LATEST NEWS
2024 Centrals Update #4 – Some Potential
There is potential ice for centrals. It has been scouted and not sailed. And we have some weather systems later this week. Stand by, next announcement Thursday night.
Pete Johanson US 5633.
Youth Sailing Report: After School Iceboat Practice on Lake Minnetonka
“After-school iceboat racing practice?” Common in Poland, now in Minnesota thanks to IDNIYRA Junior Sailing Director Sam Bartel.
Wow, the last 3 days have been incredible! I’ve had the pleasure of coaching 18 high school and middle school sailors from the Lake Minnetonka Sailing School race teams as they discover the thrill of ice sailing. Some of these kids tried iceboating with me earlier this year, and others just had their first rides recently. Seeing all these new ice sailors leaving with ear-to-ear smiles is priceless.
In addition to giving some kids their first rides, I’ve been coaching the more experienced ones on racing skills. Yesterday marked our first after-school iceboat racing practice, complete with 4 scrub races and 5 DNs on the line. It’s amazing to see the enthusiasm – some of these kids are really getting into it, asking tons of questions, sailing until after sunset, and coming back for more every day. A couple of them are even asking when the next junior regatta is scheduled… we need to bring these events back ASAP!
Our local high school teams are gearing up for a training trip to Florida next weekend. Between now and then, we’re planning to hit the ice every day, running more scrub races and helping more kids get into the sport. I feel very fortunate to have such great conditions at our home venue on Lake Minnetonka!
Cheers,
Samuel Bartel
IDNIYRA Junior Director US1011
2024 Jinzhou and Panjin International Ice Sailing Tour Concludes
Link to video.
Our ice sailing friends are heading back home. Video above courtesy of the regatta organizers of Jinzhou and Panjin.
Results
Joerg, Jost, and I set a land-speed record to make the last train tonight to Beijing, but we will all make our planes home tomorrow. I had a wonderful week in China. Very fun and very eye-opening. The minute I got here, and to paraphrase Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, it was clear I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. I am glad to be heading home, and I look forward to hearing English and sailing with familiar faces.
Think Ice
Mike Bloom US321
Panjin China Regatta Update
Update from Mike Bloom:
We raced today. On a reservoir 3 hours from Panjin. Now we are driving back—long day.
The ice was pretty good but covered with sand. And it was very windy- MS1 windy. After two races, my runners were dull, as were everyone else’s. There was lots of sliding. I didn’t bring sharpening stones. Lesson learned.
It was a fun day with five races. I have not seen results, but the Anton Didenko R166 won again. I did beat him one race, but it was probably his throw-out. My best race today was a second. I was third in another race but was DSQ for sailing inside a darling mark. I don’t know if I did or not, but I do know I never saw it. We are not coming back here tomorrow because it’s just too far to drive when many of the Europeans need to catch a late afternoon train to Beijing. So, that means I’m done sailing in China.China is amazing. What a wonderful trip, making new friends and seeing old ones. It’s great to sail on Chinese ice—the first American ever(!) to do so.
I am looking forward to the Western Region Championship.
Mike Bloom US321
2024 Western Region Championship Update – Postponed
We are postponing the 2024 Westerns due to frigid temperatures and snow-related uncertainty. Stay tuned for the next update on Monday, January 22, 2024.
Chris Berger US5166 Western Region Commodore
2024 Centrals Update #4 – Under Postponement
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
The 2024 Central Region Championship is postponed. We should have ice for local scrub racing, but nothing big enough to run a safe regatta. Stay tuned, Next update January 23, 2024 by 8PM ET.
Pete Johanson Central Region Commodore US5633
Shifting Base: International DNers Now in Panjin Shi, China for Next Regatta
Joerg Bohn speaks at the opening ceremony.
Our international sailors have moved about 60 miles north to Panjin Shi, China, for the next leg of their regatta journey. The opening ceremony drew quite a crowd—a bit unusual for us iceboaters. We’re not used to being in the spotlight, but it’s clear that the Chinese have a keen interest in ice sailing. Stay tuned for more updates as their journey continues.
Video link
Register Now and Save $50 for IDNIYRA North American Regatta!
2024 DN North American Home Page
Entry List
Secure your spot in the 2024 IDNIYRA North American Regatta and save $50 when you register early. Register here
On February 4, the entry fee will increase to $190.
2024 Jinzhou International DN Open – Prize Giving Day
Jost Kolb G936 2nd, Anton Didenko R163 1st, Valerie Dickenko R166 3rd
Wu Ming CH006, Wang Qi Guang CH999, Duan Yu Fu CH700
The 2024 Jinzhou DN International Open regatta is now completed. Congratulations to all who participated in this historic event. Joerg Bohn G737 reported that after racing and prize-giving, they will “pack up and move about 60 miles north to a bigger race area with perfect ice and size; you’ll find the lake a little outside of Panjin Shi with a kind of oval shape or like a drop shape. And over 2 km course possible… The wind is little.”
Map of the next lake where they plan to sail
2024 Centrals Update #3 – Stay Tuned
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Attention Central region: With these recent cold temperatures, we will be looking for suitable ice to run the Central Region Championship. I have spoken to the Western Regional Commodore about current plans for Westerns. Given there may be a potential conflict, we have plans to talk later this week to make the best decision with the current conditions.
Stay tuned,
Pete Johanson US-5633 Central Region Commodore
2024 Western Region Championship Update for Jan 20-21
Photo: Hannah Noll / Harken
Due to last night’s big freeze, there might be a good opportunity for ice in southern Wisconsin. However, we are monitoring the weather forecast for next Saturday, which is expected to be very cold. We will gather feedback from the ice scouts with hopes of holding the 2024 Western Region Championship on January 20-21. The next update is Wednesday, January 17, 2024, by 8 PM CT. For those that have registered for last weekend’s attempt, please note that your 2024 Western Region Championship registration is still valid, regardless of location.
Chris Berger US5166 Western Region Commodore
Current Newsletter
DN VIDEOS
iceboat.org
- November 21, 2024: Skeeter Mast/Boom in MN November 21, 2024
Minnesota Ice Sailing Association
- NW Regatta February 25, 2024
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
- Finnish First 2 November 15, 2024
New England Ice Yacht Association
- Helpful times on the ice. November 4, 2024