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2022 Western Regional Regatta: Location Update

2017 DN Western Region Championship sailed on Lake Monona, Madison, WI. Photo Credit: Kurt Mayer

PREVIOUS
2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date:
 January 8-9, 2022
Location: 
Tentatively called ON for Wisconsin. Location TBA
Final Confirmation/Next Update: Thursday, January 6, 2022 by 1 PM CT

Via IDNIYRA Western Region Commodore Chris Berger

Big Spirit Lake in Iowa is no longer under consideration for a Western Region Championship regatta site. Severe wind chill temperatures and high winds made sailing impossible, but a ranked sailor walked the lake today. Unfortunately, the drifts have hardened and are big enough to hinder safe sailing. However, there are potential sites in Wisconsin. Next update, Thursday, January 6 by 1 PM CT.

2022 Western Region Championship Tentatively Called ON for Spirit Lake, Iowa, Jan 8-9

Big Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake, Iowa on Sunday, January 2, 2022 Photo: Pat Heppert

PREVIOUS
2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date:
 January 8-9, 2022
Location: 
Tentatively called ON for Big Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Final Confirmation/Next Update: Thursday, January 6, 2022 by 1 PM CT

Via IDNIYRA Western Region Commodore Chris Berger

The 2022 IDNIYRA Western Region Championship is tentatively called on for January 8 – 9, 2022 for Big Spirit Lake in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Big Spirit Lake has 10″ of black ice, 95% snow-free. “The remaining snow on the better part of the lake will result in 1 – 2″ jumpers,” according to Pat Heppert who walked and drilled the lake today. There is enough ice for 2 courses.  It will be sailed by ranked sailors on Thursday morning, January 6. Final confirmation will be made on Thursday, January 6 by 1 PM CT.

 

Rudi Bauer OE39

Rudi Bauer and Ron Sherry

The IDNIYRA is saddened to announce that Rudy Bauer OE39 passed away at his home in Austria on January 1, 2022. The entire DN community extends our condolences to Rudy’s family.

Ron Sherry US44 recalls:
I called Rudy ‘The World Champion of Fun.’ He was a champion ice boater, downhill skier, and true ambassador to the sport of iceboating. In 1998, I built him a complete DN, which he raced in North America. He then shipped it to Austria and made sure I had a good boat for European regattas. He said, “Ron, you come to the Worlds, and you can sail this boat.” With his help, I won my first Worlds in 1998 in that boat.
We had such wonderful times together. Rudy would haul a big old beat-up leather suitcase to the pits, filled with cheese, bread, and meats to share at the end of the racing day. Nothing ever tasted so good after a hard day of sailing, standing around with your buddies rehashing the day.

From left, Art Teutsch, Dan Connell US1630, and Rudi Bauer OE39. (Screen shot from the 1993 World Championship video.)

1993 Worlds: A Look Back Through Video

Here’s a raw, unedited video from the 1993 IDNIYRA World Championship from Andre Baby, the Montreal Iceboating Association, and Jeff Kent. The 1993 Worlds was memorable for being one of the biggest, with four fleets and over 170 competitors, and sailed on Geneva Lake in southern Wisconsin. The video is typical 1990s VCR quality but still worth a look. Pay close attention, and you’ll see many familiar faces in the opening ceremony and the trophy presentation. There’s racing footage in between the opening ceremony and the prize giving. Happy New Year from the IDNIYRA.

Jeff Kent Wins Worlds
By Eric Armstrong US4232
February 1993 IDNIYRA Runner Tracks Newsletter
Jeff Kent of Weymouth, Massachusetts USA, has won what is being hailed as the most competitive Gold Cup in the history of the event with eleven points. One hundred seventy-eight competitors from ten countries gathered in Fontana, Wisconsin, to race on Geneva Lake on January 24th, 1993. Ten competitors at the regatta had a ranking number of three or less. This is the largest fleet of top competitors ever assembled in North America. All of these factors combined to make the 1993 World Champion­ships very competitive and, most of all lots of FUN! Click here to continue reading.

2022 Western Region Championship Postponed to Jan 8-9

PREVIOUS
2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date:
Rescheduled for January 8-9, 2022
Location:
TBD. The Western Region includes Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Indiana.
Next Update: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 by 5 PM CT
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166

The 2022 Western Region Championship has been postponed until January 8-9, 2022. Warm weather followed by a snow event has left us with no viable sites. With colder weather moving in, we are optimistic for good conditions the weekend of January 8-9. The next update is on Tuesday, January 4, by 5 PM CT. Have a Happy New Year!

2022 Western Region Championship NOR & Update

Line up for the 2018 DN Western Region championship on Lake Mendota, Madison, WI

2022 DN WESTERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIP NOTICE OF RACE

Date: January 1-2, 2022
Location: TBD. The Western Region includes Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Indiana.
NOTICE OF RACE

Sunday update via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166
We are keeping an eye on ice conditions across the region and hoping for the best. Prospects look questionable at this time but that could change. On Wednesday, December 29, 2021, by 1 PM CT, we will either call the regatta on or postpone. If you have ice, please let us know! 

Runner Tracks December 2021

Runner Tracks

The Online Magazine of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association

Latest Issue: December 2021


Just in time for the holidays, 32 pages of the best in DN sailing and the last issue of 2021. Many thanks to our advertisers who help bring Runner Tracks to you.

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

  • What’s Coming Out of Your Megaphone? by Daniel Hearn
  • Commodore’s Column
  • Siberian Adventure by Reuben Snodgress
  • Thoughts on Runner Specifications by Warren Nethercote
  • Western Challenge Junior Sailing Report by Erin Bury
  • Western Challenge Photos & Report by Deb Whitehorse

Get this issue in a full color soft cover book for $18. Buy Now Button

2022 U.S Nationals Notice of Race & Registration


The Central Region and Regatta Chairman Rob Holman (US 3705), on behalf of the IDNIYRA, hereby invites all DN ice boaters to the 2022 DN US National Championship Regatta. Click here to register for the U.S. Nationals.
WHAT TO KNOW:
U.S. Nationals Regatta (a non-ranking regatta)
Dates: January 23 – 29, 2022
Location: Primary Site: Central Region (Ohio & Michigan)
NOTICE OF RACE
2022 U.S. Nationals Event Page
Registration Page ONLINE ONLY

Important Dates:

  • January 4, 2022: Regatta sweatshirt deadline.  Only those who register by January 4, 2022 will receive a regatta sweatshirt.
  • January 14, 2022, 7 PM ET: Early registration deadline for early entry fee. Registration is online only.
  • January 15 – 22, 2022: LATE REGISTRATION – Online only until 7 PM local time. Late registration fee applies.
  • January 20, 2022, 8PM CST: Primary site info to be posted on IDNIYRA website.
  • January 23, 2022: 9 AM Skippers meeting
  • January 23, 2022 first race at time stated in sailing instructions.
  • January 29, 2022 racing can be concluded if regatta complete, PRIZES shall be awarded after the regatta is completed.

2022 IDNIYRA Yearbook

Ron Sherry US44, first place at 2021 U.S. Nationals. Photo: gretchendorian.com

The 2022 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 308 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: $17

USE YOUR CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL
ORDER A YEARBOOK: $17

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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.

Western Challenge Photos by Sean Heavey

Sean R Heavey: Western Challenge 2021 &emdash; Heavey_DJI_0286
Western Challenge sailors on Lake Christina may have noticed the drone buzzing around over the weekend. Montana photographer Sean Heavey made the trip to the Challenge and has shared his photos. He sends his apologies for not getting everyone’s pictures because he spent a lot of time practicing flying the new drones and figuring out to cover the action with them. See the photos here.

THE DN ICE YACHT

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.

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