DN Regatta Reports
Jungo Land Sailing Adventure: Ron Sherry Takes the Win
RESULTS
The photos tell the story. This looks like one of those events people will regret missing, with a lot of “you had to be there” stories coming out of Jungo Yacht Club.
After three days of racing in a variety of wind conditions, 5-time DN World Champion and 14-time DN North American Champion Ron Sherry claimed victory in the A Fleet with 12 points. Daniel Hearn, who invited Ron and Leon Lebeau to Nevada and supplied the boats they sailed, finished second with 16 points. Not bad for Ron’s first attempt at land sailing and his transition from ice to dirt was clearly successful.
When Daniel called and suggested the trip, Ron didn’t need much convincing. “Leon and I have been wanting to try that forever,” Ron recalled.
Daniel arrived with a trailer full of land yachts. Scott Dale provided the venue, having purchased the property and developed Jungo Yacht Club into one of the premier land sailing destinations in North America. During the day, sailors raced. At night, everyone gathered around campfires, shared meals, and traded stories.
Forty-six boats competed, divided evenly between A and B Fleets, with 23 boats in each fleet. In B Fleet, Reed Lorimer took top honors. The Mini-Max team competition, which paired one A Fleet sailor with one B Fleet sailor, added another dimension to the regatta. Augie Dale and Reed Lorimer captured the team title, while Ron Sherry and Leon Lebeau finished second.
One of the highlights came Saturday evening during a night sail under the full moon. Sailors raced a relay course using giant glow sticks as marks, creating the kind of scene that sounds almost too good to be true until you see the photographs.
Congratulations to Scott Dale and the Jungo Yacht Club crew for creating what appears to have been an unforgettable event.
Something tells me a few ice sailors just added Jungo Yacht Club to their bucket list. For Daniel Hearn and several others, the adventure began months ago in Damien Luyet’s shop, where the gang has been logging long hours building a fleet of Mini Skeeters in preparation for this event. Kudos to Daniel Hearn for putting people in boats, no matter what the surface!
A Good Day for Runner Tracks
It’s a gray, rainy day in Madison and it’s highly likely the ice season here is officially over. It’s a good day to sit down with the latest issue of the DN newsletter Runner Tracks. There’s something in it for everyone.
This issue includes two rookie race reports from sailors who found their way into the DN class by very different routes, along with articles on rules and tactics, the protest committee process, speed insights, proposed new DN plans, and the AGM minutes.
We’re also honored to include a contribution from US Sailing Herreshoff Award recipient Gordy Bowers, and grateful to Rachel Bartel from Harken for her beautiful photography throughout the issue. LINK
Regatta Watch: Northwest Postponed to March 6-8
We Sure Do!
The Race Committee was unable to locate a suitable racing area that had ice surface conditions and launch access for the Annual Regatta for February 27th. The search continues for March 6th. Next update is March 1, 2026.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA
Battle of the Brands
Both commercials have already made the rounds in the ice sailing world. The Range Rover spot filmed in Minnesota last March with Daniel Hearn at the helm. The Škoda commercial shot in Finland in May with Lukas Zakrzewski driving.
This was simply a good excuse to get the two of them in one photo at registration for the 2026 DN World Championship in Sweden.
Regatta Watch: 2026 Northwest Regatta Called ON for Feb 13-15 @ Green Lake, WI
Regatta Watch: Northwest Tentatively Called On for Green Lake, WI Feb 13-15
Sebastion Sørensen. Photo: Rachel Bartel for @harken_inc
The NIYA Race Committee has tentatively called the Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Championship Regatta on starting Friday February 13th at Green Lake Wisconsin.
The final call will be made after an ice check on Wednesday February 10th at noon.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA
The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association regatta was first sailed in Menominee, Michigan, in 1913. Originally a Stern-Steerer regatta, it now also includes Skeeters, Renegades, and DNs.
Northwest Home Page
Regatta Watch: 2026 Northwest & Nite Nationals Called Tentatively Called on For Green Lake FEB 6 – 8
Renegade sailor Ron Rosten at the 2026 Renegade Championship on Green Lake. Photo: Will Johnston
Received word from NIYA Secretary Steve Schalk as we left the ice today that the 2026 Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta is tentatively called on for Green Lake, Wisconsin, FEBRUARY 6–8.
The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta was first sailed in 1913 as a Stern steerer event and remains one today, with Stern Steerers at its core and the addition of A, B, and C Skeeters, Renegades, and the DN class.
NIYA home page: LINK
The Nite Nationals are tentatively called on, also at Green Lake.
Final confirmation for both events will be posted Wednesday, February 4.
Nite-specific details are available on the Nite website. LINK
Green Lake has strong ice and clean sailing right now. These windows do not last. If you want good conditions, this is the moment to use them.
More photos and reports from the DN North Americans and the ISA are coming tomorrow.
Iceboating, Considered
Earlier this week, NPR’s All Things Considered aired a short segment on ice sailing. I was invited to talk about the sport, how it works, why it is so fast, and some of the history.
While there is currently no sailing on the Four Lakes, the season itself is very much alive. The DN class is set to hold the DN North American Championship on Lake Wawasee in Indiana, with racing expected to begin Sunday, January 25. Follow along here: LINK
There’s even a webcam.
There are also early signs of other sites developing. Word on the street is that Green Lake has recently iced over and is worth watching as conditions evolve.
As I write this, it is –15°F, which is too cold to iceboat anyways, but not unusual for January, and not a reason to count the season out.
You can listen to the segment here:
LINK
Regatta Logic, Explained
Wondering how can three things be true at the same time, three regattas (the Northwest, ISA, and Nite Nationals) tentatively called on for the same weekend?
For January 16–18, all three are in play and they are connected. Multiple fleets are trying to do the right thing without stepping on each other.
Here’s the flow-chart version, in words.
Step 1: Look North
The Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta is tentatively on for Lake Winnebago at Fond du Lac, starting Friday, January 16.
Classes sailing at the Northwest include DN, Renegade, Stern Steerer A, B, C, and D, and A, B, and C Skeeters.
The final call will be made by noon on Wednesday, January 14, after ice and forecast checks.
This is the first domino.
Step 2: If the Northwest Is ON
NIYA sails in Fond du Lac.
The International Skeeter Association does not sail on Lake Kegonsa.
The Nite Nationals continue watching Kegonsa to determine whether Nationals conditions exist.
Step 3: If the Northwest Is OFF
Everything shifts south.
The International Skeeter Association Regatta is tentatively on for Lake Kegonsa, but only if the Northwest is postponed.
ISA racing includes A, B, and C Skeeters, Nites, and Renegade classes.
The NIYA decision is announced at 11:00 am Wednesday.
The ISA decision follows at 11:30 am.
By noon Wednesday, it will be clear whether the ISA is on and where.
Step 4: The Nite Nationals Decision
Nite Nationals are tentatively scheduled for January 16–18 on Lake Kegonsa, for either two or three days.
This is the National Championship for the Nite class.
If the ISA is officially called on, the ISA regatta takes precedence.
The Nite Board will provide updates after 3:30 pm Wednesday, with a final decision by early evening, based on ice conditions.
In plain English:
Wednesday is everything.
The Northwest decides first.
ISA reacts to the Northwest.
The Nite fleet watches Kegonsa and defers to ISA if needed.
By Wednesday night, the picture should be clear.
Staying In The Lines
Stern Steerer sailor Andy Gratton checked in from Lake Winnebago with a note and a surprise. His wife Ann was cleaning the attic and found an oversized coloring book from 1976, price tag still on it, 88 cents. Along with a spread of historical scenes, it includes this DN drawing. Andy added that Winnebago “got too much snow. The ice was looking really nice on Monday. Drats!”
Their attic discovery sparked an idea, so here are a few quickly AI generated ROSEMARY and WISCONSIN coloring-book pages.
Online Ship’s Store
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
4LIYC Governing Documents
Click for 4LIYC Meeting Dates
- January 2 THURSDAY Honor Roll Nominations
- January 15 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
- January 29
- February 12 Business Meeting
- February 26
- March 12 Last Meeting of the Season
Location: In person at the Elks Lodge 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Time: 6:30 PM
YOU ARE SKIPPER NUMBER
TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
