In memory of Mike Webber. From the 2018 DN North American championship at Charlevoix Lake in Michigan.
The DN community extends our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mike Webber.
Mike Webber, KC 5591
The Nova Ice Yacht Club lost one of its most active members on March 17 and the IDNIYRA lost a newer, committed DN sailor.
Mike Webber, KC 5591, of Petite Riviere Nova Scotia was a professional mariner, a marine engineer. His marine engineering career began on the Great Lakes and then moved to the salt water where he worked in offshore support and then on tankers. Most recently he was the Chief Engineer and Chief Superintendent for the Polar Prince, a Lunenburg-based research icebreaker engaged in seismic surveys, contract icebreaking and other Arctic operations.
Mike was a life-long sailor, who spent some of his time off as a professional mariner cruising the Caribbean with his wife and children. Mike only started iceboating about five years ago. He quickly graduated from beaters to competitive DNs. When he upgraded his DN program he helped others get started by giving way his beaters. He improved his performance through practice and seeking the advice of more experienced DN sailors. Last year he won his first race, and regatta, when he won the Maritimes Championship on Lake Mush-a-Mush, Nova Scotia. He finished 7th in the Silver fleet at the 2020 North American Championships at Fort Peck, Montana.
Mike will be remembered for his sunny personality. He could be counted on for support when help was required. Eight days driving with him, from Nova Scotia to Montana and back, was eight days well spent. Mike was 51: it was too soon for him to go.
Photographer Gretchen Dorian has put together a CD with over 850 images from the 2021 U.S. Nationals sailed on Black Lake in Michigan.
They are all keyworded with Sail number and name. They are lo-res jpgs, perfect for viewing on a Big Screen TV, making small thumbnails for your website or emails. They are in “chron” order, by file name. There is a very small “ggd” watermark in lower right corner. They are the same images on my website. $35.00 includes s/h. If interested please send me a note at ggdorian@gmail.com, so I know how many to burn and ship! www.gretchendorian.com
From left: Daniel Hearn Gold fleet 2nd, Chris Berger Gold fleet 1st, Erin Bury Silver fleet 5th and Top Rookie, Martin Malcheski Gold fleet 4th, Bob Rast Top Grand Master Silver fleet 1st, Hal Bowman Silver fleet 4th, and seated Bob Cave Silver fleet 2nd and Top Master. Photo: Julie Jankowski
Rob Evans Gold fleet 3rd and Mimi Collins
Proving that serving as a DN Class Officer is not a hindrance to winning a regatta, Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166 came out on top at the 2021 Western Region Championship sailed on Lake Michigan at Menominee, Michigan, March 6-7.The fleet enjoyed two days of excellent competition in a variety of wind conditions. On Saturday, the studs on Chris’ plank failed, resulting in 2 missed races. As the fleet lined up for the regatta’s last race on Sunday, Chris and Daniel Hearn US5352 were tied for first place. Chris won the last race and won the regatta by one point.
Quite a few novice racers took the opportunity to join the regatta, and we hope to see them back on the line at the next race.
Bob Rast won the Silver Fleet. He wrote about it on his Facebook page:
Great weekend in Menominee. Thanks to Chris Berger and Mike Derusha for finding a great piece of ice for the regatta
Light air on Saturday put me in third place and I had to figure out how to get in front of Bob Cave, who had me by six points; Pat Fitzgerald who had me by one point; and fend off Hal Bowman who was one point behind me A couple turns of the front Staymaster powered it up and heavier air turned it into thrill ride. Pulled it off! Very happy to win a second time never really expected it
Special thanks to Mike Derusha US2545 for scouting the ice, finding the landing, and building bridges across the heaves. Thanks to the Race Committee, including Chief Judge Dan Heaney, assisted by George Gerhardt, Fred Stritt, Julie Jankowski, and Mercedes Auger.
Nancy and Eric Smith US2500 with the 2021 DN Central Region Championship trophy.
Via Kent Baker:
Competitors and Race Committee at the DN Centrals regatta enjoyed a beautiful weekend on Elk Lake in Michigan, even with only one day of sailing. The sky on Sunday was cloudless and windless. On Saturday, after considerable delays due to wind shifts and needing to avoid an area of holes, each fleet sailed four races for a total of eight races.
Racing is simply magical when you are going full-warp speed upwind with the weather runner barely lifted off the ice. A sensation that in an instant makes you glad you troubled yourself to get there. Thanks to Ron Sherry, Richard Potcova, Jody Kjoller, Peter Johanson for all having a role in keeping me going these last few years. And, of course, my wife/enabler, Erica!
Big congratulations to Eric Smith US2500 on his first regatta win! Proof that one doesn’t have to be in the sport for a decade or more to beat the best!
It’s worth noting that there were 5 father/son duos present including David and Cooper Frost, Bill and Bobby Cutting, Ron and Griffin Sherry, Bill and Chad Coberly, and Dick and Brian Parker. Three of the youngest of the five are products of the Ice Optimist program.
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.
