LATEST NEWS
’22 Westerns: Rough ‘n Ready
Chris Berger and Tim Dixon take off for glory.
The first day of the Western Region Championship began with a delay to let the temperatures warm up. PRO Pat Heppert dropped the flag at 11 AM for a combined Gold and Silver fleet lineup. Many lead changes made for exciting racing. Pat and I weren’t sure who would take the checkers until the last lap. Daniel Hearn found the shifts at the right time and won all three races in the Gold fleet. Alex Peterson was the top placing Silver fleet. As predicted, the winds built and with rougher ice made conditions too dicey for racing. There will be a skipper’s meeting at 8:30 AM on Sunday, and the first race will take place at 9 AM. The whole gang is getting together for dinner soon in Clear Lake, where we’ll relive each lap and talk more about our favorite subject. Many thanks to our fast tabulators, Ann and Bob Foeller who hold the fort over in Toledo.
’22 Westerns Called ON for March 12-13 @ Clear Lake, IA
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger:
The Western Region Championship is called on.
Clear Lake, Iowa. Register here.Just when we thought it wasn’t going to happen, we found some ice in Iowa. It is late in the season and the ice isn’t perfect, but it is 16″ thick and sailable. It is reported to be rough, but no launchers. Rated about a 5. Again, it is not perfect but it is all we have. So, lets get out there and sail it while we still can.
What to Know
REGISTRATION
NOR
Sailing Instructions
Provisional Results
Date: March 12-13, 2022
Clear Lake, Iowa
Launch:
Lekwa Marsh Access – Roll trailers onto the ice
There will be a map posted with hazards.
Lodging:
Microtel Inn & Suites
1305 N 25th St, Clear Lake, IA 50428
+16413570966
AmericInn
1406 N 25th St, Clear Lake, IA 50428
+16413578954
Best Western
2023 7th Ave N, Clear Lake, IA 50428
+16413575253
Schedule:
(UPDATED on Saturday, March 12 at 6:30 AM. Skipper’s meeting was postponed because of temperature.)
Saturday, March 12: 10 AM Skippers Meeting, Gold fleet start to follow.
Sunset is 6:16 PM
Sunday, March 13: 9 AM first race
Ice Report via Pat Heppert: Ice thickness is 20″ except the open water from the two large permanent aerators on the lake. Please see map! The good news is that we have a massive area and no issues getting a 1 mile course if desired. The surface of the ice is very flat, but rough. What that means is that there is not very much up and down that is the boat wrecking, airborne kind, but the surface is very rough, and it will make a ton of noise, no doubt. Perfectly acceptable for late season DN racing, but this is not Hollywood ice. I give it an official rating of 4.5, but keep in mind that is coming from a non-ranked sailor. I put blades on the ice today with my freeskate windsurfer. Top speed 36 MPH today, probably averaged 25 – 30 MPH. No issues with my little 2″ blades. I let go with both hands, balanced on the harness, and closed my eyes to try to better judge the roughness, and really it was just super rumbly, but no excessive forces transmitted to the board. If I can do it standing up, then you too can do it in your DN. FAIR WARNING. Rough ice is not for everybody, but I have no issues recommending this ice to friends, and most report I am generally conservative with my reports. Again, ice rating 4.5. Forecast is good.”
Clear Lake, Iowa Map showing launch and hazards. (click to enlarge.)
2022 Western Region Championship Update: Keep Your Runners Sharp
Heads up Western Region DNers and interested others! This morning south of Minneapolis, we are scouting a potential DN Western Region regatta site. If we get a good report, the 2022 Western Region Championship will be called on for March 12 – 13. Stand by for an update.
2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
2022 Central Region Championship Postponed
Via IDNIYRA Central Region Commodore Rob Holman:
The 2022 Central Lakes championship regatta for the weekend of March 12-13, has been postponed. Please keep me informed of any sailable ice in the Central Region and we will try again.
Next update will be on Wednesday, March16, after 3 PM ET.
Rob Holman
IDNIYRA Central Region Commodore
Oskar Svensson (DN) & Aron Poolma (Ice Optimist) Win Junior World Championships
DN Junior World Champion Oskar Svensson S714. Photo: Valeri Larinov
IDNIYRA Europe Report & Results
The 2022 Junior DN and Ice Optimist World Championships have concluded in Haapsalu, Estonia. Sweden’s Oskar Svensson S714 continued his remarkable season by winning the DN Junior title. Five-time winner Rasmus Maaliin C20 of Estonia placed a close second, only one point behind Oskar. Oskar led the IDNIYRA World Championship in Norway until the last day and finished third. On his way to Estonia, Oskar won the Finnish Championship.
Familiarize yourself with these names because you’ll be seeing Oskar and Rasmus at the top of the Gold Fleet in the coming years.
Ice Optimist World Champion Aron Poolma C3, of Estonia. Photo: Valeri Larinov
2022 Central Region Championship Postponed
Paul Goodwin round the mark on Anchor Bay in Michigan on February 28, 2022. Photo: cefirmbach.com
Via IDNIYRA Central Region Commodore Rob Holman:
Central Lakes Regatta for this weekend has been postponed. Please keep me informed of any sailable ice in the Central Region and we will try again.
Next update will be Wednesday, March 9 after 3 PM ET.
Ron Sherry sailing his DN on Anchor Bay in Michigan on February 28, 2022. Photo cefirmbach.com
Runner Tracks March 2022
Runner Tracks
The Online Magazine of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association
Latest Issue: March 2022
The mid-season Runner Tracks newsletter is on your virtual doorstep. Many thanks to our advertisers who help bring Runner Tracks to you.
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RUNNER TRACKS IS AVAILABLE IN THREE DIFFERENT FORMATS:
Flipbook Magazine
Download pdf file (best for tablets)
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IN THIS ISSUE
- Proposed Revised Specifications for General and Fuselage Sections
- Commodore’s Column
- Part 2 Siberian Adventure by Reuben Snodgress
- Grand Masters Regatta Photos & Report by Deb Whitehorse
Get this issue in a full color soft cover book for $18. 
2022 Central Region Championship Postponed
Via IDNIYRA Central Region Commodore Rob Holman:
The Central Lakes Championship regatta has been postponed. Please keep me informed of any sailable ice in the Central Region and we will try again.
The next update will be Wednesday March 2, 2022 after 3 PM ET.
Rob Holman
IDNIYRA Central Region Commodore
Robert Graczyk P31 Wins 2022 World Championship
Robert Graczyk at the 2022 Polish Championship. Photo: Gwidon Libera
Congratulations to Robert Graczyk P31 for his win today in Norway at the IDNIYRA World Championship. Congratulations to all the competitors. The regatta began in Sweden but snow forced a site change to Norway.
The European Championship starts tomorrow.
2022 WORLDS RESULTS
IDNIYRA EUROPE
2022 DN Central Region Championship Postponed
The Central Lakes Regatta for the weekend of February 19 – 20, 2022 has been postponed. Please keep me informed of any sailable ice in the Central Region and we will try again.
The next update will be on Wednesday Feb 23, 2022 after 1 PM ET.
Rob Holman
IDNIYRA Central Region Commodore
Grand Masters Regatta Report
Michael Pettersson L65 and Tomas Lindgren S81 line up at the two and one blocks to race.
DN Finland organized the third annual Grand Masters regatta on Lake Öljaren near Katrineholm, Sweden, February 8-10, 2022. In 2018, Ollie Virta L121, Timo Caravitis L37, and Richard Gustring S713 originated this informal fun regatta noted for its unusual starting procedure. Running starts are prohibited. Competitors must be at least 60 years old, start the race with one leg on the plank, and push off with the other leg. And yes, the regatta committee does watch for any infractions to this rule.
DN Finland and DN Sweden take turns managing the regatta. John Winquist L601 served as PRO assisted by Vesa Karhusaari and Dideric van Riemsdijk S867.
Snow put a temporary hold on ice sailing in North America after the U.S. Nationals. I had always wanted to see the Grand Masters event and took a chance on traveling to Europe, which was a bit more complicated because of pandemic restrictions.
The O’Hare Delta agents were baffled whether I needed a visa to travel to Sweden (a visa was not required) or even fly through Amsterdam. The regulations were so confusing that they passed me off to the next flight. And so it went until I presented my test results at immigration in Gothenburg, Sweden. I had made it!
When I arrived, Sweden didn’t have many restrictions, and all regulations ended a few days later. Ice sailing life was back to normal, the same as my last visit here for the World Championship in February 2020 before the world shut down. Our pandemic lives were a big topic of discussion, and we were overjoyed to be back on the ice and with friends again.
DN Finland was kind enough to give me a yellow vest and scoring tools. Hard black ice with a skim of water with winds around 15 mph, gusting to 20, made for sporty conditions. The regatta was called complete after six races. The camaraderie among these long-time friends was the focus of the regatta and the four-race per day limit assured plenty of time for socializing and evening group dinners.
Thank you, DN Finland, DN Sweden, and all ice sailing friends, for welcoming me to your special event. Perhaps it’s time to organize a Grand Masters regatta in North America.
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