May 22, 2012
Unsolved Mystery
See more photos here
Mystery Ship: Please Help Us Solve the Riddle of this Unusual Metal Iceboat
Received the following email from John Stanton of the New England Ice Yachting Association:
"
The NEIYA has been asked to help solve a mystery involving the type, age, provenance, usage and ownership of an aircraft fuselage-style metal-skinned iceboat found in the basement of a bank building in Bridgeport, CT in 1990. The bank staff had no knowledge of the boat or how it came to be located in the basement. The boat is part of the non-public small boat research collection of the Mystic Seaport, located in the Rossi Mill building across the street from the north entrance to the Seaport.
The collection will be viewable during the Wooden Boat Show June 29 to July 1 and is available for private viewing at other times. The collection includes two Great South Bay Scooters and two other iceboats in addition to the Mystery Ship.
The metal boat in question is 18’ 3” long, 4’ 4” wide and is made of heavy timber strakes supporting a wood frame sheathed in tin in the rear and fabric-covered aluminum in the front. It appears to be a stern steerer. In one of the pictures, a possible (double) runner can be seen. The purpose of the large steel ‘A frame’ atop the bow is unknown, but is presumably related to the rigging. The plank is an aluminum strut with a foil shape. There are four additional metal struts from 8’ to 13’ long. Note that in the pictures, the bottom of the boat is unsheathed. No sails were found with the boat. (See more photos here.)
An examiner in 1995 noted that the construction and materials used suggested that the builder might have had experience with aircraft and suggested a build date in the 1920s or 1930s. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has been located near Bridgeport since 1929.
A major effort was made by the Seaport in the mid 1990s to learn more about this iceboat, with no luck. Hopefully the collective knowledge base represented by the NEIYA membership will produce a happy outcome. Please send a link to this article to your friends in other iceboat clubs. Reply to me with any questions or suggestions and I will summarize the responses at a later date.
Peter N. H. Burrow
NEIYA Treasurer
iceboat1 (at) gmail (dot) com"
May 15, 2012
Extending the Season...
Back in the '70s
Photo Credit: Henry Bossett
New Jersey Skeeter skipper, Dan Clapp, emailed this photo from Henry Bossett. Henry writes that the pictures is "from around 1975 of John Koeck, Ed Knuth and
myself out testing DN sails on John’s patio boat.
Ed won the “C” Skeeter title in his “Square Nut” in 1975 and 1976.
John and Ed also mounted John’s Skeeter on the boat and rigged scales to test drag and lift from
the aerolons and Gurney flaps that they were testing back then. (Dan’s dad had them on his skeeter "Destiny")."
May 12, 2012
Extending the Season
...in Detroit....
May 3, 2012
WSSA Photo of the Week
WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton asked that this photo from Tony Williams of a Lake Charlevoix, Michigan stern steerer be posted on the WSSA page but it's worth sharing. Andy writes, "I sailed at Boyne City in February and met Tony, Homer, and others sailing their DNs and Arrows." Note the configuration of the plank.
April 27, 2012
4LIYC Banquet Photos
Prizes Given
Posted some of the 4LIYC Awards Banquet photos here thanks to Geoff Sobering and Greg Whitehorse.
April 26, 2012
Photo of the Week
Gretchen Dorian's photo of an ice optimist and DN waiting out a snow squall on Lake Baikal. British sailor Gareth Rowland K11 has uploaded almost 1000 photos of his photos from Irkutsk and Baikal here.
April 22, 2012
Gretchen's Baikal Photos
Photographer Gretchen Dorian has started posting her photos from the Russian DN championship sailed on Lake Baikal.
Smoking Lamp On
Received many texts and reports that a great time was had by all at last night's 4LIYC banquet. Thanks to Tim McCormick for the photo.
April 14, 2012
RKR Composites
DNer Bob Rast has a new website where you can check out the composite DN masts and other components he creates and sells.
Blokart Worlds Conclude
A familiar site for those at Tuesday ice boat night at the Nordhaus Boatwerks, Renegader Jim Nordhaus, right, readies the grill.
UPDATE: Jim Nordhaus also won the Senior trophy for the best finish in all classes for age 65 and over!
Impending rain caused the 2012 Blokart Worlds to be called complete yesterday. Congratulations to Jim Nordhaus for his third place finish in Production Super. Kyle Metzloff placed 9th in Performance Heavy. Results here. Geoff Sobering found a great photo gallery from the event here.
April 9, 2012
Home of the Blokart Champion
Kyle Metzloff 2nd in North Americans
UPDATE: Results here. Jim's in"Production Super", Kyle's in "Performance Heavy".
Congratulations to 4LIYC DNer Kyle Metzloff for his second place finish in the Blokart North American championships and good luck competing in the Blokart Worlds. Kyle, Jim, and Patty Nordhaus are at their first Blokart North Americans and Worlds in Ivanpah, Nevada. Kyle writes via Facebook, "Santi Oliver many time world champion took first place in the North Americans and I was the lone American to earn a podium spot for a #2 position. Still can't believe it! I guess the ice boating paid off. I was the MC for the evening during the awards ceremony. AWESOME TIME!!!!!
UPDATE:Kyle Metzloff isn't the only midwest DNer who experienced success in the desert. Via Sailing Anarchy: "A number of midwest DN iceboat sailors show up for a taste of dirt [at the NALSA regatta] , and quickly prove that ice sailing skills transfer well to desert racing. Jim Gleuk from Wisconsin takes home the trophy for Class V, and places second to his brother Dave in the FISLY 5 class. Not bad for his first time land sailing, in borrowed boats!"
April 6, 2012
Evolution of the Wing Mast
Montana ice boater/land sailor John Eisenlohr "compiled a bunch of old photo's and video... about the evolution of the solid wing for iceboating and landsailing."
Russian Championships Complete Asia Cup Begins
Photo from Oscar Konyukov on Facebook
K11 reports that there was no sailing on Thursday because of light, shifty winds. The 2012 Russian Championship is completed and they are now racing for the 2012 Asia Cup.
2012 Russian Championship Provisional Results
1st R98 4;4;1;2;11;4;4;
2nd R204 3;2;;12;9;2;2;3;3;
3rd G737 1;13;5;1;1;1;29
4th R5
5th R22
6th R105
20th K11
Henry Bosset passed along a couple of interesting Russian news accounts about the regatta:
Wednesday, April 4
Thursday, April 5
Saturday, April 7
April 5, 2012
From Russia With Wifi
With the wifi turned back on, British DNer K11 reports from the Russian Championships on Lake Baikal they had 3 races on Wednesday and "the Baikal breeze is anything from 13.8 meter per second to nothing. Most of the time it was 6 m/s... Gretchen Dorian was at the top mark all day.
At least we had a hot lunch provided, hot sweet tea, buns sausage, and local pastry wrap." After 6 races, German DNer Joerg Bohn is first in points-see results here. See Opti results here.
Gretchen Dorian emailed the following: "Just got internet here in SIBERIA - this morning about 12 hr difference
It is 9:45 AM Here on Thursday.
THEY ONLY JUST NOW GOT INTERNET SERRVICE @ Uyuga Resort
Everybody, if you are Russian, has "cell Service".
Amazing 4 hour bus... our building (3 floors - 6 rooms/floor) all new, radient heat...do you have indoor plumbing!
The Lake is incredible!
Weather is great "spring sailing"..no frost at night.
Ice is 3 foot thick
Totally Amazing Place...I can only speak to (3) PEOPLE
2 Brits & Joerg Bohn
Today last day of Russia Cup; Fri/Sat is Asia Cup for DNs"
Joerg Bohn G737 at opening ceremonies
Chris Williams K1 in a TV interview
Challenged
Renegaders Don Anderson and Doug Kolner face off in the hiking challenge with Nite skipper Grant Frautschi.
Last night's Sailor Social was a great one and the hit of the evening was watching local sailors see who could hike out the longest on a Laser. Thanks to Carolyn Curry of the Mendota Yacht Club for organizing such a fun event and can't wait until next year.
April 4, 2012
Where Jim Nordhaus Is Now
blokarts training for Worlds in Ivanpah, Nevada on Sunday
Via Geoff Sobering: "Jim and Patty Nordhaus arrived in Las Vegas Sunday evening and drove
out to Ivanpah for a quick look at the course area before checking
into thei hotel.
Monday Jim was out practicing in a fresh breeze of mid-teens gusting to
mid-20's. The course is about a mile, and he reports having a great
time.
Tuesday's winds were much lighter; reports were that sailing was only
possible until noon.
The wind-forecast has absolutely nuking wind today and Thursday
(25-34mph!). At 6:00am the wind 28 miles North of Ivanpah was already
21 mph and it's supposed to build during the day!
Things calm down again Friday for the first day of racing with under
10 mph, and then get lighter (2-10mph) Saturday through Monday.
The most up-to-date information appears to be on the blokart Worlds
Facebook page.
There are more photos and updates being posted on the blokart Worlds website and from the Belgium blokart team."
April 3, 2012
Day 1 of Russian DN Championships
Waiting for the black cloud to bring wind and snow squall.
Day one of the Russian DN championships are complete with 2 races sailed. Click here for results. K11 writes, "Down in the pits the clouds built up.. We had to sail south to another location that had better ice ready for a 1 pm start. But the Baikal blast had something else to say. Two snow storms rolled in over the mountains. A black cloud with snow crept over us and within 5 minutes the winds increased to 13.8 meters per second and shifted 80 degrees. So it was tie things down and move boats as the weather dictated. Finally the storms went away and the wind moved back to a westerly but with strong gusts."
April 2, 2012
Russian Championships Begin
Launch site on Lake Baikal
Training day for the Russian DN Championships began today. K11 reports that photographer Gretchen Dorian has arrived at the sailing site. 
Skippers meeting all in Russian
Deep
A hole made for fishing through the ice on Lake Baikal
The Russian DN Championship has begun. Gareth Rowland sent the following text report this morning, "Rough ice, small snow drifts. At briefing. In Russian. No email, no internet. Phones variable to nothing. K11 sailed course. 56 kph max. Can go faster."
For the past couple of days, K1 and K11 have been exploring the area near the sailing site. They drove a 4x4 on a "track that is not a road.. had to make a 2000 ft pass. We bounced, rattled, and forded the track up to the mountain pass where we stopped. I am a qualified 4x4 driver so know these things. We walked 1/2 mile of a deeply snowed track, no visible vehicle track for some time, only clues. K1 immediately said NO!
It was possible to walk it and I did, but it was steep, snow covered, with maybe with ice under. It was fine on the way up but we had to come back down?? Experience tells you.... you are 9 hours from any sort of hospital, the mobile is awol, and only one russian 4x4 with a shovel is us. Plus I am not sure if anyone actually knows where we might be? Long story... but we turned round and bounced, rattled stone tracks and ice roads back for a late lunch." 
K1 fishes for his supper.
March 31, 2012
Extreme
Extreme World Racers
British ice sailors K1 and K11 (Chris & Gareth) have made their way 7 hours from Irkutsk to the north of the Lake Baikal sailing site of the Russian DN championships scheduled for April 1-9. On Friday,they met up with some other adventurer types disembarking from a train. Gareth writes, "to our surprise two ice bikes with sledges came out of one carriage, 4 people in all including one French, and one Brit who had just finished an Extreme World Racing marathon, where they biked, skiied, etc the whole of Lake Baikal. The British ice sailing team gave them a hand up to the entrance with their gear."
Gareth filed today's report "with no mains power, no TV, and no internet. The only connection to the modern world is 2 bars on the mobile phone, so I’m sending this report by phone modem. Phones only happened here 20 years ago. There’s not one electric light visible on the horizon and to the west of us is a 3000 ft mountain range with deep gorges. For a long, long, long way there are only brown bears, wolves, moose and mountains, no proper road along the lake." They went ice fishing for their supper and enjoyed a catch of the local fish, Omul.
March 30, 2012
Live Wind Map
See the map here. "Google artists create a real-time 'Wind Map'
Thousands of white streaks course across a map of the U.S. in a visualization designed to show detailed live wind speed." Read more about the live wind map here.
Tip of the Helmet: Goeff Sobering
March 28, 2012
Irkutsk!
Chris Williams with a 3D model of Lake Baikal at the Irkutsk Museum of Natural Histoy. The sailing area is south of his hand.
Earlier this week, British ice sailors Gareth Rowland K11 and Chris Williams K1 arrived in Irkutsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia located 270 km from the site of the Russian DN championships on Lake Baikal which begin this upcoming weekend. They've spent the past two days exploring museums, markets, and pubs before making the trip to Lake Baikal. Gareth writes that the temperatures are a balmy 0C (32F) during the day. He'll be sending reports our way as long as he has internet and phone access (if he doesn't have internet access at the sailing site, he's going to try to text some short reports via phone). You can read more about their adventures on the UK Ice Sailing web site (registration required). Michigan photographer Gretchen Dorain will be flying there on Saturday to photograph the event.
Here's Gareth "inspecting a Russian Beefeater" in front of a rather peculiar English/Russian pub that they've discovered in Irkutsk.
March 26, 2012
Bill Sarns: "Champion, Gentlemen, Exceptional Machinist"
From left- John Jacobs Sr., Bill Sarns, Skip Boston, and Elmer Millenbach, probably at a Detroit Ice Yacht Club banquet, c early 1950s.
One of ice boating's legends, Bill Sarns, passed away on Sunday, March 25. Bill founded Sarns Hardware specializing in affordable ice boating parts in Harrison Township, Michigan in the late 1940s. The name Sarns will be associated with ice boating for many years to come. Bill
Bill Sarns and his J14, courtesy of Jack & Kelly Jacobs.The family has requested memorial contributions be made to Hazel Park First United Methodist Church, 315 E. 9 Mile Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030 or Henry Ford Hospital Office of Philanthropy, Dorothy Kahkonen Lectureship Fund, 1 Ford Place ,5A, Detroit, Michigan 48202. Bill Sarn's obituary.
The Generousity of Bill Sarns
4LIYC Renegader Greg Whitehorse relayed a story about Bill Sarns. A few years ago, Greg sold an older DN to a guy on Lake Kegonsa. It was the guy's first ice boat and he bought it for cruising, not racing. Later he saw Greg on the ice, unhappy that he couldn't sail the boat because he had bent a runner. Greg suggested he contact Bill Sarns. A few weeks later, the guy told Greg that Bill spent a half hour on the phone with him. Bill ended up sending the guy a loaner runner so he could keep sailing while Bill was repairing the bent runner. Bill Sarns represented the sport of ice boating well.
March 25, 2012
RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2012
"Until 2004 all championships of Russia in the DN class conducted mainly in St. Petersburg. And only occasionally [ice sailors] from Siberia could afford to come to this championship. This creates unequal conditions for riders from the western and eastern regions of our country and led to a significant imbalance in the qualitative and quantitative development sport in the region. To remedy this situation the Russian Association of class DN (Radni) decided to alternate the venue for years Championships and Cup of Russia in the European and Asian parts."
Continue reading. Via Gretchen Dorian.
March 23, 2012
5000 Mile Plus Leap of Faith
In the past few days, one of ice boating’s good friends, photographer Gretchen Dorian, has taken a leap of faith by deciding to cash in frequent flyer points and click the “Purchase” button on airline tickets that will take her to Lake Baikal for this year’s DN Russian Championship.
Gretchen beautifully documents our sport and doesn’t ask for much other than purchasing her art. She’s self reliant on the race course, pulls her sled of gear out to the weather mark in any condition, and sits out there for hours, characteristics that will do her well in Siberia.
Gretchen is facing some financial challenges in taking this trip. If you like what she does, consider hitting the Paypal donation button on her website to help support the trip to Baikal. All who donate will "receive a special commemorative 8"x10" photograph, signed by me, celebrating this event on Lake Baikal | Siberia! Take a chance on me!"
March 22, 2012
Last Regatta of the Season
Lake Baikal. Sailing site in 2011
There's one last DN regatta scheduled for April 1-9, the Asia Cup and Russian Championship which are always sailed on the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal. European DN Commodore Joerg Bohn is attending for the first time and explains some of the logisitics, "Our first 2.5 hour flight takes us to Moscow [from Germany]. Then we fly 6.5 hours to Irkutsk, followed by another 3.5 hour bus, followed by another hour on a 4x4 truck. Simple accomodation, but direct at the lake.
Above is a photo of our boats in a container at the rail station in Moscow before being send on the Transiberian train to Baikal. Here's a link to the notice of race, the online entry form and some pictures of the location. Here is a link to the accomodations, Holiday Village Uyuga. Looking much forward to my trip.The ice is currently 2 meters thick. Temperatures at night are -25°C and during afternoon slightly above freezing level."
British sailors Gareth Rowland and Chris Williams are also making the trip. Gareth's blog is always entertaining and you will need to register to read about their 2012 Russian adventures. Link to map of sailing area.
Short Meeting
Front row: Doug Kolner, Eric Kurlow, Diane McMilland, Jack Ripp.
Second row, Deb Whitehorse, Commodore Greg McCormick, Jori Lenon, Don Sanford, Geoff Sobering, Paul McMillan, and Jerry Simon.
The final 4LIYC meeting of the 11-12 season was held last night and with the temperature around 80 F, it was the first time we ever recall being able to wear shorts to a March meeting. Jack Ripp said he remembers sailing a Northwest regatta late in March one year. Not pictured, Greg Whitehorse, who refused to break his 45 year tradition of not wearing shorts to a club meeting.
March 19, 2012
Back by Unpopular Demand
Turn up the volume, she's singing in North America. However, there's still the Russian DN Championship regatta to be sailed on Lake Baikal April 2-6, 2012. UK DN skippers Gareth Rowland, Chris Williams, and German DN skipper Joerg Bohn are making the trip to Baikal. Gareth will have reports on the UK ice sailing website.
March 17, 2012
21st-century Stern Steerer
By Randy Rogoski
Erik Sawyer hails from the West Michigan Ice Yacht Club, where most members sail and race small single-handed iceboats that are easy to transport and set up – with one big exception.
His boat, Michigander, is 40-feet long and weighs 1,400 pounds. It’s in a class by itself. For one thing, it has a name. It also has an enclosed trailer the size of a semi. He owns the largest ice yacht in that club, and one of the largest sailing anywhere. And he built it himself, with a little help from his friends. Continue reading.
DN NA Photo CD Now Available
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Photographer Catherine Firmbach regatta highlights photo CD from the DN North Americans is now available for order. Read about how to order here.
March 16, 2012
Live Tracking Swedish DN Championships
Watch live tracking of the Swedish DN Championships being sailed on Lake Dellen South 20 km west of Hudiksvall.
March 13, 2012
8 Hours of Heartbreak In 3 Minutes
Via John Lamont, here's a time lapse video from March 10, the day the ice left Lake Mendota.
Last Call on Minnetonka
Via Bald Eagle, MN skipper John Stasieluk, "Well, what a season here in Minnesota. We pulled the boats this weekend, BEIYC on Saturday, and boats on Minnetonka Monday. Here are a couple fun parting shots, sailing with Harry Allen in the Colonel on Minnetonka on Saturday.
66 degrees, steady winds at 15+. A great way to finish and can't wait until next season."
March 12, 2012
NIYA & DN North American Photos
Check out these cool photos shot by "Franko2112" from the Northwest regatta and the DN North Americans on Green Bay.
Tip of the Helmet: Daniel Hearn.
A Message from Bald Eagle, MN
Where the Fat Lady sung yesterday, via Minnesota sailor, Mike Bloom, "I helped take the last Nite off of Bald Eagle on Saturday.
The BEIYC guys really know how to do things right." MN sailor, Tim Oeschlager, reports on Facebook that he sailed " 75 miles [Sunday] w/ a top speed of 54.5 mph on Minnetonka." We're all counting on Minnesota's sailable spring ice to keep the Fat Lady waiting.
March 10, 2012
GMA On Ice
Via Minnesota ice boater Joshua Bone, "Iceboat Special on ABC News Good Morning America Weekend Edition The special will be airing Saturday, March 10th. 7am(Central), 8am(Eastern)." Watch it online here, featuring John Dennis, Harry Allen, and Mark Keifer.
March 6, 2012
Twin Beds Two?
Via Rick Hennig at the Cabbage Patch, "You can see Todd & Jerry's new C hull built at the Cabbage Patch. They are queen size and use 8 runners. I think Pete McCormick's Twin Beds will now have some good competition.
Rick"
The original Twin Beds
A New World Record
Via ice boarder Jeff Brown, ".... I realize that this sport falls short of iceboating interests, but this video has some unique features with use of Dashware to show realtime speeds in sync with GPS speed data output and video time, along with GPS track data overlay.
On February 12th, We set new official GPS World Record speeds as recognized by the World GPS Surfing Record Committee (WGPSSRC) 5 other participants each surpassed the 50 knot barrier!
Click here to read more. Ice Record Rankings page
Record Committee:
These speeds are quite accurate, by using two specialized GT-31 GPS units, averaged together, for a specific time period of a single 10 second speed run. This has become a universal standard for GPS speeds as practiced by Windsurfers and Kitesurfers around the world.
Record claims must be submitted to the WGPSSRC for complete review of data, in depth study of accuracy, including the # of satellites locked in! There is also a special protocol to be followed to make any record claim.
Other "fun" rankings on the site are under more liberal submittals and use an average of your best 5 runs, each 10 seconds long and then averaged together. Anyone can upload thier GPS data to be listed in those rankings. The Top 10 on upper right reflects the current "Fun" catagory.
Here is a standard fun ranking overall for all crafts, ice & land combined. You will recognize a few names.
The 2 other sister sites:
GPS Kite Surfing
GPS Speed Surfing
There is an option for ICEBOATS to join the site and participate for World Record rankings, but currently only one member has submitted data for that claim."
March 5, 2012
WSSA News
Via WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton, "The WSSA regatta for 2012 has been cancelled. Check back in December 2012 for the next edition."
March 4, 2012
Crack Brigade
4LIYC Skeeter skipper Ken Whitehorse began a new project this weekend.
ISA Postponed for This Season
Via Paul Krueger,"The ISA has been postponed for this season. Check back in December 2012 for further updates."
Catherine Firmbach's NA Photos
Photographer Catherine Firmbach photo's from the first day of racing at the DN North Americans are now posted on her website with more photographs to come. She's also assembling a regatta highlights photo CD and you can read more about that here.
March 3, 2012
WSSA 'Wannabe Regatta'
Via Joe Terry who was on Green Lake for the Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association regatta, "We had a bunch of sailors hoping for good conditions, but it wasn't meant to be. The slab was smooth, but under between 1 and 3 inches of slush with a 1/2" to 1 1/2" crust of ice on top, making conditions unsailalble.
We had a lot of fun shooting the bull and sipping some "Apple Pie" to warm us up. Hopefully conditions will allow the regatta at a later date, but for now the season is looking close to over."
Deuce Takes First
In this photo contest!
[Previous] Gretchen Dorian drove from northern Michigan to take pictures of the Northwest that was snowed out. The trip was worth it just for this shot of the Deuce.
Prize Winners
Mercedes Auger, who was on the scoring team, and I were lucky enough to win the two raffle prizes given at the DN North Americans awards ceremony. Thank you Mike Boston of North Sails Detroit for the donation of the F01 speed sail and Ron Sherry of Composite Concepts for the low profile front runner. Both will be put to good use-Mercede's husband, Hal Bowman US1277-4th place Silver at the North Americans, is thrilled with Mercede's win. The new sail is a great reason to pull my boat out of the garage and get it ready for next season's club sailing.
March 1, 2012
Congrats to 4LIYC DNer Mike Barnett
New 4LIYC DN sailor, Mike Barnett, bringing home the hardware from his first North American Championships. Mike placed 8th place in the Silver Fleet!
Jason's Ice Opti Ride on Green Bay
Via dad, Skeeter skipper Jay Yaeso, "How cool! I'm so proud! Thanks to uncle JD."
"Sailing On Ice? Yeah, That's A Sport."
by SARAH HARRIS
"The minute I learned that ice sailing was an actual sport, I wanted to give it a try. I watched YouTube videos of wooden boats with big white sails zooming across the ice on steel runners. It seemed like such a rush: Imagine racing over a frozen lake on a wind-powered sled, hitting speeds that top 40 miles an hour." Continue reading.
"Mablethorpe’s ice yachtsman has the wind in his sails"
By Sam Kinnaird
Published on Tuesday 28 February 2012 16:12
Nice article about British DNer, Gareth Rowland.
"
WHILE most sought warmth through the winter months, a Mablethorpe ice yachtsman was busy tearing through freezing waters around the world." Continue reading.
February 28, 2012
DN North Americans Complete
Ron Sherry wins the DN North American on Green Bay. Photos and information here.
February 26, 2012
NIYA Pics
Pictures from the prize giving at today's Northwest regatta. Here's C Stern steerer champion Rick Disbrow with his crewman Jim McDonagh.
February 25, 2012
NIYA Scores
Updated again from Mary Jane Schalk. See them here.
February 23, 2012
DN North Americans
Deb's "DN Tour of Duty" continues. I'm on the road making my way east to the DN North American Championships to be part of the scoring team.
Updates here. Will miss seeing everyone at the Northwest but I will be posting NIYA updates including scoring updates through out the regatta. If you have pictures to post, email them to me please.
February 22, 2012
NIYA CALLED ON
Green Bay ice on Wednesday, Feb. 22
Via NIYA Secretary Paul Krueger. "The Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta has been called ON for Green Bay, WI, February 24, 25, 26, 2012. Use the same launch area." IMPORTANT: Do NOT park your vehicle or trailer on shore or the parking lot. All vehicles and trailers MUST park on the ice. Absolutely NO PARKING at the park! If we don't respect this rule, we will never be able to sail at this site again!!!!! Hotel and launch information on the 2012 NIYA page here.
Photos from Weekend on Monona
While we wait to find out regatta news, here are a few photos from last weekend's sailing on Lake Monona.
Cain on Kegonsa
Here's video of Don Cain sailing his Boehmke B Skeeter on Lake Kegonsa Monday, February 20.
More from Mallets
From Skeeter skipper Jordan Glaser who sailed Mallets Bay near Burlington, VT on Monday.
February 21, 2012
Predatory
Here's Britt Isham's latest graphics package on his Skeeter, Predator, from Green Bay scrub racing a week ago on Saturday.
February 20, 2012
Gretchen Dorian Photographs
Canyon Ferry in Montana
One of our favorite photographers is in Canyon Ferry, Montana taking photos of ice boats. She hopes to get some more photos today. See Gretchen's photos here.
February 19, 2012
4LIYC Scores Updated
Thanks to Tim McCormick, check them out here.
Saturday Racing on Monona
It's the helmet. Renegader George Gerhardt, winner of 3 races on Saturday.
The 4LIYC had a great day of racing on Lake Monona Saturday in light to moderate shifty winds. The DNs, Renegades, and Skeeters each sailed four races. Jim Gluek took bullets in the DNS, Tom Hyslop and Paul Krueger won in the Skeeters, and Tim McCormick took one Renegade race while George Gerhardt took the other three. Take a look at Geoff Sobering's GPS tracks of the day's racing. I'll have more photos posted later today. Heading off to the lake soon but there doesn't appear to be any wind, at least at my house.
February 17, 2012
Ice Optimist Worlds Update
Here are "most likely" the final results from the 2012 Ice Optimist Worlds and DN Junior Championships sailed in Poland via Daniel Hearn.
Where Maggie & Peter Were at 5AM This Morning
Renegader Peter Fauerbach and DNer Maggie Zoeller got up early this morning for an appearance on WMTV's morning show. Video here.
4LIYC Racing Called ON for Feb 18-19
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing is called on for the weekend on Lake Monona. Launch your trailers on the ice at the end of Winnequah Trail in Monona. Do not drive
on the ice. Ice checkers found 12" of ice at the landing. They found a small 1/2-1" wide working crack "a ways out" on the lake that should present no problem for racing. There's a little bit of 1/2" shell ice in some areas. Monona's ice looks much better than Mendota's. It's hard and black with 1/2" of just fallen snow which will not present a problem.
Link to map of launching area. Please be respectful of everyone using the ramp, drop your trailer and move your car as soon as possible.
Frankie Hearn in Poland
Here's international tv star, Frankie Hearn, interviewed by Polish TV.
Daniel Hearn writes, "
Five races today in each fleet. 60 Ice Optis on one line. Very cool! Frankie's best finish was 14. He improved with each race, so he's very happy. He was interviewed on the ice by a local TV station. Light snow all day and heavier snow now. Might be end of the regatta, but we'll see. Conditions today hand wind around 4-6 meters with significant snow in ice with plenty of hard drifts. Steering around them and keeping boat moving, sacrificing direction, were key. Hope you all get to sail this weekend on Monona!"
60 Ice Optimists!
US1 first race start.
February 16, 2012
Frankie Hearn @ Ice Opti World Championships
2-15: From Daniel's Facebook wall: Start of the first race this morning at the Polish National Junior Championships. Pretty impressive lineup of Ice Optis I'd say! About 40 raced in this event. Largest ever wii be assembled for Worlds which begin tomorrow--57 boats. Went to an indoor waterpark at a large hotel about 35 kilometers away with our new Polish friends. Good connection so am able to send photo. Will try to send more from the racing action."
FEB 16:"Beautiful day today in Poland, but no wind. Snow has hardened up, so hoping for stiff breeze to allow Ice Optis to get through it. We've adjusted to the time change, but not the hot dogs for breakfast every day. Just gave Frankie a beat down on the ping pong table. The kid's got to keep his competitive edge, right? Hope the Northwest 2.0 comes off nicely. Great wind and no snow for all. Go 4LIYC sailors!" [ed-niya postponed!]
FEB 15-Just received the following text message from 4LIYC Opti skipper Frankie Hearn's father, Daniel. They are in Poland for the 2012 Ice Optimist World Championships being sailed on Okartowo, near Orzysz on Lake Sniardwy.
"Five races today in both fleets. Wind estimated at 10-14 meters. Translation-it was blowing! Frankie had a ball! Polish Championship now complete.
About 40 Ice Optis competed and about the same number of DNs. Talented group of juniors in both fleets. Really impressive to see the tiny Polish girls race in such conditions. I don't believe the 4LIYC bylaws would even permit us to race in the same. And these were all juniors. Really cool!
Event is very well run and all the competitors have been fantastic. Cell and internet connections very poor. Sorry can't send more. Pictures all get bounced back.
FEB 14-Just received the following text message from 4LIYC Opti skipper Frankie Hearn's father, Daniel. They are in Poland for the 2012 Ice Optimist World Championships being sailed on Okartowo, near Orzysz on Lake Sniardwy.
"Practice day Monday with some lighter wind sailing in about 2" of snow. Enough for the Optis to get around. Polish coach was very welcoming to Frankie. [Very bad internet connection. Will have to send what I have from my phone.] He had a good time. First day of Polish National Championships today. Not enough wind to race. Heavy air tomorrow so hope to get racing completed before more snow." Click here for list of competitors. Good to see the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club represented in Poland! Go Frankie!
Birthday Week
Last Friday, WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton celebrated his 50th birthday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay with the fleet of the Northwest Ice Yachting Association regatta. Andy is the skipper who always manages to sail his red stern steerer, Miss Wisconsin, in any condition with a special passenger on the plank. Here's Michigan stern-steerer skipper Erik Sawyer's custom birthday card for Andy.
Andy and bear at the 2007 NIYA in Menominee.
DN Night at the Cabbage Patch
February 15, 2012
Valentines Day at the Nordhaus Boatworks
Via Geoff Sobering: "During last Sunday's racing, Scott Earnest noticed that some of the
bits on the DN he is borrowing from Travis Berggren weren't quite as
attached as one might want. Things like the back deck, grab-rails, and
seat-back were disturbingly independent. 
In all fairness, the bits had
been somewhat detached before the season started, and Scott had done
some pretty decent repairs earlier. Apparently, the problems around
the seat-back and rear deck were a bit more substantial than we had
imagined. After some discussion around the shop it was decided that we
needed to see inside. Jim loaned his best router to the project, and
Scott carefully routed off the bottom skin. With the improved access,
Scott was able to work glue into all the places things were coming
apart, along with some places that hadn't been quite properly glued
together the first time around. Altogether a major improvement. The
next step will be to reattach the bottom skin and go sailing!
My project for the evening was to try and fix the sprung chocks on my
DN. Last week I'd bent them back together; today the job was to spread
them a little bit. No dice. The fall-back plan was to pull the Sarns
chocks off my back-up boat's plank and start to mount them. I need to
get some slightly longer bolts, but things should be "good to go" by
the weekend. The sprung chocks will visit the milling machine to get
the inside surface cleaned up and the outside surface removed to make
them into a "Kent Style" chock."
February 14, 2012
Mallets Bay Sailing
Via Dave Hoder, "Members of the North Shrewsbury, the Long Branch and Connecticut ice boat clubs(and others) traveled to Mallets Bay in Vermont this weekend
(Feb 11-12). The ice was about 12 inches thick and very hard.
Most of us found out why steering runner sharpening is so important. Race marks were set up but no organized racing occurred. Temps started out in the thirties on Thursday
and chilled to the zeros on Sunday. All had a great time."
More Photos from the Attempted NIYA
Look what we found in Vince Lombardi's trophy case!
Posted here.
February 13, 2012
Sunday Sailing Photos & Video
Tons of great photos and videos from Sunday's sailing on Lake Mendota here.
February 12, 2012
Nite Nationals Update
Congratulations to 4LIYC Nite skipper Grant Frautschi on his Nite Nationals win sailed on Pewaukee Lake. 
Grant Frautschi, 1st place
Scott Brown, 2nd place
Nite group
Embrace the Cheese
A large group of ice boaters visited Lambeau Field on Friday as we waited for the snow to stop at the Northwest. Stay tuned for more pictures from that day.
February 11, 2012
From the Iphone: Nat Nats Provisional Standings
Nite Nationals are being sailed on Pewaukee Lake this weekend. Here are today's results.
NIYA Called Off; 4LIYC Stay At Homes Sunday
The Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta was canceled/postponed because of the snow. The club will be sailing on Lake Mendota today and Sunday out of Governor Nelson State Park. Push your trailers to the LEFT side of the ramp over the plywood. Ice report from Jeff Russell via 4LIYC FB page: "I took a stroll out from my house this am on the north shore of Mendota. Wind is directly offshore. Ice is 75% snow free. The drifts are 1"-2" with an occasional 3" drift. I only walked out about 1/2 mile so they may get a bit bigger further offshore. The drifts are still very soft. Drilled 6 holes and measured ice at 7.5" - 9.0" thick. I also took a look at Gov. Nelson landing. Landing is in very good shape with no heaves or overflow. It appears that the ice sheet did move out about 5" and created a 5" crack about 10 feet from shore. Ice is very solid on both sides of crack and there is no overflow. Tongue wheels might be the only issue but this could be addressed with a sheet of plywood. Since the wind is directly offshore, the rigging area is nicely protected from the wind."
February 8, 2012
"Setting Sail on a Different Pair of Blades"
“When you get your first ride, you’re addicted,” says Greg McCormick, commodore of Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club in Madison, Wisc. McCormick's father, Bill, introduced him to iceboating as a teenager, and he hasn't stopped since. The fifth-generation iceboater plans to share the sport with his daughters, too." Continue reading.
Back From...
The website is now back under the control of Deb. I want to thank Geoff Sobering for making it possible for me to enjoy myself in Europe and not have to worry about a thing. I couldn't have gone without your help, Geoff. Many thanks.
Hey, the Northwest has been tentatively called on for this weekend. Final confirmation will be made today around noon. I'll get the 2012 NIYA web page and pre-registration going here soon just in case it's a go. Just got off the phone with Jay Yaeso and he's liking what he's seeing out there on Green Bay so see you there!
Photos from Saturday's Racing on Lake Mendota:
Don Sanford send some photos he took on Saturday
Green Lake Sailing
Check the GLIYC page for results, and check out Bob Rast's video on the 4LIYC Facebook page.
February 2, 2012
DN Worlds Results:
Via Deb Whitehorse: the provisional results of the 2012 DN World Championship have been posted.
The European Championship is next on the schedule.
Check Deb's regatta-blog for more details on the event.
More Photos from Last Sunday on Mendota
Peter Fauerbach has sent in a few more photos from last Sunday's racing.
January 31, 2012
DN World Championship Reports
The first two days of the regatta have had no wind.
Gareth Rowland, K-11, has posted a gallery of photos.
4-Lake's own Deb Whitehorse continues to post about the regatta on her blog here.
Sunday's Photos
Peter Fauerbach's photos from last Sunday are here.
January 29, 2012
4LIYC Club Racing:
After too much wind on Saturday, Sunday brought much better conditions. The Reneagde, Nite, and DN fleets sailed four races each in winds varying from 8 to 15 mph with occasional intervals up into the upper teens. Areas of new snow and crusty drifts made for challenging racing in the lower wind strengths.
January 26, 2012
DN World & European Championship News:
Deb Whitehorse had a one-word post on Facebook this morning: "Sweden".
She is posting more information her blog.
January 25, 2012
This Day in NIYA History
Wednesday, January 23, 1974, Wisconsin State Journal
Here's Twin Beds, the boat Bill McCormick sailed in 1974, at the 2002 Northwest on Lake Kegonsa skippered by Pete McCormick.
Stern Steerer Kid: Cure for Most Depressing Day of the Year
Some travel marketing web site came up with a pseudo-scientific equation proving that the first Monday on the last full week of January is the most depressing day of the year. "The date was calculated by using many factors, including: weather conditions, debt level (the difference between debt accumulated and our ability to pay), time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling of a need to take action." Here's a favorite video of the stern-steerer kid taking action.
January 20, 2012
Behind the Scenes
Here's some behind the scene footage shot on Green Bay at Menominee and Canada last season from the production of Sail Racing International's catalog. . They came to North America the last week of January 2011 to photograph Skeeters sailing and were lucky enough to make it to Menominee to see Tom Hyslop, Buddy Melges, and Bill Dale sailing the day before 4" of snow fell on the ice. (The snow also caused the IDNIYRA Gold Cup regatta to be relocated to IL.) Here's the catalog which features some nice photos of Skeeters on Green Bay and in Canada.
January 19, 2012
Roaming Charges
On Tuesday, January 24, the webmaster is flying to Germany to attend the 2012 DN World Championship regatta. Many thanks to Goeff Sobering who will continue to update iceboat.org while I'm standing on the ice somewhere in Europe. Follow along on the DN Worlds page here.
They Are Experienced
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Via Cabbage Patch Communication Director Todd Knop,"Preparation continues of the DN experience. Sideboards are marked by Jimmy and Rick and table jig is assembled."
A comparison between the Cabbage Patch's flagship, the Deuce, the World's Largest Ice Boat, and a DN.
January 18, 2012
Help the Young Guns!
Dave Elsmo (Rick Hennig's nephew) is successfully recruiting
college age sailors into the sport of ice boating. In an effort to help his gang raise money for gas and repairs, he is making and selling customized runner bags.
"Each bag is a three-fold padded system that can be enclosed with Velcro, cinch or clip systems. I will customize each bag to sail numbers (large or small, Red or blue). These will not prevent edge damage from a fall like a hard case will, but they will do a good job in transit and out on the ice. $70 each. Please email to order or if you have any questions."
Dave's efforts are separate from his role as head of instruction at Hoofers and head sailing coach at the University of Wisconsin but his ties to the Midwest Collegiate Sailing association and young sailors through Hoofers makes it easy for him to find enthusiastic sailors.
"I have a list of 15+ college sailors from the team alone who have expressed a deep desire to try this. Sailors who are highly competitive and safe. My problem will never be finding bodies, it's always finding boats.
Iceboating fulfills all my wants and needs for excitement travel and camaraderie.
The deal I made with my uncle was he wanted more guys and girls my age and younger to get into the sport, hence the reason he bought me Jane Pagels old trailer.
Since then I have traveled with a full load of boats and a crew of my college sailors. I have every intention of continuing this trend as it breaks down my cost and makes the trip more fun!
Currently we have a loaner boat, a dormant DNer from 4LIYC. If you know of anybody send them my way. I will store it on the trailer covered when not in use. Not looking for anything particularly fast either. I have an extra carbon spar sail and runners (can build a boom) to get it up to speed.
I can't say enough about the DN fleet in all seriousness. I have been sailing competitively around the United States since I was 12 and no fleet comes even close to the level of togetherness and helpfulness that the DN fleet shares. Heck, we broke down 4 times [at the DN Western Regional] this weekend and people pitched in to get our boats up and sailing again before the next race........every time!"
January 17, 2012
Fail @ 3:34
Here's a video of another anatomy of a mast failure. (Remember this one from 2009.) "Ice sailing on Friday 13th, practice before regatta in Sweden on Lake Storsjon. P-155 (on board) Lukasz Zakrzewski and P-36 Karol Jablonski. P155 broken mast. Wind 12-15 m/s."
January 16, 2012
Tanzende Kufen (Dancing Skates)
Via the North Shrewsbuy Ice Boat & Yacht Club Facebook Page who saw it on the Chickawaukee Ice Boat Club website. Here's a German ice boating video from 1938 featuring among many other cool details, an early wing mast. These are Monotype-XV ice yachts "designed in 1932 by the legendary Erik von Holst of Estonia". Read more about them here.
Minnetonka Sailing Continues
UPDATE: Cool video of these boats here.
Via Mike Bloom, "As our ice gets thicker the boats get bigger! Another epic weekend on Tonka. Too many Nites, DN's and Stern Steerer's to count but everyone had an awesome weekend!"
"This stern steerer called 'Excelsior' was seen sailing Minnetonka on Sunday and dates back to the early 30s."
January 15, 2012
This Day in 4LIYC History
Friday, January 15, 1965, Wisconsin State Journal
January 13, 2012
Super
Even the man of steel likes ice boating.
Tip of the Helmet: Jeff Moll
January 12, 2012
IN A WORLD...WHERE BOATS SAIL FASTER ON ICE
Eric Rogers Tobias is a UW Madison student who has discovered the addiction of ice boating. Via 4LIYC Facebook page, "I put together this overly-dramatic video of my first season of iceboating; the footage is from Winnebago, Christina and also Green Lake this past weekend. I just wanted to thank all of the DN fleet for being so welcoming into the sport of hard water sailing and getting me thoroughly addicted."
January 11, 2012
Gretchen Dorian Westerns' Photos
Flying Ice Monkeys
Fritz and Meta Simon's first
time Ice Optimist sailing on Lake Wingra on Sunday, January 8, 2012.
"Catching On in High Country"
"At the Dillon Marina, the boats are in dry dock, wearing their white winter plastic coats and an 8-inch layer of ice now covers the Reservoir. But Dan Burnett's short and sweet sailing season has just started."
Story and video here.
January 9, 2012
Just a Tease..
Via RJ Bangs,"Andy Gratton and friends sailing the thin ice of Winnebago." Photos from Saturday, January 7.
"Capt. Mike will appreciate the "For Sale" sign in front of his house."
January 5, 2012
DN Western Regionals Called On
The 2012 DN Western Regionals are called on for Green Lake near Spicer, MN. Another contingent from Madison is headed west again. Look for photos and reports here.
January 5, 2012
UPDATE: Now Online
SAIL: A Unique Mindset
UPDATE: See it online.
Be sure to pick up the December issue of SAIL Magazine which should be at your local bookstore any day. Nice photos by Gretchen Dorian and an article written by me.
Many thanks to all who took the time to talk or correspond with me during the writing of the article; Henry Bossett, Dan Clapp, John Dennis, Greg McCormick, Jim Nordhaus, Jane Pegel, Steve Schalk, Ron Sherry, Greg Simon, and Geoff Sobering. 
Life Is But A Dream
From Wisconsin's west coast,
"Here's how we (ice) boat on Lake Pepin (Jan. 2), Ed Newcomb."
January 4, 2012
Dat's Da One
4LIYC skipper Bob Kau has the decking on his latest Skeeter creation.
January 3, 2012
Arms Falling Off Sailing
Via MN skipper Pat Heppert, "[On Bald Eagle Lake in
MN] Saturday we had two races, and a total of about 10-15 boats out sailing. Sunday was not sailable due to high winds. Monday we only had 6 boats out due to suspected rough ice, but it turned out to be a great day with gusty winds that made for an exciting ride. I think this makes a total of 4 straight weeks of sailable ice on Bald Eagle. My arms are tired now, so I must rest………
Pat Heppert
“Drifter” I291"
January 2, 2012
35 Square Miles of Near Perfect Ice!
Via Canyon Ferry sailor Dave Livezey,"
We started the season with a huge expanse of great ice. We've had some warm weather, a little rain, and some more cold. We now have 35 square miles of near perfect ice. No one remembers this much great ice, this late into the season. We had a huge turnout at the Silos, New Years day. With a steady 5-8 mph south wind, sailors had a delightful recreational day. The skating is amazing. The best fun was skating as far south as possible, turning down wind, and then with two strides, gliding the 2 miles back! Many of us stayed out there until darkness forced us off. This week is suppose to be a bit on the warm side, but with 10-12 inches, the ice should survive. A slight chance of snow later in the week."
December 31, 2011
DN Centrals
Looking for the results of the 2011 DN Centrals?
Right here.
December 29, 2011
Gretchen Dorain Photos: DN Centrals
First day of the 2011 DN Centrals were sailed today on Lake Missaukee near Lake City, Michigan. See all her photos here.
Ace of Spades Waits For Ice
Via Andy Burdick at Melges: "These are new C Stern Steer Sails for Mike Peters boat, Ace of Spades.
Sails coming from Jim Gluek and North Sails Zenda with help from Henry Bossett and the North Sails Team. Kevlar sails for this fast and fun yacht!"
December 23, 2011
NEW! 4LIYC Patches
Now you can customize your red blazer, jacket, hat, vest, and more with this 2 1/2" diameter high quality embroidered patch with the new 4LIYC logo. It's only $6 which includes shipping to US addresses. Order yours today with Paypal. You can use your credit card if you don't have a Paypal account.
December 22, 2011
Sharp Tip of the Day
Via Oshkosh skipper & WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton:
"
I found sources for metal golf spike replacements, $0.25 each. The loggers on the West Coast use them in their boots. I ordered 20 of them for $7 from Hoffman Boots, Idaho, 208-784-8153. They are the same thread as the metal golf spikes, and they look like golf spikes except for the nice tapered point. Also, the backing plate is smaller in diameter. Spiked (caulked) boots are also available as are other styles of spikes. They are called caulks, pronounced "corks".
I thought other iceboaters may be interested."
December 20, 2011
Area 311 Skunkworks Update
Via Jay Yaeso, "These 2 rock stars are building parts for a unidentified coming attraction."
December 19, 2011
A Coming Attraction for 2012?
If you guessed that this was 4LIYC Skeeter skipper Bob Kau's formerly top secret latest A-Skeeter creation, you are correct. Bob writes, "my new boat is a combination of my 'malt tempered thinking', Elmer's [Millenbach] dream boat,
Charlie Miller's old boat, and Jay Yaeso's skills and help."
December 15, 2011
NEW! 4LIYC HATS IN STOCK
Just in time for the gift giving season, a new shipment of 4LIYC baseball style and knit caps have arrived with a new logo designed by Greg Whitehorse. Both baseball and knit hats are $25 and include shipping to US residents. You can buy with Paypal either using your Paypal account or your credit card. UPDATE: Yes, the logo and text are embroidered!
6 Panel Twill Baseball Hats with Embroidered Logo
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Knit Hats with Embroidered Logo
Black not pictured
Rocky Mountain Speed High
Photo: Summit Daily / Mark Fox
Not everyone in Colorado is unhappy about the lack of snow where they are having a great ice boating season on Dillon Reservoir near Breckenridge.
Ice saiing: for the thrill of it
Ice boaters among few enjoying lack of snow
By Janice Kurbjun
summit daily news
"Ice boating is a popular sport in Wisconsin — which happens to be where the newly retired Greg Gary Kastorff* lives when he's not spending the season in Summit County."
Read more.
*Update: Gary Kastorff lives in Monona, WI and is a regular at the Bell Isle Boatworks on Belle Isle.
December 11, 2011
Renegade News
The 2012 IRIYA Newsletter has been mailed and is
also available online.
Big Boat News
WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton forwarded the The Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Newletter.
Read it here.
December 7, 2011
A Tale of Three Masts
BY HARRY ALLEN DN US 2452
10 years ago I received an interesting call about “some old iceboat masts”. As it turns out, three old iceboat spars were hanging in the rafters of a building in Minneapolis. The owner asked if I was interested in them however, the catch was that the building was to be demolished the next day! I made a quick phone call to my friend Alan Lizee who immediately came to my office. We jumped in my red Suburban and off we went.
Ice boats on Lake Minnetonka in 1890
When we arrived at the building, we used a ladder and ropes that we had brought with us. We lowered each extremely dirty spar with the ropes and upon inspection concluded we had a mast, boom, gaff boom and 14 hoops form an Old Ice Boat. As the owner of a 1927 Class A stern steerer myself, this was an exciting find.
The building’s owner told us that his Grandfather had long ago purchased part of a Lake Minnetonka estate named Cedarhurst. In a barn on his new property he found the old spars. He moved them to his warehouse in the late 1950’s, where they were forgotten - until now.
Cedarhurst was the lakeshore estate of Russell M Bennett, an early member of the Minnetonka Yacht Club. I knew a younger Russ Bennett from racing A scows and ice boating so I gave him a call. As it turns out, he referred me to his nephew Frank Bennett who was the Grandson of the older Russell M Bennett. Frank talked with his father and confirmed that the spars were in fact from a Hudson River Ice boat named “St Nicholas” In 1949, his father was sailing the boat and hit a pressure ridge. The hull was damaged and never sailed again. The spars were put in the barn and then to the building where we found them 50 years later. This was a fun discovery.
The Minnesota Historical Society has a 1964 publication with the famed iceboat Northern Light on the cover. The article reads in part: “The year 1902 saw the end of ice boating on the Hudson River because, at that time, it was decided to keep the river open all winter for commercial navigation. Thus the sportsmen who owned the magnificent and gigantic iceboats there had no place to sail them. It was then that Norman Wright introduced these boats to Lake Minnetonka. Representing the Hudson River owners, he sold several to local sportsmen. Ward Burton purchased the Northern Light and the Zero; Theodore Wetmore the Reindeer; Russell M Bennett the St Nicholas; Alfred Pillsbury, the Avalanche; and in 1910 Wm F Peet, the Quickstep.”
Today I loaded the original St. Nicholas mast on a double deck trailer headed for the E Scow Nationals in Torch Lake Michigan. From there it will be transported to New Jersey, with Dick Wight and Henry Colie as coordinators. The plan is for this mast to go back on a restored Hudson River ice boat owned by Fred Thorpe of North Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club.
Fred advertised last spring on the Four Lakes web site for a mast like this. Alan and I saw it and responded. Fred, we hope to see this mast on your boat at the 100th anniversary of the Northwest Ice boat regatta in the winter of 2013.
December 6, 2011
How Do You Spend Your Weekends?
Watch Minnesota skipper Joshua Bone's first attempt to sail a DN on Lake Christina at the Great Western Challenge. He really captured the essence of the event.
December 1, 2011
It's On
The Great Western Challenge, a DN fun regatta, has been called on for Lake Christina in Ashby, MN December 2,3,4, 2011. Information here. Phase 1 of Team Madison leaves this morning with the rest arriving late Friday. Look for photos and reports here.
November 20, 2011
First Regatta of the Season
Photo from the DN Finland Website
Via the DN Euro forum, the Finland DN Vikajärvi Memorial Regatta was sailed on Lake Jerisjärvi over the weekend. Results here and photos here.
November 17, 2011
State of the DN Western Region
Super Cool New Graphic for the DN Western Region.
Daniel claims that for an extra $20 donation he'll give you the model’s phone number.
From Daniel Hearn and cross posted on the DN Forum:
"Much has happened in the Western Region since the ice melted last spring!
Equipment:
The WR is now the proud owner of a late model ATV complete with hitch, cable winch, rack system and floats. Also, an aluminum trailer with ramps for towing the vehicle to events, and for moving regatta equipment about the ice. Team Madison will be responsible for managing this equipment and making arrangements to have it at all regional events.
Graphics:
A super cool new logo has been developed for the WR. It's already gracing a flag that will fly on the new ATV. By the way, the ATV was purchased at an incredibly low price, and it's fully paid for. The trailer, however, is not. A voluntary fundraising effort is underway to offset the expense of the trailer that was purchased with private funds. Here's the deal--donate $75 or more to the cause, and you'll receive a hat that will be sure to make you a chick magnet. The black fleece hat (cleverly selected to go with any "outfit") features embordery of the WR logo on front, and your very own sail number on the back. Sales were brisk at the annual Lake Geneva Swap Meet, but you can still order yours for delivery at the Western Challenge. If you'd like one delivered to you with your sail number on it at the Challenge, email danielhearn@tds.net right away. These hats are "Limited Edition," so don't delay. 
Juniors:
Maybe as many as five ADDITIONAL Ice Optis will be on the ice of the Madison Lakes this winter. Among them are children of multigenerational ice sailing families, so there's great pedigree. Further north in the state, the Green Lake Ice Yacht Club has as many as six Ice Optis under construction. Area kids and parents are sharing in the building process, so there's great enthusiam for getting out on the ice this winter.
The WR now also has brand new, lost cost components available for purchase to support the Junior efforts. Beautiful Ice Opti sails (heavy fabric, cut for ice sailing) are available with bag for just $250. Full sets of mini Ice Opti runners (steering and two sides) are also available for just $150. These runners are short for exceptional maneuverability and thin to easily go through snow--important features in particular for newbies. To purchase, contact danielhearn@tds.net
The Missing Link: 20 Somethings
We're making great progress filling the participation pipeline loading from the top new Ice Opti sailors. Let's keep it up! Also very exciting is a new link established bring in to the WR an infusion of enthusiastic 20 somethings. A new relationship has been formed with the University of Wisconsin Sailing Team and the Hoofers Sailing Club. The head coach of these groups has a full crew of college-age peeps who are bustin' to get out on the ice. They know how to sail, they know how to race, they can't wait to get started. A 6-boat DN trailer has been purchased and several entry-level DNs have been secured. We're looking for more, so please donate anything you can to the cause. The coach, who is a new DN'r himself, has a truck to tow the rig, so the plan is for our Frozen Facebook generation to be at all events in the Madison area, as well as the regional events, and possibly the national event. To level the playing field, the college kids will all be racing on plates. If you got any DN stuff you can donate, please contact daveelsmo@gmail.com.
I'd say this is a pretty good list. What do you think?
November 16, 2011
First Pond Sailing!
Jamie Smith of Saskatchewan Canada sent these photos and message, "Found some ice last weekend. On November 12 my brother Dave Smith and myself Jamie R. Smith sailed on a frozen pond by Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada. Winds were brisk, however the ice became unstable as the day progressed. That ice needs some colder weather to make it more acceptable for sailing. The next day winds were light. We were able to find a pond in the same area just right for the kids and their ice boat. On November 13th Jessica and Jenna Smith were able to get their pink ice boat out for some runs."
August 30, 2011
Sail Racing International Fall/Winter Catalog: Skeeters
"We went to the United States and Canada to test the limits of the fastest forms of sailing on
ice, Formula One Skeeter."
Sail Racing International is a Swedish sailing apparel company. They came to North America the last week of January to photograph Skeeters sailing and were lucky enough to make it to Menominee to see Tom Hyslop, Buddy Melges, and Bill Dale sailing the day before 4" of snow fell on the ice. (The snow also caused the IDNIYRA Gold Cup regatta to be relocated to IL.) Here's the catalog which features some nice photos of Skeeters on Green Bay and in Canada.
Champions of Ice Boating
Posters Series
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Via Peter Fauerbach: "Jack Ripp posters orders are coming in... $120 donated to the Ice Opti’s – junior sailing group in the first few days ! Take a look at all the posters. You might need all 3!
Click here to read more.
Posters Available – Funds got to Support the junior sailing program.
When you purchase an autographed poster you will be contributing $20 to the junior iceboating group – Ice Optis.
Please consider ordering an autographed poster to help support and encourage the youth of our sport.
Ordering options:
All iceboaters receive a special poster price of $5 for an un-autographed poster
Un-signed poster #3 – Jack Ripp $5
Add an un-signed poster #1 – Ron Sherry $5
Add an unsigned poster#2 – Bill Mattison $5
Autographed Jack Ripp poster: $25 ($20 of which is gifted to Ice Optis)
Add a black aluminum frame kit without the 11 x 17 glass - adds $12
We do have a few remaining signed posters for poster #1 Ron Sherry
and poster #2 Bill Mattison.
Additional costs:
Shipping print(s) only in a tube adds - $5 to 48 States.
Shipping print(s) with a frame kit in a tube - $10 to 48 States.
Ways to order:
Contact me email request a total & then send a personal check
or use my Paypal account: Fauerbach@ameritech.net
Thank you for your help and support!