The September issue of Runner Tracks has been uploaded. The Technical Committee reviewed Peter Hamrak’s proposals, previously published in the May issue, and working with Peter, have submitted the ballot language. Then, we go back to 1971 for a look at what was then called “the championship”, a regatta held at Geist Reservoir in Indiana.
North America’s most famous early season DN fun-regatta will take place December 6-8, 2019 on the best ice in Minnesota. This annual regatta draws ice sailors from around North America, Europe, and Russia. The relatively new Mini-Skeeter class will also be joining the fun this year. Start sharpening your runners! Further information will posted on the Minnesota Ice Sailing website.
The IDNIYRA maintains a fleet ranking based on regatta results for continental or higher regattas for the past two years. This ranking shall be the lessor of the following:
Best finish in the Gold fleet in the previous two years.
22 plus your best finish in the silver fleet in the previous two years.
40 plus your best finish in the bronze fleet in the previous two years
58 plus your best finish in the aluminum fleet in the previous two years
DN sailors Jan and Meade Gougeon, inventors of WEST SYSTEMS Epoxy, enjoying a day of iceboating.
Congratulations to the Gougeon family and WEST SYSTEM employees literally being the glue (well, 2 part epoxy) that has been used in all iceboat builds for the past 50 years. The DN class and Gougeon (how most iceboaters refer to WEST SYSTEM) have grown up together. From the WEST SYSTEM website:
Brothers Meade and Jan Gougeon begin building DN class iceboats with wood and epoxy, selling 200 iceboats between 1969 and 1974. “Where we got really lucky in our quest for epoxy technology was to be located 17 miles east of Dow Chemical Co. We introduced Herbert Dow (an avid sailor and the grandson of Dow Chemical’s founder) to iceboating. Herb made it possible for us to work with chemists in Dow’s epoxy lab, helping us to develop resins and hardeners we could use as both an adhesive and a coating,” company founder Meade Gougeon says. With Dow’s help, the Gougeon brothers develop the formulations WEST SYSTEM epoxy products are based on.
Jane and Mead have passed but their legacy lives on in every iceboat being made or repaired. Mead and Jan’s good friend, Ron Sherry, attended the 50th Anniversary party at WEST headquarters in Bay City, Michigan on August 3rd. Ron writes, “Great 50th anniversary party last weekend at the Gougeon brothers plant. Wonderful party filled with food, drinks, boats, and lots and lots of great friends all together to celebrate 50 years of making it easy for anyone to build their ultimate toys.” Ron shared the photos below:
Two great champions, Jan Gougeon US1183 and Poland’s Karol Jablonski P36
Jan Gougeon’s first DN, HOT CANARY
Meade (second from left) and his wife, Janet, when they met with the United States Commission on Energy to discuss making wind turbines.
Jan and Meade taking a moment on their catamaran powerboat.
WEST SYSTEMS company portrait when Jan and Meade were still involved.
Link to Results
The results have been tabulated in the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association Election of 2019/2020 IDNIYRA Officers/New By-Law.
In summary, the proposed slate of officers has been elected and the proposed addition to the by-laws has been approved, with 90% of those voting in support.
Commodore: Warren Nethercote: 102 votes, 103 votes tallied and 4 abstentions from 107 ballots Vice Commodore: Jody Kjoller: 104 votes, 105 votes tallied and 2 abstentions from 107 ballots Secretary: Deb Whitehorse: 105 votes, 106 votes tallied and 1 abstention from 107 ballots Treasurer: Deb Whitehorse: 103 votes, 106 votes tallied and 1 abstention from 107 ballots,
John Stanton 1 vote tallied,
“I do not advocate for an officer holding 2 positions” 1 vote Past Commodore: Bob Cummins: 98 votes, 101 votes tallied and 6 abstentions from 107 ballots,
Kent Baker 2 votes tallied
Add Paragraph M to the RACING RULES section of the IDNIYRA by-laws: 92 yes, 10 no, 102 votes tallied and 5 abstentions from 107 ballots
PRO John Atkins Photo: Cathy Firmbach cefirmbach.com
On Monday 20 May, 2019 we will be sending out electronic ballots for the election of officers for IDNIYRA for 2019/2020, and for consideration of an amendment to the IDNIYRA by-laws. The Governing Committee encourages your participation in the ballot, which will close on June 2nd.
Ballots are being sent to 242 members. Five members will not be receiving ballots because we do not have their current email address. Only owners of DNs have voting rights in IDNIYRA, so we are using sail numbers as an avatar for boat ownership, and your sail number is your election ‘voting key’. We have another 17 members who do not appear to have sail numbers and who also will not be receiving ballots.
If you have not received a ballot by Tuesday May 21st please send an email to Deb Whitehorse secretary.idniyra@gmail.com providing your current email address and sail number. If you need to order a sail number please do so online here.
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.
