by Deb Whitehorse | Apr 11, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page
RESULTS
Congratulations to several of our 4LIYC members for their podium finishes at the 2022 Blokart North American Championship sailed at Ivanpah, Nevada.
From left, Wayne Schmiedlin 2nd Performance Heavy, Aiden Schmiedlin 1st Performance Light (6 overall), Gary Nordhaus 2nd Production Light, Jim Nordhaus 2nd Performance Super (2nd overall), Geoff Sobering 1st Performance Super (1st overall), Lars Barber 2nd Performance Middle, and Brad Wagner 3rd Performance Super (5th overall.)
Even after several years working Race Committee for the North American Blokart Association at the cathedral of land sailing in Ivanpah, Nevada, I find more similarities than differences between ice sailing and land sailing.
I assumed that, unlike ice sailors, dirt sailors had an unlimited supply of venues for sailing. It turns out that land sailors have to monitor surface conditions almost as closely as ice checkers. Dirt just aint dirt, and not all playas are sailable. Just like we search for black ice, they hunt for smooth playas.
Ice sailors dread shell ice while dirt sailors pay attention to rain showers, leaving a bumpy, rutted surface. If a playa dries too quickly, the surface can “cup,” resulting in a rough track. The week before the Blokart NAs, a substantial rain had fallen at Ivanpah, changing the dry lake into an actual wet lake. The surface dried out at the optimal rate, and the rain Zambonied the lumps and bumps, leaving an excellent racing track.
During sturgeon spearing season, fishing clubs plot Lake Winnebago with wooden stakes for vehicle control, but these go away. On some playas, wooden claim stakes are popping up placed by speculators hoping to strike it big in lithium mining.
Ivanpah is unique because the Bureau of Land Management has specifically designated it as an area for “wind sailing.” If you ever get the chance to attend a land sailing regatta at Ivanpah, you won’t regret the experience.
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by Deb Whitehorse | Apr 10, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page
“Not sure what boat season it is.”
Daniel Hearn sends word from the Spaight Street Syndicate that he’s unsure what boat season it is. Minnesota’s Dirk Siems sailed his DN on a sunny April day on Otter Tail Lake yesterday in what has to be some sort of late record for Minnesota DN sailing. 4LIYC sailors are returning from Ivanpah, Nevada, with some trophy hardware awarded during the Blokart dirt-sailing event. (More on that tomorrow.) No wonder we are all confused!
Dirk Siems usually finds the first ice for the Western Challenge in MN and now he’s on the hunt for the last ice of the season. He sailed on Otter Tail Lake yesterday, April 9, 2022.
Geoff Sobering won the overall and his division at the 2022 Blokart North American regatta at Ivanpah, Nevada.
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by Deb Whitehorse | Apr 9, 2022 | Sold, sold-1
SOLD! DN in Red Bank, N.J. area (Monmouth County). Complete boat ready to go.
Kenyon Aluminum Mast and Boom
Sail in good shape #1113
Mast and sail/Boom bags
Recent restoration. Very good shape
2 sets of runners
Some racing. Mainly used for cruising
Includes cover for boat
$2,000
by Deb Whitehorse | Apr 9, 2022 | Sold, sold-1
SOLD! Ray Ruge designed A Skeeter. Built by Hagarty in the early 60’s. Owned briefly by Buddy Melges and carries his sail number. Square top added to sail, new steering, and stem block. New hollow plank built to the same section as the fuselage. Sails fast and balanced. These boats were built in limited production and this is the only known sample still sailing. New enclosed trailer. Runners sharpened and aligned.
Photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnarey/albums/72157714158938948
In Maine.
$5200.00.
$3500
by Deb Whitehorse | Apr 7, 2022 | Sold, sold-1
SOLD! Gold Fleet DN Package
- Clear epoxy coated hull with carbon twist lock breakaway tiller. Custom aluminum billet steering post. Custom billet aluminum front chock with internal spring, carbon steering connection rod, billet aluminum custom mast step with titanium ball, harken block track and breakaway plank mounting system.
- Latest design C2 balsa core plank with Stubble Chocks, tuned for 170-200 pound sailor, new 2021.
- Latest design C2 prepreg carbon mast with high strength internal hound and custom low profile billet aluminum needle bearing mast foot, new 2020.
- Forstman boom with Harken blocks, two ratchet blocks and braided mainsheet.
- Dieform stays with staymasters and titanium spreader bar, new 2021.
- Ulman FO1, and ABSS sails including alternate stiffness battens
- Three sets of runners with Harken bags and pelican transport case. Runners are all 440C made by Ron Sherry. Package includes 9 runners. 3/16 x90 Insert Set, Slipper Set, and Plate Set.
- Includes pit horses, Harken on-ice cover, ice anchor, and one tool box full of DN tools and miscellaneous spare parts.
- Location: Lapeer Michigan, shipping/delivery not included
- $10,000 firm
