and weather change such that we can make a final call earlier, either on or postponement, we will do so. Thank you for your patience.
Next update: Friday January 15, 2021, Noon CT.
The Western Region Championship is a two-day regatta in either Minnesota, Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana.
2021 Western Region Championship Update #4: Postponed Until Jan 16-17
2020 Silver Fleet champion Peter Johanson US5633 sailing on Ft. Peck reservoir in Montana. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166
The 2021 Western Region Championship has been postponed until January 16-17, 2021. We are hopeful that the continued cold weather will build ice and give us options for the next weekend.
The next update will be on Tuesday evening, January 12, 2021.
The Western Region Championship is a two-day regatta in either Minnesota, Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana.
2021 Western Region Championship Update #3
Brian Jones US1576 at the 2020 North American Championship at Ft. Peck, Montana. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166:
Our search for suitable ice for the 2021 Western Region Championship continues. Last week’s snow and moderate temperatures have left us with few options. We are monitoring several areas, including Madison and Pepin, but as of today, nothing is of regatta quality. As always, if you know of some ice that has potential, let us know as soon as possible so we can arrange to have it scouted before Thursday PM.
Final call will be made on Thursday evening, January 7, 2021.The Western Region Championship is a two-day regatta that takes place in either Minnesota, Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana.
2021 Western Region Championship Update #2
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166:
2021 Western Region Championship Postponed to Jan 9-10, 2021
The 2021 Western Region Championship regatta has been postponed until January 9-10, 2021. All potential sites received too much snow during Tuesday evening’s storm. We will continue to watch for the larger lakes to freeze. If you know of something, please let us know.
The next update will be Tuesday evening, January 5, 2021.
Until then, have a happy New Year!The Western Region Championship is a two-day regatta that takes place in either Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana.
2021 Western Region Championship Update #1
Photo Kurt Meyer
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166:
We currently have a few lakes on the radar for this weekend’s regatta including Pepin, Puckaway, and Kegonsa, to name a few. However, between the snow Sunday night and what is forecast for Tuesday night, the prospect of these lakes holding up is in jeopardy. We will continue to monitor the situation and search for usable ice. If you know of something and it appears to escape Tuesday’s snow, let us know.
The next update will be Wednesday, December 30, 2020, after the forecasted snow event. We will make a final confirmation on the evening of Thursday, December 31.
The Western Region Championship is a two-day regatta that takes place in either Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana.
2021 DN Western Region Championship Update
2021 DN Western Region Championship Update
With all the uncertainty in the air this DN season, we would like to announce that we intend to hold the Western Regional Championship as scheduled, January 2-3, 2021. Of course, the regatta location and date will be subject to the traditional task of locating suitable ice. Still, this year we must also contend with the extent and severity of state and local COVID-19 travel restrictions, stay-at-home orders, etc. A challenge, to be sure.
Stay tuned for updates.
Chris Berger US5166
Western Region Commodore
New Western Region Commodore
Chris Berger US5166 racing at the 2019 Polish DN Championship Photo: Gwidon Libera
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Berger, US5166, as Western Region Rear Commodore, effective immediately. Chris’ contribution to the class is appreciated.
IDNIYRA Commodore Warren Nethercote KC3786
WESTERN REGION REAR COMMODORE
I regret to report Daniel Hearn’s resignation as Western region Rear Commodore. His contributions to the Governing Committee and to the DN Class will be missed, but he has served his turn at the plate and deserves a return to more focus on sailing, whether on soft water or hard.
The IDNIYRA Constitution permits the Commodore to appoint Rear Commodores in the event of vacancies after May 1st, but also provides for election of Rear Commodores by the regional membership. Prior to seeking a volunteer and making a direct appointment of the Western Region Rear Commodore, are there members in the Western Region who would be interested in the position? The IDNIYRA can, if necessary, quite easily run an electronic election on behalf of the Western Region membership.
Expressions of interest to Deb Whitehorse please, before May 16th.
Warren Nethercote
Commodore IDNIYRA
2020 Western Region Championship
RESULTS The 2020 DN Western Region regatta was sailed on Lake Puckaway in Wisconsin the weekend of January 4-5, 2020. Conditions were about as perfect as ice sailing can be with hard ice and constant breeze over both days. Congratulations to all who made the effort to attend this event. The Youtube video embedded above is a collection of raw footage downloaded from the Facebook accounts of Deb Whitehorse, Pat Heppert, and Jeff Kent.
A huge thanks to all who volunteered for Race Commitee including Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn, Co-PROs Joe Norton & Dan Heaney, the scoring team of Erica Stange, Mercedes Auger, Pat Heppert, and Julie Jankowski, Fred Stritt at the weather mark,Terry Reynolds and Maureen Bohleber who stepped up where ever needed.
See you on January 19, 2020 at the North American Championship. What, you haven’t registered? There’s still time to join the fun, information here.
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