The 2019 Gold Cup had 5 women competitors and 3 received women’s trophies. Renee Fields, an experienced land sailor who sailed and raced an iceboat for the first time, placed 27th in the Bronze fleet. The top ranked North American woman, Julie Richards, finished 25th in the Silver fleet. Germany’s Anja Fiedler finished 9th in the Gold fleet.
We had previously published that Anja was the first female to finish in the top ten of a World Championship but let the record show that Lake Geneva’s Jane Pegel US805 accomplished that feat at the first World Championship sailed in 1973 on Gull Lake in Michigan. Jane placed 8th in the Gold fleet at that inaugural Worlds.
You can read about Jane Pegel’s remarkable career as a top ice sailor back when there were even fewer women competing at championships in the December 2016 DN class Newsletter, Runner Tracks.
Jane sends along the following note:

Susie and I are pleased to congratulate the women who competed in the Gold Cup and wish them well in the North Americans. But here is a correction to your report:In Susie’s scrap book she has come across an article about the first Gold Cup at Gull Lake in 1973. Jane placed 8th in the Gold fleet. Susie placed 16th in the Gold fleet.

7th place Gold Cup Rasmus Maalin C20 (US49)  and 1st place Gold Cup Michal Burczynski P114 at the 2019 Gold Cup. Photo: Gretchen Dorian

Gold Fleet: Michal Burczynski P114
Silver Fleet: Dave Clapp US5116
Bronze Fleet: Chad Coberly US1301

Congratulations to all sailors who competed in the 2019 IDNIYRA Gold Cup. There are so many dramatic stories to note from this regatta. Memorable moments include German sailor Anja Fielder’s G390 9th place finish in Gold which accomplished a couple of firsts –  the first time a woman competitor has finished in the top 10 and the first time a husband and wife have both finished in top ten. Congratulations Anja Fiedler and Holger Petzke G890 for your 9th and 4th place finishes in the Gold fleet.

There were 9 Polish sailors who flew to Chicago last week ready to compete for the Gold Cup but there were 9 Polish boats stuck at Charles de Gaulle Airport without hope of getting to the regatta. The North American IDNIYRA community banded together and found boats for the Polish sailors. In fact, the winning boat was loaned to Michal Burczynski by Western Region Commodore Daniel Hearn of Madison, Wisconsin. Michal’s tribute to Daniel, cut and pasted with rough translation, is posted below.

“The Two World Champions”

Daniel Hearn! To dzięki temu przyjacielowi miałem szanse wystartować w tegorocznych Mistrzostwach Świata! Sprzęt nie doleciał na regaty wiec musiałem sobie jakoś poradzić. Warto podkreślić ,ze kolega oddał swój pierwszoligowy zestaw,a sam postanowił wystartować na zapasowym. Słowa uznania dla tego faceta za wielkie serce i 100 % fair play! W tym roku mamy dwóch mistrzów swiata: to Daniel Hearn i Ja;)
Daniel Hearn, thanks to him I had the chance to compete in the Gold Cup 2019! Our equipment did not arrive for regatta. Daniel was supported me with all his best equipment and he took his practice boat. There are no words to express the amount of appreciation I have for this guy. He has a great heart and 100% honest game! This year we have 2 world champions: Daniel and Me! Thank You!
Daniel Hearn! It’s thanks to this friend I had the chance to launch in the year The equipment didn’t make it to the regatta so I had to deal It is worth highlighting that a colleague gave his-Set and himself decided to launch on backup. Words of appreciation for this guy for a big heart and 100 % fair play! This year we have two world champions: it’s Daniel Hearn and I 😉