2014 Western Region Championship called ON for Kegonsa

[MICHAEL]

The 2014 Western Region Championship will be held December 13-14, 2014.
Primary site is Lake Kegonsa, near Madison Wi. Launch site is Springers Restaurant and Bar at 3097 Sunnyside St, Stoughton, WI 53589. A large parking lot is adjacent with easy walk over a wooden ramp to the lake. This was used last weekend for the Great Western Challenge sailed on grade 10 ice. A minor sleet/rain mix fell on Monday with some spots of thin shell ice over 1/4' puddles reported Tuesday. The cold temps the next 2 nights could heal it. It will be sailed by noon on Wed. An alternate launch ramp is located 1 mile away at Town of Pleasant Springs Boat Launch, 2267 Williams Point Drive, Stoughton, WI. $5 per day parking charge. DO NOT DRIVE ON THE ICE WITH VEHICLE
Be careful with heavy trailers.
Alternate site could be Green Lake at Spicer, MN. It is being checked on Wed.
Lake Pepin at Lake City, MN is another site under consideration. A walk on looks ok with a few puddles of thin shell also. It would need sailing first.

LODGING

Regatta Headquarters

Country Inn & Suites
 400 River Pl, Madison, WI 53716
Map
 (608) 221-0055
 Ask for iceboater rate of $74 for standard room, King or 2 queens
 RESERVE BY WEDS, DEC 10 MIDNIGHT TO GET THIS RATE


Sleep Inn & Suites
Ask for iceboater rate of $74 for king or double queens by Midnight Wed Dec 10 to get this rate
 4802 Tradewinds Pkwy Madison, WI 53718
 (608) 221-8100

Americ Inn
Ask for iceboater rate of $84 by midnight Wed Dec 10
101 W Broadway, Madison Wi 53716
(608) 222 8601

NOR posted at https://ice.idniyra.org/racing/Notice_of_Race/2014/Western_Region_DN_Championship

Registration to be held at Country Inn Regatta Headquarters Friday 7-9PM or at Springers launch site with Deb Whitehorse 8-9AM Sat.
For those 46 persons who registered and paid at the Green Lake Regatta last January 11, no cost to you. All others, may register on line at https://ice.idniyra.org/racing/registration/2014/Western_Region_DN_Championship

REMEMBER:  IDNIYRA Membership paid in full is required.  IF you are new and need to join, or need to pay up, you can do that on site or on the IDNIYRA site. https://ice.idniyra.org/membership/dues/NA

IMPORTANT:  To participate, you must show proof of Liability Insurance (minimum $300,000)  this is usually in the form of homeowners insurance or renters insurance.  (Your automotive policy will NOT work for this purpose).
Please contact an experienced DN racer or a representative of the IDNIYRA to clarify if you have any questions.
There is also a method to update your insurance information on line at the home page of IDNIYRA

[Geoff Sobering]

Wes Wilcox was out on Lake Kegonsa earlier and reports there have been "...major improvements overnight. Very nice conditions. Rated better than last weekend."

Wes and Jim Nordhaus are at Springers waiting for the wind to pickup enough to sail.

Things are looking good for this weekend.

[DN 5449]

Plan on rolling into town thurs.Have room booked thurs nigh at Country Inn,looking to share with someone.
Mike Madge
Kc5449
807 577 2109

[MICHAEL]

Lake Kegonsa is confirmed to be the site for the 2014 Western Regionals. Thanks to Jim Nordhaus and Wes Wilcox for sailing the entire course area on Wednesday. In their words, "flawless, cracks still tight, a very quiet ride and better than last weekend".

REMINDER:
Even though 46 persons registered last year, either on line or in person, all competitors must register in person with a current copy of proof of Liability Insurance  (Minimum $300,000) It can be in the form of a Homeowners, Renters Policy, or an Iceboat policy.
Registration will be at the Country Inn & Suites 7-9PM Friday or at Springers Bar & Restaurant launch 8-9AM Saturday.
 
Skippers Meeting at 9:30 AM at Springers launch site. First race scheduled for 10:30 AM.
You must also be a current IDNIYRA member.

A group dinner is being planned for Saturday evening.

Mike Miller
US5369
Western Region Vice Commodore

[Deb Whitehorse]

2014 WESTERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

BANQUET INFORMATION

Please join us at Fat Jack's BBQ Saturday night for smoked ribs, smoked chicken, coleslaw, baked beans, garlic bread, and ranch fries.
The cost is only $13.95 plus tax and tip.
We will not be collecting money for the banquet because each person will be responsible to pay their own bill at Fat Jack's.

Date: Saturday, December 13, 2014
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Fat Jack's BBQ
6207 Monona Drive, Monona, WI
Fat Jack's is about 1/4 mile north of the AmericInn and on the same side of the street.

[MICHAEL]

UPDATED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Friday: 6-8 PM Registration at Regatta Hotel Headquarters- Country Inn & Suites lobby.


Thank you to Springers for allowing use of launch path to lake and parking lot for our event.

1. Friday evening after set up, they have their regular fish fry open in the dining room. Each competitor responsible for your own cost

2. Saturday morning, they will have the doors open by 8:30AM for toilet use.

3. Awards after racing Sunday will be on their outdoor deck or in the Game Room depending on weather.

4. Springers again will host a Sunday afternoon buffet lunch(cost on your own in the Dining Room)

[MICHAEL]

All 2014 Western Region DN racers should go to this website, review the rules and take the short test.
Copies of the rules and diagrams will be available at registration. If you are unsure of a rule, ask an experienced racer. Talk about them at breakfast and at the Bar.
BE SAFE
BE ALERT, LOOK AROUND
http://idniyra.eu/

[MICHAEL]

Update for Sunday Dec 13.
Fogged in all day Sat. Zero races sailed or attempted. 46 DN's registered and present.
Amendments posted at Headquarters Hotel

1 start for combined Gold & Silver Fleet
Race 1- Gold fleet use start block assigned from Sat lottery to be posted on start line. Silver fleet fill in spaces vacant in any order.
Race 2,3 +, Start positions based on finish of prior race, (combined group)
Gold and Silver scoring and trophies will be split based on the designation you elected on Sat for fleet split.
SI's and Schedule remain the same- start time 10AM prompt based on weather conditions.
Goal is to complete at least 3 races.

[MICHAEL]

Sunday, fog, drain holes, open seams. Regatta called complete with zero races over 2 days. RC never even left the pits at Springers! 46 competitors were sure hoping for more. Lots of great social time.
Mike Miller
Western Region Vice Commodore

[Ken Smith]

 
We tried.

Some don't know of our social media presence:
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204898186842151.1073741865.1464474647&type=1&_rdr

[DN 5449]

Good times sailing with you Ken.

[DN 5449]

There was some discussion as to wether or not the race Committee could have got in a race on Sat.In there defence I went out with them on the course and as inviting as it looked with the great ice and nice breeze,the visibility when sailing was just too poor for the speed of these boats.Even in the 6-7 mph wind I was powered up and flying a runner.
The Fog did lift for about an hr later in the afternoon and about 8-10 of us got in some racing,but again anymore boats then that would have been very dangerous.So kudos to Dan and his race committee for the decision they made.Also very refreshing to hear a race committee actually to listen to sailors input on what they think.Also thanks for lending Ken and myself a few cones so we could play.