by Deb Whitehorse | Mar 2, 2023 | 2022-2023, DN, Home Page
Even as we wait to get back on the lake, ice sailing shops have been keeping busy. The DN Western Region ATV gets a complete make over thanks to 4LIYC Skeeter sailor, Ken Whitehorse.
Via 4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn:
Not sure what it is about ice sailing that attracts people with little use for idle time and a penchant for ingenuity, but the sport is flush with such individuals. In Madison, Ken Whitehorse matches the profile perfectly. I always call him Kenny. Probably because it feels to me more fitting for his youthful spirit. He’s one of those guys who is older than he looks, with the same mischievous sparkle in his eyes that I see in my grandson. And a head of hair worthy of a rock star. Honestly, I don’t know Kenny well, but I know he’s got a huge heart. If it were not for Kenny, we wouldn’t get to see PK (Paul Krueger) on the ice ripping it up anytime 4LIYC is in action.
If you’ve ever been to Kenny’s shop, you’ll learn instantly that he is also Madison’s MacGyver. The “Past Champions Iceboat Shop” is housed in a building that used to be a Whitehorse Body Shop. Back in the day, I’m told it was stuffed with race cars, when the bill-paying cars were pushed out of the way. Now it’s stuffed with decades of ice sailing gear, each with a unique story Kenny would be happy to tell. And various motorized vehicles seemingly close to successful ignition, but just not quite there yet. Kenny has a very impressive “To Do” List.
I am certain his personal list would be shorter, if he weren’t doing stuff for others all the time. Over the last couple weeks he’s created the DN Western Region ATV Version 2.0. Thanks to Kenny, this machine will now be the envy of the ice sailing world. V2.0 is sporting a shiny new muffler, even though a local dealer told us it couldn’t be replaced. And that 4WD that wasn’t working? A new switch assembly made the orange 4WD indicator light shine like a Christmas tree. With the remaining maintenance items addressed, it was now time to macgyver. First up was the hitch. It’s always been kinda janky, so Kenny welded up a heavy duty reinforcement bracket. Even for “that-hurts-my-back” tongue weight, the hitch is now good-to-go. And for the “don’t-kid-yourself” tongue weight trailers, the Kenny Tongue Jack Sled, which he created last season, now has a rock-solid place for attachment.
Not satisfied with just rear-end upgrades, Kenny MacGyver decided V2.0 needed a combination boat pusher and fold up scoring table on the front end. This machine is now MONEY! If you’re a DNr, buy Kenny a PBR the next time you see him. If you’re not a DNr, buy him a PBR anyway. You’ll be particularly grateful when V2.0 shows up to push you back to the pits when the wind dies.
Thanks, Kenny!
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Mar 2, 2023 | 2022-2023, Home Page
Visit The Sailing Museum on Friday, March 10th between 1-4 PM and hear about the thrills of hardwater sailing from avid iceboater and local legend, Don Sanford!
National Sailing Hall of Fame: Expert in the Museum Series
Date: Friday, March 10, 2023
Time: 1 – 4 PM
Location: National Sailing Hall of Fame
365 Thames Street
Newport, RI 02840
Link to Event Webpage
If you happen to be in Newport on March 10, this will be fun. I’ll bring along a copy of our film, Mary B: Madison’s Legendary Iceboat, some other short videos and a few show and tell items about iceboats and iceboaters. The museum has in its collection a beautiful (and fast) DN donated by my friend, Madison iceboater Doug Kolner. I’ll talk about that too.
Don Sanford
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Mar 1, 2023 | Home Page, Regattas, WSSA
Stern Steerers at the 2013 Northwest on Green Lake. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Via WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton
The 2023 Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Regatta has been postponed until March 10 – 11. Next update is on Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Mar 1, 2023 | Home Page, NIYA, Regattas
HAYWIRE at the 2010 Northwest on Lake Winnebago
The NIYA Race Committee has postponed the Regatta to March 10th, 11th and 12th 2023. The surface at Kegonsa has not been able to firm up, and will not be available until some colder weather – which is on the way mid-March.
The next update will be Sunday March 5th by 7 pm.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
Northwestern Ice Yachting Association
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Feb 28, 2023 | 2022-2023, Home Page
Photo: Mark Amsterdam
Previously: Where It All Began
If two subjects belong in the same photograph, it has to be ice yachts and the northern lights. The Dutch ice sailing club, De Robben, trailered traditional yachts to Rattvik, Sweden, for their annual ice sailing holiday at the same time the northern lights appeared. (Below is a photo from Mora, Sweden from their 2020 trip.)
Photo: Maarten De Groot
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Feb 28, 2023 | 2022-2023, Home Page
Via 4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn:
I read recently that a documentary about Buddy Melges will soon be released called, “The Wizard of Zenda.” If there’s a sequel, it should be called “The Oz of Green Lake.” It would tell the story of another living legend from the sailing world, Joe Norton. What Joe lacks in height, he makes up for with personality and generosity. Joe was a fixture in DN racing for decades, and finished up his active racing career in a Nite. I was fortunate enough to purchase his Nite when he decided to hang it up. It was a nameless boat at the time, so I jumped on the opportunity to name her JoJoe. The wood components Joe made for the boat are works of art. He’s a guy who knows his way around a wood shop. He’s made a living restoring, building and maintaining some of the most beautiful Chris Craft style boats that I have ever seen. He insists the only way to varnish one of these beauties is in the nude. “You see, clothing is a magnet for dust”, he claims, “and the last thing you want is dust gathering on your wood.” I think he was pulling my chain, but I’m not really sure.
Although his racing days are over, Joe continues to give back to the sport in multiple ways. This season already, Joe has served as the PRO for the Nite Nationals and assisted Pat Heppert at the DN Worlds/North Americans. I paid a visit to Joe in Green Lake last Friday. One of my off-season projects will be building a couple Nite masts, so I figured there was no one better to consult with than the Oz of Green Lake. He sent me back to Madison with all sorts of goodies. Along with some of the carnage from his own Nite mast exploration. Sharing one’s failures can save another aspiring builder boatloads of time!
But Joe also sent me back with something else. Something that is uniquely Joe. He doesn’t even know what to call the device, so I’m going to call it a “Nortometer”. Functionally, the device measures changing wind angles. When setting a course, PROs are hawkishly watching for the mean direction, so that starting lines and marks can be set for fair racing. Artisitcally, calling this thing a “device” seems kind of insulting. Joe constructs his Nortometers out of salvaged Chris Craft decks. The contrasting wood stripes provide a beautiful indication of a square race track when the yarn is flowing in parallel. If the yarn is at an angle, then it’s time to wait for the wind to settle in, or consider moving the course. When not set up for racing duties, the Nortometer cleverly stores its uprights in pockets underneath, where a true artist, and all around great guy has inscribed his name and date on the gift. Joe has already donated Nortometers to the Green Lake Club, Skeeter Iceboat Club, Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club, Nite Class, International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association, Minnesota Ice Sailors and the International Skeeter Association. If any other club or judge could use a Nortometer of their own–close your eyes, click your heels, and say, “there’s no place like home.” Alternatively, you could email Joe at nortonboatworks@gmail.com.
Like this:
Like Loading...
