Snow Got You Down? Tune In to Matt Struble’s Podcast Interview

by | Feb 16, 2025 | 2024-2025, DN, Home Page

Matt Struble US183. Photo by Anna Suslova.

With the 4LIYC racing on pause thanks to all this snow, it’s a great time to catch up on some ice sailing talk. Sailing Anarchy just dropped a new podcast featuring none other than 2025 DN World & North American Champion Matt Struble! Fresh off his dominant performance at Lake Winnebago, Matt sat down with host Scott Tempesta to break down the regatta. While his scores made it look effortless, Matt shares just how tough the conditions were and what it took to come out on top. As Scott put it: “I just chatted him up, and I can tell he is going to be a great guest!” The episode is available this afternoon—perfect listening while we wait for sailable ice to return.
Listen here: https://sailinganarchy.com/sailing-anarchy-podcast/  Or check out the SA podcasts on Apple, Google, or Spotify podcasts.
Stay tuned, and hopefully, the Big Zamboni will arrive and we’ll be back on the ice soon!

 

Lake Winnebago – The Place to Be for Ice Sailing

by | Feb 6, 2025 | 2024-2025, DN, Home Page, Regattas

4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn takes first in Silver at the DN Worlds.Not pictured, second place Dave Elsmo.  Photo: Anna Suslova

Lake Winnebago – The Place to Be for Ice Sailing

Lake Winnebago has been the place to be for ice sailing this season. From the Northwest Regatta to the Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Regatta, the DN Western Region Championship, and now the DN World and North American Championships, it has been an incredible stretch of racing on one of the best venues in North America.

It’s great to be back on Winnebago for the DN Worlds and North Americans and even better to drive on the ice, making race logistics easier for sailors and officials. These back-to-back regatta weeks can be exhausting, but ice sailors have been waiting for years for this kind of ice. Beyond the racing, seeing everyone socializing at the hotel and gathering for a banquet at Sunset on the Water has been fantastic.

DN World Championship Recap

The World Championship is now complete, and congratulations to five-time champion Matt Struble. Watching the best ice sailors in the world at work is always incredible. Right behind Matt, the Polish sailors continue to be a massive force, along with the Swedes and Estonians, who have all shown their skill and consistency. The top Swedish sailors in this competition have a long history with my brother, Ron Rosten, who has followed their progress from junior racing all the way to the Gold Fleet. Ron attends the Junior World Championship held in Europe every year, and it has been amazing to see these young sailors grow into top competitors.

North American Championship Begins

Now, the focus shifts to the North American Championship, where four races have been completed. Every race has been like a high-speed chess match, where every move counts, and the slightest mistake can cost positions. The competition has been fierce, with no easy wins.

Today’s forecast calls for strong winds, and I’m sure PRO Pat Heppert is already driving to the lake to check conditions as I type this.

4LIYC Sailors at the DN World Championship

Closer to home, our Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (4LIYC) sailors had strong performances at the DN World Championship, battling through some of the toughest competition in recent memory. The Silver Fleet raced at a Gold Fleet level, and Bronze felt like Silver, making every finish hard-earned.

  • Chad Atkins finished 14th in Gold Fleet
  • 4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn won the Silver Fleet, securing an automatic spot in the Gold Fleet for the championship
  • Dave Elsmo was right behind him, taking 2nd place in Silver Fleet
  • Dale Gordon finished 20th in the Bronze Fleet

Great racing from our club members—congratulations to all!

It has been an incredible week, and we are hoping to finish out the North Americans with a complete seven-race series. Stay tuned for updates!

Stay updated with the latest results, photos, and behind-the-scenes coverage:

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2025 Northwest Ice Yachting Regatta Report

by | Jan 28, 2025 | 2024-2025, 2025 Northwest, DN, Home Page, NIYA, Regattas, Renegade, WSSA

From tradition to innovation: George Gerhardt’s classic stern steerer parked beside JD’s high-tech Skeeter highlights the evolution of the NIYA. Founded in 1913, this regatta has embraced 112 years of ice sailing history, blending the old with the new.

RESULTS
Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac

The 2025 Northwest Regatta delivered a thrilling weekend of racing on Lake Winnebago, with a mix of conditions that tested sailors’ skill and adaptability.

Friday

Perfect breeze and efficient racing. After a morning delay in waiting for the temperatures to increase, thanks to steady winds, we ran 12 races using the inline course and the Grand Prix (Bart in DN lingo) scoring system. The day ran smoothly, with everyone taking advantage of the ideal conditions. The annual meeting took place at the Fond du Lac Yacht Club.

Saturday

As predicted, the winds built steadily throughout the morning. The Skeeters kicked things off with a wild and exciting race, with JD, Ken Whitehorse, and Jay Yaeso battling neck and neck for four laps. The Stern Steerers handled the increasing breeze, though Joe Terry’s regatta ended when a mast fitting broke loose.

The B Skeeters saw an equally close and exciting race. The DNs held on through the challenging conditions with some thrilling spinouts, and everyone made it around. Then came the Renegades, racing as the wind hit 30 mph, gusting to 35 mph. Ron Rosten led for two laps before battling mast inversion issues, allowing Mike Derusha to take the lead. After that, the Race Committee called it a day due to the extreme conditions.

Stern-Steerer sailor and Race Committee member George Gerhardt organized a fantastic banquet at TJ’s Harbor on Saturday night. It was standing room only, with our own building, a bartender, efficient waitstaff, and great food—a perfect way to cap off an intense day.

Sunday

Sunday brought the lightest winds of the regatta, offering a completely different challenge. That’s what makes a great regatta: a variety of conditions. The day started with adjustments as we waited for the wind to settle and made some course changes. The first Stern Steerer race was black-flagged after the lead boat missed the time limit.

As the Skeeters and other fleets rotated through, the wind held just enough for competitive racing. The final DN race started at 12:37, and the Renegades squeezed in their last race at 12:59—just in time to meet the 1 PM deadline.

Then, it was time for the Northwest tradition: the Free For All. Three E Skeeters lined up for an eight-lap battle, with John Dennis again taking the win. (In case you are wondering, the eight-lap Skeeter race took 25 minutes and 51 seconds.) Seeing a large contingent of the young Minnetonka DN sailors join us for the regatta was exciting. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and we’re pretty sure they had the most fun of anyone this weekend.

Closing

The trophy ceremony was held on shore, marking the end of a memorable regatta. Huge thanks to the Race Committee—Jay Yaeso, Andy Gratton, George Gerhardt, Bob Cummins, and Jason Thompson—for keeping the event fun and efficient. A special shoutout to the Friendship Fishing Club for maintaining the crucial bridge and sharing their lake culture.

Seeing the Nite fleet holding their Nationals out of the same harbor was also exciting. Watching the Nites bang out race after race on this massive piece of ice added an extra layer of excitement to the weekend. The vast ice of Lake Winnebago has attracted the DN class, which has scheduled their World and North American Championships there next week, with racing set to begin on Sunday, February 2nd.

The Northwest Regatta continues to showcase the best of ice sailing, from thrilling races to the camaraderie on and off the ice. Until next time!

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Renegade 1st: Mike Derusha – Menekaunee Ice Yacht Club
A Stern Niya
A Stern Steerer 1st: Eric Sawyer- West Michigan Ice Yacht Club
B1 Skeeter Niya 2025
B Skeeter 1st: Jason Thompson – SIBC
B Skeeter Niya 2025
B Skeeter 2nd: Jim Smith -Skeeter Ice Boat Club
C Skeeter Niya 2025
C Skeeter 1st: Pat Heppert – Minnesota Ice Boaters
C Stern Niya
C Stern Steerer 1st: Mike Peters – WSSA
Dn Jr Niya
DN Junior 1st: Maggie McGary – Minnesota Ice Boaters
Dn Niya 2025
DN: From left Bob Cummins 3rd, Mike Bloom 1st, Jay Yaeso, and Matt Meyer 2nd
D Stern Niya
D Stern Steerer 1st: Andy Gratton – WSSA
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E Skeeter 1st: Ken Whitehorse – Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club
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Renegade 2nd: Scott Shackelford – United Skeeters Association
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Renegade 2nd: Greg McCormick – 4LIYC

 

A note from Ken Whitehorse: “What a blessing and a privilege to be among God’s creation of ice, wind, and blades of steel! Thank you to the entire iceboat family for assistance and caring for one another.” Photo: Shane Lewis silverfoxviz.com