LATEST NEWS
Bend It Like…a DN Mast
Photos: Kuba Micinski
This beauty of a vintage Dutch DN is a reminder of the “old days”.
DNs are famous for their unusual bendy masts. Polish photographer Kuba Micinski posted his collection of curvy masts on the Polish DN Facebook page today and they are too cool not to share. They were shot a few weeks ago on Lake Oresjon in Furudal, Sweden.
So, what’s going on with a DNs extreme mast bend? Lots of different forces are being applied, basically from the head stay, side stay, and main sheet. The biggest component that adds pressure to the mast in the form of compression is the very narrow and small angle of the head stay. The narrow angle of the head stay is so small, that the mast can’t handle the compression without bending. The key to having a good mast is in the stiffness (specific to the sailors weight) so that it bends just at the right time. The bendy mast automatically depowers the sail and that’s why modern DNs are so much easier to control than in the old days when stiff masts meant more hiking.
Thanks, Jeff Kent, for explaining all – Ed.
Around the Buoy Podcast with T
H
2020 North American champion James “T” Thieler talks DNs, Montana, travel, and his soft water gig in this podcast. The hard water part starts 4 minutes in. Listen here.
2020 Canadian Nationals Report
Results
UPDATE March 9, 2020: The results have been updated.
2020 DN Canadian Championships Regatta
March 7, 2020Saturday morning saw cold temperatures from the night before which delivered hard ice for the duration of the regatta. Wind at 9:00 am was from the north and thanks to the race committee, the line was set for the 10:00 am start. Unfortunately, the wind dropped and backed to the west, southwest direction which meant that setting the line was just for practice. The line then was set in the middle of the Bay and two races were sailed. Unfortunately, a crack which was marked, grew beyond the marked area and found Ron Sherry which caused his plank and deck to be compromised. Fortunately, he was able to put together another boat and finish the regatta. The course was moved to beyond the crack and sailing resumed in the same location for the duration of the regatta.
Seven races were scheduled with one drop race after 7 races sailed. Races were banged off one after another, by the Race Committee who managed to get all 7 races in before the time limit of 16:00 pm. Peter Kraszewski, ran a tight ship as PRO along with his crew of scorers thanks to Louise, Andrew, Tom, Paul and Cindy. Spending the day on the ice, allowing the fleet to sail an awesome day of racing is much appreciated by the fleet. Thanks to everyone for stepping up.
The fleet also helped with setting marks, scouting, helping with the line and this was also a great help to make the regatta memorable. Thanks all for stepping in, asking what needed to be done and doing it.
The fleet thanks Colin Duncan for scouting the ice…turns out he also has talent in scouting restaurants as the fleet all enjoyed a private room in a nice Italian Restaurant. The results were presented at the dinner with James “T” Thieler winning the 2020 Canadian Championship. ‘T” is still having an awesome year after winning the North American Champs as well. Congratulation again T!
Just a note to some of the competitors that after the scores were tabulated in the parking lot with dimming light, I found a few small position changes today which effect some. I apologize for this. Final standings.
Thanks to the Halifax, Montreal, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Kingston fleets who participated, making this a great regatta.
Peter Van Rossem
KC 2766
Canadian DN Champs are ON for Saturday, March 7, 2020
NOTICE OF RACE & SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Canadian DN Champs are ON for Saturday, March 7 2020
Launch
The site will be in Belleville, Ontario. Launch will be at the Potter’s Creek Conservation Area, on the south side of Old Highway #2 just across from Quinte Conservation, that address is 2061 Old Highway 2, Belleville, ON K8N 4Z2, Canada
If you or anyone you know would be interested in helping out with scoring or RC duties please contact Peter VanRossem- contact info is below.
Directions to the ice in case your digital gizmos aren’t working:
401 to Belleville
Exit 538, Wallbridge-Loyalist Rd. Head South
Turn Right on Dundas Street (Old # 2 Hwy)
First Left is Potters Creek Parking LotYou can launch straight south to Bay of Quinte or there is Potters Creek to the East of the Parking Lot which might be shorter distance to the ice but requires crossing a ridge with boards.
Schedule of Events:
•Saturday at 8:00-9:30 on ice registration in the Pits
•Saturday at 10:00 am Skippers Meeting (On Ice At Start Line)
•Saturday after skippers meeting , First Start
•No race will start after 1600 SaturdayMore details, NOR, SI’s in attachment.
Lodging
The closest hotel to the launch is
RAMADA BY WYNDHAM BELLEVILLE
HARBOURVIEW CONFERENCE CENTER
11 BAY BRIDGE ROAD, BELLEVILLE ON K8P 3P6
Phone number for guests 613 968 3411 ext 0 or 1800 420 3555 ext 0.
Map
WebsiteRates from Alison (Manager) are as low as $97.99 plus taxes, however rates are based on room availability at time of calling and which side of the Hotel you want.
Sailing Instructions
Sailing Instructions are posted here. Copies will not be supplied on the ice at registration as stated in the Sailing Instructions.
Principle Race Officer will have a copy if required.
Again, if you plan to sail Friday, hug the North Shore until you are more than 1.5 mile or two KM West of the Green Nav Bouy or launch site.
We have only scouted 1.5 miles West of Can and Launch site so please be careful sailing beyond. If you don’t know or understand, please call me.
Peter Van Rossem Sr
613.572.2232
petervanrossemsr@gmail.com
Canadian Championships Called On for March 7, 2020
Attention DN sailors:
This Saturday, March 7th we intend on hosting the 2020 Canadian Championships on the Bay of Quinte.We are also looking for volunteers in helping with this regatta. I will make sure you have front row sight of the mark roundings and starts. If you are interested in helping out, it would be very much appreciated. Please call or send me an email if you can help. Phone number and email are below.
Please make sure your insurance is up to date and you are covered for ice boat racing. Sending a copy of your proof of insurance to my email address is helpful if you intend on racing.If the ice holds out for Sunday, we will do another unsanctioned regatta where we record our own finishes…I will hold the score sheet in case one would like up grade your score for a better finish. Bribes accepted. (Not applicable for the Canadian Champs)
Stay tuned to the NEIYA site https://theneiya.org/ and IDNIYRA bulletin board http://www.dnamerica.org/forum/ for further details and updates.
petervanrossemsr@gmail.com
613.572.2232
2020 Gold Cup Photos by Sean R. Heavey
Set some time aside to look at these 800 pictures shot by Middle of Nowhere Montana Photographer, Sean Heavey. You’ll get a feel for his whole trip, from Montana to Canada to Germany to Denmark to Sweden and back.
Bill Buchbinder: 1949-2020
Photo: Ron Sherry
The DN community extends our deepest sympathies to the family of Bill Buchbinder of Traverse City, Michigan. Ron Sherry described Bill as a “long time friend, sail maker, and iceboater. Worked with him at Boston Sails in the early 1970s. He will leave a big hole to fill in the Traverse City area”. Chris Clark wrote, “Bill was a great guy, exceptional craftsman.”
Obituary
2020 Junior Ice Sailing World & European Championship: Final Results
2020 Junior World & European Championship Results
Congratulations to all competitors who participated in the 2020 Junior World and European Ice Sailing Championships. Thank you to all the parents, coaches, Race Committee, and DN Ice Sailing Lithuania for working together to make this a successful event. It takes a special kind of person to be involved in this sport. The weather often make things difficult but when conditions are right, our patience is rewarded. I hope to see all of you at future ice sailing races!
2020 Junior Ice Sailing World Championship: Day 3 PM Update
Scene-er-ific
The wind took a holiday today and so did the competitors at the 2020 JWC. Ice skates and soccer balls appeared and the kids slid around on the ice for hours keeping themselves amused. PRO Stan Macur announced a 0900 Skippers Meeting followed by racing at 1000 for tomorrow, 20 February.
2020 Junior Ice Sailing World Championship: Day 2 PM Update
You can do it!
Provisional Results
Back from a long day on the lake and about 2 hours ago, had good intentions of posting a very eloquent story about how wonderful it was to spend a day watching 10 junior races at my first JWC. But then the phone and messages distracted me, so I’ll be my usual brief self. My impressions of the day:
The high level of sailing on fast ice was IMPRESSIVE in both fleets.
Each fleet banged off 5 races efficiently and fast.
Was fascinating to watch the intensity with which coaches watched and spoke with their charges.
There’s reason to be optimistic about the future of European DN ice sailing.
After the racing I kicked the red sled back to shore where there was hot food, tea, and cookies ready to be served. I looked out at the perfect ice, felt the breeze on my face, and took in this tranquil setting with an old Swedish church overlooking the lake. I asked the Uppsala sailing club members who set up the food, “is this heaven?” They laughed…. It’s — it’s Sweden.
Maybe this is heaven
2020 Junior Ice Sailing World Championship: Day 1 PM Update
Slick, fast Hollywood ice with shifty, puffy winds greeted the opening day of the 2020 Junior DN and Ice Optimist World Championship near Furudal, Sweden. The unpredictable wind gusts caused postponement of the first race until Tuesday, February 18. The kids kept busy with a bit of sailing, skating, and kicking the soccer ball under a rainbow that hung around for a long time. The sailing site is a 30 minute drive from Orsa Camping, the site of last week’s Gold Cup.
Current Newsletter
DN VIDEOS
iceboat.org
- Happy Thanksgiving November 28, 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