The IDNIYRA Governing Committee is planning a US National Championship in lieu of the Gold Cup and North American Championships, which were cancelled. The regatta is planned for the January 23 – 29 time frame. It is expected that the regatta would be a low-key event, focused on the sailing, and that some COVID 19 protocols would be in place. There would be no organized social events and few prizes, which would allow a reduced entry fee. We believe that Canada/US border restrictions will most likely limit attendance to US residents.
To help us prepare for the event we are sending members a short questionnaire (using the ElectionBuddy software) focused on whether they plan to attend. The questionnaire will be open from 19 to 26 December. The invitation will come from invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com so if you don’t get the questionnaire you should first search for that sender (or check if you remembered to renew your membership 😊 )
The 2020 Central Region Championship has been called on for Saturday, December 19, 2020 (and possibly December 20) at Houghton Lake in Houghton Lake, Michigan. The lake has 5″ of ice and was sailed today by 3 ranked sailors who rated it an 8+. The plan is to try to complete the regatta with 3 races in each fleet (Gold & Silver) on Saturday. If we are unable to complete 3 races in each fleet on Saturday, we will race on Sunday, December 20, 2020.
NOTICE OF RACE (Coming Soon)
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS (Coming Soon)
LAUNCH:
DNR Boat Launch Houghton Lake West
Next to Lakeside Resort and Conference Center
LODGING: Super 8 by Wyndham
9580 West Lake City Road, Houghton Lake, Michigan 48629
+1-989-422-3119 Map
American Inn and Suites
200 Cloverleaf Ln, Houghton Lake, MI 48629
+19894227829 Map
Beachfront Hotel
4990 W Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MI 48629
+19892024700 Map
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Saturday, December 19, 2020
9 – 9:30 AM Registration at the Launch Site
Race fee is $30
9:45 AM Skipper’s Meeting near the starting line on the ice
10 AM First Race Our goal is to hold a one-day event. Regatta will be completed when there are 3 races completed in each fleet. We may race on Sunday, December 20, 2020 if necessary to complete regatta.
The 2020 Central Region Championship has been called on for Saturday, December 19, 2020 (and possibly December 20) at Houghton Lake in Houghton Lake, Michigan. The lake has 5″ of ice and was sailed today by 3 ranked sailors who rated it an 8+. The plan is to try to complete the regatta with 3 races in each fleet (Gold & Silver) on Saturday. If we are unable to complete 3 races in each fleet on Saturday, we will race on Sunday, December 20, 2020.
Stand by for launch, lodging, and other details that will be posted here tonight.
UPDATE: December 22, 2020: Regatta recap by Randy Rogoski:
The patience of the 2020 Central Lakes regional regatta’s DN racers paid off at the largest inland lake in Michigan, 20-square-mile Houghton Lake.
After two black-flagged gold fleet, and one silver race was likewise abandoned Saturday, there was fabulous racing Sunday.
The snow stopped, the humidity dropped, the wind stiffened, and the sun came out. The gold fleet completed a full seven-race regatta, the silver fleet raced six.
After a wet snow Saturday accumulated one-half inch, there was no styrofoam from a steady 32-degree overnight. Sunday’s slow-ice sailing required exertion in the 8-10 mph wind that gusted to the mid teens. The strong ice beneath the snow remained hard beneath the winter solstice sun.
The regatta was sailed on a short course, which was plenty long considering the lack of glide and puffy and shifty wind that rewarded the best wind watchers and boat handlers: the usual suspects at the top of the gold fleet.
Eighteen gold fleet and 10 silver racers sailed until the regatta was called complete.
We packed up as daylight waned with huge grins on our faces, then trophies–tall beer glasses and a pint of beer.
James ‘T’ Thieler and Karen Binder made the trip from Rhode Island, Hugh Stevens travelled from Buffalo, N.Y., and Pat Fitzgerald and Chris Berger from Chicago.
Berger, the Western Lakes rear commodore, invites all of us to the Western Regional Championship Jan. 2 & 3, 2021.
T encouraged us to travel East for a regatta when they have ice.
IDNIYRA Vice Commodore Jody Kjoller encourages all to respond to the IDNIYRA questions sent to membership via ballot software regarding a national regatta Jan. 23-29, 2021.
Click on the link for racing results.
Minnesota DN ice sailing is in the good news of the week.
“The speed and acceleration is what keeps me coming back,” says Mike Miller of Mound. Miller has spent the past 20 winters racing iceboats. “It’s a great way to keep the sailing season going. We always get bummed in the fall when we’re packing up our “soft-water” boats, but as soon as that season ends, another begins.” Continue reading.
Cover: 2020 World Champion Lukasz Zakrzewski P155, Poland. Photo Credit: Gwidon Libera
The International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association Yearbook is available for purchase and to view on this website. Many thanks to Bob Cummins and Atilla Pataki Jr. for their editing assistance.
Order an official DN class printed yearbook. Chock full of information including class history, governing, specifications, and more. Order a Yearbook: $17
USE YOUR CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL ORDER A YEARBOOK: $17
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.
