LATEST NEWS
Gretchen Dorian Photos from 2020 Central Championship
US4203, Jody Kjoller US5435, and Austen Graef start a race on Lake Houghton. Photo: Gretchen Dorian gretchendorian.com
Gretchen Dorian’s photos from the 2020 Centrals recently sailed on Houghton Lake in Michigan are available for viewing and purchase on her website. Michigan sailor John Harper US60 shared his perspective on Facebook about the photo posted above and, it’s worth quoting here.
A young and brand new DN sailor in a 1960s version boat out in front of modern boats and one guy about 55 years old. Definitely a class for new and older people and boats!
2021 Western Region Championship Update #2
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166:
2021 Western Region Championship Postponed to Jan 9-10, 2021
The 2021 Western Region Championship regatta has been postponed until January 9-10, 2021. All potential sites received too much snow during Tuesday evening’s storm. We will continue to watch for the larger lakes to freeze. If you know of something, please let us know.
The next update will be Tuesday evening, January 5, 2021.
Until then, have a happy New Year!The Western Region Championship is a two-day regatta that takes place in either Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana.
2021 Western Region Championship Update #1
Photo Kurt Meyer
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166:
We currently have a few lakes on the radar for this weekend’s regatta including Pepin, Puckaway, and Kegonsa, to name a few. However, between the snow Sunday night and what is forecast for Tuesday night, the prospect of these lakes holding up is in jeopardy. We will continue to monitor the situation and search for usable ice. If you know of something and it appears to escape Tuesday’s snow, let us know.
The next update will be Wednesday, December 30, 2020, after the forecasted snow event. We will make a final confirmation on the evening of Thursday, December 31.
The Western Region Championship is a two-day regatta that takes place in either Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, or Indiana.
Cancellation of 2021 European Championship
2020 Gold Cup at Orsa, Sweden. Photo: Sean R. Heavey
Dear Fellow Icesailors,
At the 2020 Autumn Secretaries Meeting, we decided to monitor the COVID19 situation in Europe till December 19th and make a consultancy meeting that day to ease the decision of the Commodore.
Some countries reported on long-lasting travel restrictions, others about limitation of participants on events. There are countries though, where the restrictions are not severe. It is clear today that holding the regatta in 2021 is not feasible. Definitely, we cannot organize a fair and safe event this year, because not all members of our community can travel freely and come to the possible site of the regatta and return home without struggles.
Therefore we decided to cancel the 2021 DN European Championship.
In order not to leave our community without an International sailing event, we decided at the meeting that IDNIYRA-EU will try to organize a non-ranking EuroCup in the same timeframe.
We will continue to monitor the COVID19 situation and will come with the decision at the end of January.
Be prepared for racing!
Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Safe, Prosperous, and Happy New Year!
(And a lot of sailing of course)
Think Ice
Attila Pataky (M-100)
Commodore
Planning for the 2021 US DN National Championships
Photo: Sean R. Heavey
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 😊 )
December 2020 Newsletter Runner Tracks Published
Runner Tracks
The Online Magazine of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association
Current Issue: December 2020
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
- Proposals to Change the Official Specifications or Plans
- Western Challenge: Back to the Basics
- Minutes from the 2020 Fall European Secretaries Meeting
Get this issue in a full color soft cover book for $18. 
2020 Central Region Championship Information
Via Central Region Commodore Rob Holman:
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.
2020 Centrals Preliminary Results
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.
2020 Central Region Championship Called ON for Houghton Lake
Via Central Region Commodore Rob Holman:
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.Randy Rogoski
DN US 4192
“Iceboat Racing Creates High-Speed Thrills on MN’s Frozen Lakes”
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.
2021 IDNIYRA Yearbook Available
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.
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
2021 Sean Heavey Calendars Shipped
Sean Heavey let us know that he is shipping the 2021 ice sailing calendars out today. Watch your mailboxes for a year of Thinking Ice in 2021.
Current Newsletter
DN VIDEOS
iceboat.org
- November 27, 20214: Wanted Arrow Block in NH November 27, 2024
Minnesota Ice Sailing Association
- western challenge regatta November 24, 2024
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
- Canada November 25, 2024
New England Ice Yacht Association
- Instruction 101 November 25, 2024