RESULTS Photos:Sails Up Facebook Group
Congratulations to the ice sailors, the future of our sport, who competed at the 2023 Junior World Championship in Kertuoja, Lithuania, March 5 – 7. Day one brought challenging snow-covered ice conditions and winds of 12 – 18 mph. Competitors played the wind waiting game on day two before it filled in time to complete the regatta on Tuesday, March 7. Unfortunately, another snowstorm on Wednesday ended hopes of holding the Junior European Championship.
2023 Junior Ice Optimist World Champions Top 3
1. C3 Aron Poolma, Estonia
2. C1 Emma Mia Kaar, Estonia
3. C28 Anni Kubjas, Estonia
2023 Junior DN World Champions Top 3
1. S714 Oskar Svensson, Sweden
2. C20 Rasmus Maalinn, Estonia
3. P90 Cezary Sternicki, Poland
2023 European Championship: Tomek Zakrzewski P55 first place, and Robert Graczyk P31 third place on Lake Kertuojai, Lithuania
RESULTS
Congratulations to Tomek Zakrzewski P55 for winning the Gold Fleet of the 2023 IDNIYRA European Championship sailed on Lake Kertuojai, Lithuania. Tomek won the tiebreak with IDNIYRA European Commodore Mikhel Kosk C45, who placed second. Robert Gracyk P31 was third.
Joonas Kiisler C53 took first in Silver, and Timo Lehmuskallio L103 took first in Bronze. Congratulations to all who participated and hung tough under challenging conditions.
One of our North American Junior sailors, in the news! The Ellsworth American By Anne Berleant
Flying 60 miles per hour across the ice on a sleek wooden sailboat may not be everyone’s idea of winter fun.
It is for Milo Fleming.
“It’s exhilarating,” he said. “And there’s an adrenaline rush, too.”
Fleming felt that rush while racing at his fastest two years ago, catapulting across the ice at 66 miles per hour in 35-knot gusts during an endurance race covering 50 miles of Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H. Continue reading.
Grand Masters Day 3: Prize Giving
The heavy air and racy, wet ice contributed to the majority decision to call the 2023 GM complete after two racing days. We gathered in an area sheltered from the wind for the award ceremony, a very Swedish affair with coffee and Semla, traditional Swedish cream buns served until Lent. Hal Bowman US1277 was recognized as a top competitor in his age group.
We are now 2 hours south of Lake Siljan at Lake Erken this morning, preparing for a two-day Swedish Ranking regatta. Of course, there is much speculation about where the European Championship will occur when it begins on 18 February. Everyone has their theory as to the location.
Travel partners John Winquist L601 and Timoleon “Cara” Caravitis at the one and two block at the start of Race 7.
Grand Masters Day 2 Report Results DN Sweden Community Facebook Page for Live Reports
With the snow melted from the ice and a 9-knot breeze, speed sails and 90-degree runners were the choices of the day, according to Mike Bloom US321. Four race winners (Holger Petzke G890, Jean Claude Vuithier Z39, John Winquist L601, and Tomas Lindgren S81) indicated a competitive fleet and made for exciting spectating from my own caller’s point of view.
In addition to the Race Committee (Dideric, Vesa, Fosse, Deb, and Mercedes), a separate Racer’s Committee was appointed, consisting of Manfred Schrieber G99, John Winquist L601, and John Claude Vuithier Z29. They help decide things like the number of races and whether the conditions are suitable for racing. The sailors are instructed to go to them with questions about anything that happens on the race course.
At dinner last night, competitors filled long tables and recounted the racing. Olli Virta L121, one of the Grand Master (GM) founders, joined our table last night and helped us celebrate the birthday of a co-founder of the GM (he knows who he is) and the birth of Hakon Elfstrom’s grandson. In addition to the excellent food here, the hotel is less than five minutes from the launch. Rattvik is one of the best regatta locations I’ve ever experienced.
I could hear the wind rattling the windows during the night. The forecast is for a big breeze. Today is the last day of the regatta.
Mike Bloom US321 at the opening ceremony on Lake Siljan in Rattvik, Sweden.
RESULTS
2023 Grand Masters Day 1 Report Note: I’m actually back at the hotel right now after Day 2, but didn’t have internet access to post the Day 1 reporyt earlier this morning.
Hej from Lake Siljan in Rattvik, Sweden, and the fourth annual DN Grand Masters regatta. The Grand Masters regatta is open to DN sailors 60 years and over. Competitors must start each race with one leg on the plank; no track meet running is allowed. There’s also an emphasis on camaraderie and the enjoyment of being with long-time friends who have campaigned DNs together for many years. DN Sweden and DN Finland alternate managing the regatta. DN Sweden manages this year’s event.
Lake Siljan is a wicked big lake, 137 square acres, MILES! formed 377 million years ago by a meteor. We are staying in a hotel with excellent food in Rattvick, perched above the lake.
During the opening ceremony, DNers from eight countries raised a glass of non-alcoholic champagne in memory of friends sailing who now sail on eternal black ice.
This event marks the first time that American sailors joined the competition. Mike Bloom, US321 of Minnesota, and Hal Bowman, US1277 of North Carolina, who both participated in the 2023 DN Worlds, are here and enjoying the racing and friends.
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.
