Western Region Championship Home Page

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

 

2020 Western Region Championship Update #2

Sit Tight!

DN Sailors:

 

We still have one venue in play about an hour north of Madison that reportedly survived last night’s weather quite well. The snow was absorbed into the moisture on the surface and has frozen on top of the 5” of original ice. It has not formed into shell ice, but the surface is reported to be somewhat pebbly. Even now, the new layer of ice is solid under the footsteps of a 200+ lb. walker. Temperatures will be in the teens this evening, which should further firm things up. The sheet will be inspected and sailed tomorrow by a highly experienced racer and ice checker. There’s potential for a small amount of rain/show (less than 1”) on Friday. Weekend wind forecast looks very good—10-20 mph both days.

 

Presently, there doesn’t appear to be any other sailable ice in the region. The long-range forecast does not look favorable for forming new ice on the many lakes that returned to a liquid state or have yet to freeze. This venue will not be available to the DNs the weekend of Jan. 11-12, and after that, we are bumping up against our North American Championship, the Gold Cup, and also the Northwest and ISA for sailors who also race in other fleets. If we postpone, we’re likely off until March, and at that point, we may not get it in at all. SO, if we can make it happen this weekend with acceptable conditions, we’ll likely go for it.

 

That’s what we know for now. Be ready!

Daniel Hearn

Western Region Rear Commodore

US 5352

2020 Western Region Championship Update

Line up for the 2018 DN Western Region championship on Lake Mendota.

DN Sailors:
At this point, we appear to have limited possibilities for a Western Lakes Championship for this weekend (January 4-5, 2020). We have not ruled it out, as we have two potential venues that are moving in the right direction, but also some rain/snow potential for late in the week. We’ll continue to monitor and keep you informed. In the meantime, if you have any other possibilities, please serve them up to me (dhearnUS5352@gail.com) and Bob Cummins (rcummins@new.rr.com).

Think Ice!
Daniel Hearn
Western Region Rear Commodore

Western Region Video & Sunrise Photo

Here’s another video to bookmark for those times when you want to show someone what DN racing is all about featuring former Commodore of the IDNIYRA Kent Baker US5219 and current Vice Commodore Dave Elsmo US5486. Thank you to Jim McDonagh US5214 for creating this video.

One of the fine folks from Lake City, MN passed this along. Sunday sunrise over the DN forest on Lake Pepin.
Photo: Manda Hart Baldwin

Western Region Championship Final Results

Western Region Championship DN Sailors

The Western Region regatta was concluded on Sunday in much colder and faster conditions compared to Saturday’s Miami-beach like weather. Ron Sherry (Michigan) and John Dennis (Minnesota) each scored 13 points in the Gold fleet. The tiebreak went to Ron Sherry.  Matt Schmidt (Wisconsin) won the Silver fleet. Grand Master winner was Bruce Williams(Michigan), Master was Jim Grogan (Michigan), and University of Wisconsin sailing team member Soren Hughes won the junior division. Congratulations to all who competed in this event and to Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn for his efforts to make this regatta happen.
Final results are here.

 

Western Region Update


A quick update from today. If conditions were like this every day, iceboating would be the most popular sport in the world. The weather and setting could not have been more beautiful. The bright sun kept us warm as we waited for the wind to make an appearance. The predicted westerly filled in and the flag dropped for the first race at 1;16 PM.
The Silver fleet will start Sunday’s rotation. The flag drops at 10 AM for the final day of the 2019 Western Region Championship. Results here

Western Region Championship Called ON for Jan 5-6 @ Lake Pepin

DN Sailors:

It’s On!

The Western Regional Championships are confirmed for this weekend, Jan. 5-6 on Lake Pepin in Lake City, Minnesota.

Provisional Results SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

 

Conditions

The ice surface is smooth to pebbly, rated a 7+ from two ranked/experienced DN racers who sailed it today. (See attached photos). Ice thickness is reported to be 8”. Weather forecast is calling for above freezing temperatures—sunny and high of 46 degrees on Saturday; cloudy with high of 39 degrees Sunday. Wind forecast for Saturday is 8 mph until 1:00 p.m., then starting to diminish. Sunday winds 8-10 mph throughout the racing day.

 

Let’s Get Our Money’s Worth

Note that we have a 9-race format scheduled and we will be working hard to be as efficient as possible in order to make that happen. We have the option to start a race as late as 3:00 p.m., but we would prefer to avoid that in consideration of our longer distance travelers. Please be ready to help out the Race Committee if assistance is requested. If rules allow, I would like to move the start time Saturday up ½-hour to 10:00 a.m. Please plan accordingly.

 

Accommodations
AMERICINN: Group rate at AmericInn. Reference “Western Region” to get $79.99/night group rate for double queen with breakfast. Amenities include pool and hot tub. 651-345-5611.
Note: The special rate is ONLY available if you call the hotel in Lake City directly!!!!
AmericInn by Wyndham Lake City
Website
1615 N Lakeshore Drive Lake City, Minnesota 55041-9023
+1-651-314-5611
Map

 

THE WILLOWS:
Willows on the River Condominium Resort
100 Central Point Road
Lake City, MN 55041
1-651-345-9900

 

THE SUNSET:
Sunset Motel & Resort
1515 N Lakeshore Dr, Lake City, MN 55041•(651) 345-5331

 

Registration
At AmericInn Friday evening and on ice Saturday morning, if necessary. Please click here to pre-register or you can email Deb Whitehorse secretary.idniyra@gmail.com  to confirm your attendance and to provide your fleet preference—Gold or Silver. (Depending on numbers, there may be one or two fleets, though prizes will be awarded for two fleets).

Launch
Roschen Park. Drive on if you so choose, but be aware this is a frozen section of a river.

Many thanks to Mike Miller and Tommy Meyer for scouting this sheet today. And to all others who provided information on other potential venues.

See you there!

Daniel Hearn

Western Region Rear Commodore

US 5352

Weather Underground PWS KMNLAKEC11

Notice of Race

Western Status Update


Via Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn:

DN Sailors:
Lake Pepin is being sailed today as a possible venue for the Western Region Championships to take place this weekend, Jan. 5-6. I will have a full ice report with video and pictures by late afternoon. At this point, no other good possibilities have been identified, though anything else served up will still be considered. Send any other reports ASAP. Recent snow events have taken out, for now, the lakes that were previously frozen. Many lakes in the southern portion of our region remain open, however, so more possibilities with the next cold weather/calm winds stretch. I hope to make a final call by end of day today. Stay tuned, and think ice!
Daniel Hearn
Western Region Rear Commodore
US 5352

2019 Western Regional Regatta Notice of Race


Download NOR in pdf
Via Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn:

Western Region DN Sailors and Guests:

 

Sharpen’m up! Western Region Championships are approaching.

 

Wanted to call you attention to a couple changes incorporated into our 2019 NOR.

 

1. Regatta Race Format

Now a 9-race regatta, should conditions permit. Maximum of 5 races per day, with no race on Sunday starting after 3:00. Are we likely to get 18 races completed (assumes two fleets) across two consecutive days? Probably not, but would be nice to have the flexibility to maximize a weekends’ racing opportunity however the weather unfolds, with a reasonable limit on number of races in a single day.

2. Entry Fee

Now $40 for those 26 and older, and $25 for those 25 and under. Just five bucks more…and where else can you have so much fun for $20/day?! To encourage new blood, we’re giving the young set a break—we really need them to secure the future of our great sport. We are also in need of a modest cash infusion to keep our ATV in good condition. This Fall we had a complete tune up performed, and we installed stiffer springs, to accommodate our typical 2-person load and/or trailer towing duties.

3. Prizes

No more Senior Trophy. We’ll continue with Master, Grand Master and other specialty trophies. With most of us over 50 anyway, the trophy has really lost it’s meaning. Good reminder of why encouraging and helping the young set any way we can is so important!

See you on the ice!

Daniel Hearn US 5352

Western Region Rear Commodore

2019 Notice of Race

Western Lakes Regional DN Championship Regatta

1. Rules:
All races will be governed by the Racing Rules of the National Iceboat Authority; the By-Laws of the IDNIYRA, and Official Specifications of the DN Ice Yacht; the Notice of Race, including any amendments to the Notice of Race, (except as any of these are altered by the sailing instructions) and the Sailing Instructions. The Sailing Instructions can be modified at the Skippers Meeting and by a notice posted on the official notice board.

Nine (9) race regatta format – five (5) race maximum per day; three (3) race minimum in the Gold Fleet will constitute a completed regatta. Fleets – Gold & Silver with volunteer split for fleets; Rookie Division as part of the Silver Fleet.

2. Eligibility:
All DN class yachts meeting the requirements of the Official Specifications and whose skippers meet the requirements of the By-Laws of the IDNIYRA as stated in the section IDNIYRA Regattas are eligible to enter and race in the championship.
Proof of personal or race liability insurance ($300,000 minimum) will be needed at time of registration.

3. Site Information and Postings:
A. The primary site is within the North American Western Region
B. Site and Headquarters Information will be determined by the regatta organizer.
C. Official regatta information, updates and accommodations: idniyra.org & the DN America Forum

4. Entry and Fee:
A. The official entry form must be submitted and signed at registration.
B. Entry Fee
1. 26 and older: The entry fee is $40, payable at site of regatta in US dollars.
2. 25 and younger: The entry fee is $25, payable at site of regatta in US dollars.

5. Schedule of Events:
•Friday: 7-9 PM Registration at Regatta Hotel Headquarters
•Sat 8-9 on ice registration
•Sat 9:30 Skippers Meeting
•Sat 10:30 First DN start
•Sunday 10:00 First DN start. No race will start after 3:00 PM

6. Sailing Instructions:
Official Sailing Instructions will be provided at registration.

7. Prizes: Trophies will be awarded to the top five places in each fleet plus Top Woman, Top Junior, Top Rookie, Top Master (60 to 69), and Top Grand Master (70+)

THE DN ICE YACHT

The DN is most popular iceboat in the world. Whether you are a racer or cruiser, your $25 membership in the IDNIYRA helps to promote the art and skill of DN ice yacht construction and the sport of ice yachting on all the hard waters of the world.

2026 REGATTA DATES

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