Influenced

Influenced

Photo left from Dutch A Division Catamaran Facebook page. Photo right from 2021 DN Nationals by Gretchen Dorian. Chris Berger US5166

As we approach the upcoming ice sailing season, there’s plenty to share about what’s been happening in the DN class over the summer. From cutting-edge developments in other sailing classes inspired by DN rigging to exciting news from the America’s Cup and the growth of our youth programs, this summer has been anything but quiet.

DN Influence on A Class Catamaran Masts
The A Class catamaran community is embracing innovation inspired by iceboating, as seen in the recent Dutch Nationals. Photos from the event, shared on the Dutch A Division Catamaran Association Facebook page, highlight the “DN-mast” fitted on the DNA F1X catamarans of Mischa Heemskerk and Pieterjan Dwarshuis. Pieterjan commented on this groundbreaking rig:

“Without any doubt the future for the foiling A’s. More automatic, easier to handle, more stable to foil, and faster—just like the DN rig. The tuning process is still a challenge, but this innovation will make foilers easier, safer, and more fun.”

This DN-inspired mast design, which ditches traditional diamonds and spreaders for lowers, is being hailed as the future of foiling A Cats. As the tuning evolves, we may soon see these rigs making waves in the A Class World Championships which take place September 7 – 14 in Punta Ala, Italy.

DN Class Ties to the America’s Cup
The America’s Cup is in full swing, and we have a special connection to the action this year. Maxime Bachelin, helming for the Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing, has deep roots in the DN class. His father, Pierre Bachelin Z25, has been an active DN sailor for many years, competing in North America multiple times. Meanwhile, in the Youth America’s Cup, Fontana, WI sailors Harry Melges IV, Kyle Navin, and Finn Rowe—who all have DN seat time and sail Nites—also represent the USA. Ice sailing has helped shape these sailors into the top competitors they are today.

Junior Sailing: Building the Future of Ice Sailing
Our North American Junior Sailing Director, Sam Bartel US1011, has been busy fostering the next generation of DN sailors this summer in Minnesota. Sam shared some great photos of junior sailors hard at work making their runner planks and learning valuable skills that will serve them well in the future.

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.