by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 19, 2020 | 2020, 2021, Home Page
2020 Gold Cup at Orsa, Sweden. Photo: Sean R. Heavey
Via IDNIYRA Europe:
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
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 18, 2020 | 2020, 2021, Home Page
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 😊 )
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 1, 2020 | 2020, 2021, Home Page, Western Region Championship
2021 DN Western Region Championship Update
With all the uncertainty in the air this DN season, we would like to announce that we intend to hold the Western Regional Championship as scheduled, January 2-3, 2021. Of course, the regatta location and date will be subject to the traditional task of locating suitable ice. Still, this year we must also contend with the extent and severity of state and local COVID-19 travel restrictions, stay-at-home orders, etc. A challenge, to be sure.
Stay tuned for updates.
Chris Berger US5166
Western Region Commodore
by Deb Whitehorse | Nov 24, 2020 | 2020, 2021, Home Page
Cancellation of the Gold Cup and North American Championships
The IDNIYRA Governing Committee earlier announced plans to decide by November 25th whether the 2021 Gold Cup would be held. Since publishing the Q&As it has become apparent that holding the regatta in 2021 is not feasible. The Canada-US land border closure has been extended to 21 December and Europeans cannot travel to either the US or Canada for non-essential reasons. Therefore the 2021 Gold Cup is cancelled.
It would be possible to delay making a decision about the 2021 North American Championships until the next decision about the Canada -US border, but public health restrictions within states and provinces make the feasibility of any international event doubtful at best. As a result the IDNIYRA Governing Committee has decided to cancel the 2021 North American Championships but will endeavour to hold an American Championship in the same timeframe.
Warren Nethercote
Commodore IDNIYRA
Previous: Q & As 15 October
Prevous: 2021 Gold Cup Q & As 12 August by Deb Whitehorse | Oct 15, 2020 | 2020, Home Page
Prevous: 2021 Gold Cup Q & As 12 AugustCOVID 19 continues to affect our everyday activities of life, whether home, work or leisure. How will it affect our coming hard water season and what are the IDNIYRA Governing Committee’s plans? Here are a few Q&As to help keep you informed.
Q: Will the 2021 Gold Cup happen?
A: We don’t know yet, but we have plans in place and a decision-making schedule. There are also decision-making schedules for the North American and European Championships.
Q: What is the decision-making process and schedule?
A: The Governing Committee will hold a conference call on November 24th, 2020 to decide whether the Gold Cup (24 – 30 January, 2021) can be held and the decision will be published forthwith after the meeting. This allows two months lead time for the regatta, both for the organizers and for those competitors who need to plan international travel.
If the Governing Committee decides that the Gold Cup cannot be held, we will plan on running a 14-race North American Championship like years where the Gold Cup is in Europe. Of course, a North American championship requires that both Americans and Canadians be able to attend, at the very least, but given that Americans and Canadians normally drive to the event the go/no go decision can be made several weeks later than November 25th.
If the Governing Committee decides that the North American Championship cannot be held, we will plan on running a US-based, US Championship during the same period as the scheduled Gold Cup and North American Championship. Canadian members might decide to run a Canadian regatta in the same period.
The IDNIYRA EU National Secretaries will hold a conference call on December 19th 2020 when they will decide whether the European Championship (21 – 26 February, 2021) can be held.
Q: What criteria will the Governing Committee use for decision-making?
A: The key criterion for decision making is whether people can travel. As of October 11th, 2020:
- The Canada-US land border was closed to non-essential travel (with a few exceptions),
- Most Europeans were prohibited from entering the US for non-essential travel,
- All non-Canadian citizens or permanent residents were prohibited from entering Canada for non-essential travel,
- Americans were either prohibited from entering European countries, or could enter some countries only after quarantine,
- Some American States and Canadian Provinces had internal travel restrictions or quarantine requirements, and
- Many European countries had travel restrictions or quarantine requirements for travel within Europe.
Under these conditions, neither the Gold Cup nor the two Continental Championships (North American and European) could be held. How can you hold a World or a Continental championship when no international competitors can attend? It would fail the most basic measure of fairness.
As of October 13, 2020, we are seeing increasing numbers of COVID 19 cases internationally. Should this increasing trend be reversed, governments may be prepared to relax border restrictions and quarantine requirements. Re-opening the Canada/US land border to recreational travel would allow a North American Championship to be held. Re-opening of trans-Atlantic travel would be required for the Gold Cup to be held.
Q: Does the Governing Committee have contingency plans?
A: Yes.
We are planning for the best case of a Gold Cup and the North American Championship but prepared to run just a North American Championship or a US Championship. Our Race Committee volunteers are predominantly American and Jody Kjoller, our Vice-Commodore, is prepared to step in for John Curtis, our Canadian Regatta Chair, should travel restrictions remain.
Whatever happens we recognize that our registration numbers may be lower than normal so we will endeavor to reduce regatta costs and fees. We expect that public health considerations may reduce or even prohibit large indoor social gatherings, which would coincidently reduce our financial risk. We are also considering delaying purchase of keeper prizes until after registrations are known, even if it means that prizes are mailed to recipients after the event.
Q: If we do not hold the 2021 Gold Cup, where will it be in 2022?
A: The Regatta Management Agreement, Paragraph 7(a) says that the regatta be held “alternating between continents, even if the previous event was not sailed.” If COVID 19 forces cancellation of the Gold Cup it is no different than losing the regatta due to a snowstorm. So IDNIYRA EU will host the 2022 Gold Cup.
Q: If we do not hold any ranking regattas what will it do to my ranking?
A: Potentially, ‘nothing’. Your rank is based upon your best finish in the previous two Gold Cups, North American or European Championships, so if an event is not held, the two previous events still count for ranking purposes.
Please feel free to engage the Governing Committee if you have further questions. We are committed to offer racing this winter subject to constraints that might be imposed by COVID 19.
