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Nite Recap

Via Nite Treasurer Maureen Bohlehber:
Nite Holiday Regatta
December 26 – 27, 2020
With a total of 19 boats over the weekend on ice that was as Hollywood as you can get, the Nites completed 13 races on Lake Puckaway in central Wisconsin, a great early season iceboating venue. The Nites competed for a Saturday, Sunday, and overall series.
The ice was so smooth you could not even hear your runners glide over the ice. These are the perfect conditions for ice boaters, hence the name “Hollywood Ice.”
With a large fleet in attendance, the competition was close. The 2020 Nite National champion, Chad Rechygl of Pewaukee Wisconsin, and Mike Jankowski of Green Lake Wisconsin battled it out throughout the weekend for the overall top spot. Split-scoring the event by days allowed sailors to try different settings and tactics. As they say, everybody has a favorite condition. Jim McCabe was the hot sailor of the weekend, cracking the top three on both days. Another local favorite, Byron Hill, also placed consistently in the top three. Chad Rechygl took first, Mike Jankowski second, and the Vandervelde brothers in the next two spots in the overall standings.
We were happy to see a strong showing of sailors from Lake Kegonsa and the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club as well, with Lars, Henri, Brad, and Don in attendance. They sailed fast and showed a considerable step in improvement from last year’s event. We were also lucky to have Daniel Hearn join in the racing and experience the close roundings and the back and forth position changes that make Nite racing unique and fun.
It was interesting to watch from the Race Committee view, learning from Deb Whitehorse, John Hayashi, and George Gerhardt. While Saturday’s course was more straightforward, the Race Committee had to chase the wind and change the track. When the wind settled in, the Nites sailed six races before the snow started to fly.
It was a memorable weekend of Nite racing. It was ICE COLD FUN!
A Mesmerizing Iceboat Ride
Ride along with Chad Rechygl in race 10 at Sunday’s Nite regatta on Lake Puckaway:
Come join me for a ride during a race win. Not sure what I was doing to get in the boat, that was a new move lol. Sorry the camera shook loose and started pointing up.. enjoy the black ice!
Renegade Recap

Joe Norton waits as the Renegades line up to race.
On Sunday morning, the Nites sailed one race as the Renegades waited, but the wind shifted, and the course had to be changed. The Renegade fleet decided to call their regatta complete because they weren’t sure if there was enough time to move and scout the new course for hazards before the snow came. The snow held off, the Nites banged off five more races and had a spectacular day.

Don Anderson 5th, Daniel Hearn 4th, Andy Gratton 3rd, Jim Gluek 1st, and Ron Sherry 2nd.
Fly By Nite

Nite iceboats on Lake Puckaway, December 26, 2020. Photos: Jim Stevenson.
As the saying goes, it’s who you know. Ice sailors have become accustomed to seeing 4LIYC Renegader Jeff Russell pull up on the ice in his bright yellow Piper Cub. Jeff opted for blades on the ice at this weekend’s Renegade Championship and Nite regatta. Luckily, his fellow flyer Jim Stevenson arrived and took these spectacular aerial shots of the Nite Class on Saturday.
The Nites sailed 6 more races on Sunday. Results here.
Renegade Nationals – Nite Holiday Series Update

Arrowheads: The Nite fleet readies to race on Lake Puckaway, Saturday, December 26, 2020. Photo by Jim Stevenson. Instagram: js170b.
I have time for a quick update before heading back to Lake Puckaway for day 2 of the 2020 Renegade Championship and Nite Holiday Series.
One of the highlights for me was scoring the third Renegade race when two familiar boats rounded first and second on the first lap and continued to battle for the remaining four laps. Ron Sherry was sailing Mike Ripp’s blue Renegade, and Mike was sailing his father, Jack’s red Renegade. Mike said that “Jack was sailing the boat” in that race. I will have more video and photos on Monday.
2020 Nite Holiday Series Called ON

Via Nite Class Commodore John Hayashi:
The Nite class will be sailing out of Apuckwaka Park on the North shore of Lake Puckaway. The event starts on Saturday 12/26 with the flag dropping at 9 AM. You must be a Nite class member to participate. We will be following the Nite class protocols regarding COVID safe events listed on our class website www.niteiceboats.org. Further updates will be posted on our class website and also Facebook page.
The ice has been walked and scouted and will be further scouted and sailed Christmas morning. We are currently recording 4 inches of ice. The conditions look excellent.

Black lines are very small working seams, they have small gaps with thinner ice and possible water gaps. The circle is a very small patch of rougher ice that can be sailed just a little more bumps to it. We will sail right off the landing.
Regatta Watch: 2020 Renegade Championship Called ON
The 2020 Renegade Championship has been Called ON for Puckaway Lake near Princeton, WI for December 26-27, 2020. The Renegade Championship will join with the Nite class for their Holiday Series. This post will be updated with Sailing Instructions and more information as we receive it.
ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION:
Online registration is MANDATORY. You will not be able to pay using cash or check at the sailing site.
Launch:
Apackwaka Park on Puckaway Lake, Montello, WI.
Do not drive on the ice! Please save the landings as well.

Black lines are very small working seams, they have small gaps with thinner ice and possible water gaps. The circle is a very small patch of rougher ice that can be sailed just a little more bumps to it. We will sail right off the landing.
Ice Report: The lake was walked, drilled, and measured by Nite Commodore John Hayashi today December 24, 2020. He found 4″ of ice everywhere with some areas thicker. See the map above for working seams.
SAILING INSTRUCTIONSSchedule of Events:
Saturday, December 26, 2020
8:30 AM: Skippers Meeting
9:00 AM: First Nite Race
10:00 AM First Renegade Race
Renegade By Laws specify 3 races for Saturday.
Sunday, December 27, 2020
9:00 AM First Nite Race
9:30 AM First Renegade Race
Attention Renegaders

Lake Puckaway, Thursday morning, December 24, 2020.
Attention Renegade sailors: Stand by and sharpen your runners.
Previous: 2020 Renegade Championship Called On
Think Christmas Ice!

Faithful Friends on Monotypes

For your listening pleasure, a 1983 Russian music video with Monotype Stern-Steerers and DNs. This video has grown on me since first seeing it on Facebook yesterday. The innocence and goofiness of it seem appropriate now.
The song is VIA ′′ Faithful Friends ′′ – Blue Song (Blue Inay)” and the translation describing it reads, “In the 80s, there is a boom of Sailing in the USSR, the mass construction of sailing yachts, monotype buers, DN, sports clubs at factories buy match, yacht clubs open, popularization is huge.”
With a total of 19 boats over the weekend on ice that was as Hollywood as you can get, the Nites completed 13 races on Lake Puckaway in central Wisconsin, a great early season iceboating venue. The Nites competed for a Saturday, Sunday, and overall series.














