2024 Western Region Championship Update #1

by | Dec 31, 2023 | 2023, 2024, Home Page


Via DN Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166

The DN Western Region Championship is set to take place on January 6th – 7th, 2024. We’re keeping a close eye on the ice and weather conditions in Minnesota, northeastern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. If you happen to know of any ice or want to help scout for ice, please let us know. Our next update is scheduled for Wednesday, January 3rd, unless we have additional information to share before then.

The Schmidt Family Ice Optimist Project

by | Dec 19, 2023 | 2024, Home Page

Dust collection tech Robin Schmidt readying his Ice Optimist for some clear coat. 

Youth Iceboating Page

Western Region DNer Matt Schmidt US5536  shares some family Ice Optimist news

My youngest Robin (4 1/2) is helping get his Ice Optimist ready for the first freeze! We were given an unfinished hull a few weeks ago and scrambled to build a plank and sort out steering gear. The second clear coat is on tonight. Hoping that he, his brother Caleb (7), and sister Sarah (7) will put it to good use!
Hoping for ice in Pewaukee,
Matt

In case you didn’t know, Ice Optimists were created specifically as a youth trainer, designed to be easy to build using commonly available materials and to keep costs minimal. It uses a standard Optimist dinghy sail plan (hence the name), so youth sailors can use much of the same equipment in summer and winter if they sail/race in both seasons. Learn more about Ice Optimists and the DN Youth program from our North American Junior Sailing Program Director, Sam Bartel.srbartel4@gmail.com

Runner Tracks Newsletter December 2023

by | Dec 11, 2023 | 2023, 2024, Home Page

Runner Tracks

The Online Magazine of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association

December 2023


It’s time to reveal the December edition of Runner Tracks and revisit the Western Challenge to discover why this event is one of the best in the world of ice sailing. There’s also a nice surprise photospread at the end from Michigan DNer and photographer Chris Clark US4789.

Whether you are an experienced ice boater or a newcomer, Runner Tracks is the ultimate resource for everything related to ice boating. Check out the complete online library here.

RUNNER TRACKS IS AVAILABLE IN THREE DIFFERENT FORMATS:
Flipbook Magazine
Download pdf file (best for tablets)
Download single page pdf (best for phones)

IN THIS ISSUE

  • The Revival of Junior Iceboating in North America by Sam Bartel
  • DN Costing Thoughts by Warren Nethercote and Bob Cummins
  • Western Challenge: One of the best by Mike Bloom

Get this issue in a full color soft cover book for $20.

2024 IDNIYRA Yearbook

by | Dec 7, 2023 | 2024, Home Page


The 2024 IDNIYRA Yearbook is now available for purchase in print format. A pdf version without the member lists is posted online. The IDNIYRA Yearbook contains a wealth of information. In its over 300 pages, you can find regatta history, a record of class officers, Official DN Specifications, our governing documents, and much more. Those who have ordered a printed yearbook will receive it in the mail in the next few weeks.

BUY A YEARBOOK

Order an official DN class printed yearbook. Chock full of information including class history, governing, specifications, and more.
Order a Yearbook: $20

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YEARBOOK SPONSORS:

From the Yearbook:
EARLY HISTORY OF THE IDNIYRA

On February 21 and 22, 1953 the Detroit Ice Yacht Club sponsored a regatta to bring the DN skippers together to help form an association. A meeting of the skippers was held at this regatta and two representatives from each club present were chosen to outline a constitution for the association. North Star Sail Club was represented by John Liston and Fred Kagel; Anchor Bay Ice Yacht Club by Tom King and A. J. Walker; Detroit Ice Yacht Club by William Sarns and Clifford Cartwright. The representatives met at the home of the Cartwrights the following Sunday afternoon and briefly outlined a constitution. William Sarns was elected to serve as temporary secretary and to compose the constitution. The secretary prepared a constitution and sent out copies to the representatives in the following fall. They were returned to the secretary along with desired changes. The changes that the majority wanted were incorporated and 200 copies were printed. A copy was sent out to each individual who attended the first regatta and others who were interested. On January 17, 1954 the Northwestern Ice Yachting Association passed a resolution that they would accept the DN Association’s specifications for their DN races which are now included in their annual regatta.

On January 7, 1954 the North Star Sail Club offered to be host for the annual regatta. There were no other offers so theirs was accepted. Sixty-two programs were sent out on February 1 for the regatta scheduled for February 20 and 21. On February 19 the regatta was transferred to Cass Lake because of poor ice at the North Star Club House on Lake St. Clair. The
first five DN’s in this regatta were: (1) Jack Moran, (2) Skip Boston, (3) Paul Eggert, (4) Bill Sporer, and (5) Bill Sarns.

2023 Central Region Regatta Update

by | Dec 6, 2023 | 2023, 2024, Home Page

Ice Optimist at the Western Challenge on Lake Christina in MN. Photo: Kevin Barta

Via Central Region Commodore Peter Johanson US5633

There is no sailable ice for the 2023 Central Region Championship. The regatta is postponed. Next update will be on December 12, 2023.