2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
1963 England: Perfect Weather For a More Orthodox Winter Sport
Here’s a look at England’s frigid winter of 1963, which looks quite normal to Midwestern eyes. The dramatic melancholy soundtrack, more suited to an alien-invasion movie, shows how much England was not well equipped for cold weather. Of course, others saw a great opportunity in the freeze, and iceboats came down from the rafters. Go to the 30:00 minute mark to see ice yachting in England in 1963. Unfortunately, the documentary doesn’t give a location where the ice sailing took place. Perhaps it’s in Norfolk, which does have a history of ice sailing. Tip of the Helmet: Rick Thompson
Update January 15, 2021: UK DNer Chris Williams who served for many years at the IDNIYRA European Secretary recalls: “Thank you so much for that great film of the 1963 winter. We remember it well and were living in Edinburgh at that time – I was second in command of a Royal Navy Minehunter! The picture at the start showing a large expanse of ice and several different types of ice yachts is not in the UK. At the 30 minute point in the film with several basic – home made ice yachts in in Lincolnshire ( east England). I introduced my DN when I returned from 3 years in Canada in 1969. I had built my DN as part of a project at the Nova Ice Yacht Club where I am a Founder
Member! We built 11 DNS !
Think ICE
CHRIS
K-1”
4LIYC Next Gen
Fritz Simon explaining runner technology.
Many thanks to Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club DN sailor Tim Sugar for sharing this good-news story.
In the Season of Giving, the Sugar families were greeted with not one, but two exceptional surprises.DNer Mark Isabell was selling his DN trailer to Tim and Hugh and “threw in” two, hand-crafted, Ice Optimist hull’s built by Mark. The only ask was to outfit the hulls and get them on the ice. You’ll see one of these beautiful hulls in the picture of the Sugar kids practicing their Opti skills in the front yard! Thanks so much Mark!The second surprise came two weeks later, when Renegade sailor Greg Simon, emailed Tim offering two complete ice Optimist programs to the Sugar clan! These hulls were built by Jerry Simon for his grandkids Meta & Fritz. Greg Simon completed the programs by hand sewing Optti sails! Meta & Fritz have outgrown the Optis and the Sugar kids are the proud new stewards of these beautiful boats!At delivery, the Simon’s rolled out the red carpet. Cheese, sausage, beers, and personalized rigging instructions from the Simon kids were the order of the day. It was an amazing evening of fun! Thank you Simon family, we’re beyond grateful for your generosity.If there are any families that are interested in trying the Optis, please give Hugh or Tim a call. We are happy to continue the Season of Giving with any interested kiddos.
The Sugar kids have been waiting for this since first being on the ice in 2013 with dad Tim at the Western Challenge.
SOLD! September 10, 2020: DN in Michigan
SOLD! Beautiful racing DN in like new condition. This is a “clone” boat which was built to match the hugely successful Composite Concepts (C2) boats built by Ron Sherry. This most excellent ready-to-race package includes: Like new Sitka spruce hull, max length, max width, with C2 carbon tiller, C2 carbon reinforced steerer tube, C2 hiking rack, Harken blocks on adjustable track, and C2 Mold and Design mast step.
– C2 Carbon insert runners, 3/16”, set of three, in custom padded carrying bag.
– Bullnose stainless plate runners, 3/16”, set of three
– C2 Carbon mast “Ugly Stick”, stiffness and rider capacity similar to C2 standard mast
– Dieform adjustable shrouds with T bar Struble hound.
– Aluminum boom with easily adjustable block locations and out haul
– Quantum sail, full, like new
– Quantum sail, speed, like new
– C2 plank with Strubel chocks
– Harken padded travel bag for hull
– Covers for mast, sails, plank, and boom.
It would cost well over $11,000 to put this package together. I am offering it for the bargain price of $5250. You won’t be disappointed.
Regatta Watch: 2021 Renegade Championship Postponed to Jan 22-24
Via International Renegade Ice Yacht Association Regatta Chairman Don Anderson:
The 2021 Renegade Championship has been postponed until January 22-24, 2021. Lake Mendota’s ice needs more days of cold weather. The next update will be Sunday PM, January 17, 2021.
Chauncy Griggs 1936-2020
Chauncy Griggs, left talking with Dave Lallier at Burly & Donna Brellinthin’s cocktail party in Lake Geneva at the 2005 ISA. Photo: Jeff Smith
The ice sailing community extends condolences to friends and family of Minnesota ice sailor Chauncy Griggs who passed on January 7, 2021. Chauncy was an innovator well known for developing a wing-mast. He won a Challenge Pennant race in the 1990s on Lake Mendota with his sold wing mast. Those who were present still remember it as the fastest anyone had ever seen an iceboat move. His Class A Skeeter SHAZAM is pictured below.
Griggs III, Chauncey Wright Age 84 of Mahtomedi died at home on January 7, 2021. He was recently preceded in death by his life-long love, soulmate, and wife of 59 years, Ethel W. Griggs. Chauncey is survived by his sons Chauncey (Eileen), and Bill (Heather), his grandchildren Lydia, Oliver, Liesel, Bennett, and Julia, sisters Ginny Magnuson, and Gian Hartner, and Ethel’s sisters Ariel Dickerman, Barbara (Mike) Bliss, Sally (Mark) Foster and Cynthia Mills (David). He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and dear friends. Chauncey graduated from Saint Paul Academy and the University of Minnesota in mechanical engineering. He owned and operated Griggs Contracting for over 40 years, but his life revolved around his hobbies. He loved to work in the garage customizing cars, boats, and airplanes. He was an early adopter of the fixed wing sails in ice boating and land-sailing, constructing his own boat and wings. Chauncey was also a private pilot (venturing into acrobatic flying in his 7o’s), catamaran racer, windsurfer, water skier, and inventor. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of Chauncey and Ethel’s favorite causes in his memory: Planned Parenthood, the Girl Scouts, or Habitat for Humanity. A virtual service will be held on January 23, 2021 at 11:00. For viewing information, visit unityunitarian.org
Published on January 10, 2021
Regatta Watch: 2021 Renegade Championship Called ON for Jan 15-17
Via International Renegade Ice Yacht Association Regatta Chairman Don Anderson:
The 2021 Renegade Championship has been tentatively called on for January 15-17, 2021. Primary site is Lake Mendota for this 3 day event. We are keeping an eye on the weather and will make final confirmation on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 by 1 PM CT.
Mendota Declared Safe for Canines by Area Coyote
An area coyote took advantage of Lake Mendota’s emptiness for a pleasant lake stroll on Saturday morning, January 9. He was last seen heading towards the Edgewater Hotel, presumably for breakfast. Tip of the Helmet: Jeff Russell
Land of the Polar Night
While we wait for ice, Norwegian ice sailors share videos and photos from Soløyvatnet Lake near Bodø, where the scenery is incredible. They appear to take advantage of every drop of daylight with a narrow window of opportunity to sail. The sun rises in Bodø at 10:30 AM and sets at 1:48 PM.
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed to Jan 23-24
Class C Stern Steerer: TWIN BEDS Peter McCormick Photo: Gretchen Dorian
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 23 and 24, 2021. The next update will be Sunday, January 17. Check back here at that time.
We still need more cold air, so get your friends to leave their freezer open, too.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
SOLD! November 4, 2020: DN in NY
SOLD! DN: Wooden mast (or an aluminum mast, or both), plate runners, wooden boom, nice sail. Very nice DN.
I have two of these available.
$1500
$900
SOLD! January 4, 2021: Nite in MI
SOLD! Nite #373 for sale, built in the 1980’s
Hull is in like new condition, never painter, repaired or left in the weather.
3 pristine, clean, crisp sails. Sails have had minimal use.
2 sets of cockpit cushions.
Extra set of new stays.
2 Jofa helmuts.
Sarns runner sharpening jig.
Ice screw and 3 horses.
Safety flares.
Padded runner carrier.
Trailer with new spare tire.
SOLD! November 30, 2020: DN Hull in MI
SOLD! DN Hull
Sitka Spruce with steering bushings .
Comes with misc. hardware
Located in Michigan.
Can help with delivery.
$600.00
Ice Invaders
Big lake, big ice, big booming Skeeter hike on Lake Winnebago at the 2010 Northwest Regatta. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Are you ready for some legendary arms-falling-off-from-pulling-sheet ice on big inland lakes? If we believe the weather forecasts this far out, ice sailing hotspots in Wisconsin like Menominee, Lakes Geneva, Winnebago, and Green should be coming online in the next two weeks. Fingers crossed.
Accuweather: Polar vortex set to unleash coldest air of season yet in US
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Jan. 9, 2021 3:11 AM CST
Accuweather January forecast for Madison, WI as of January 9, 2021.
SOLD! December 14, 2020: Nite in Montana
SOLD! Nite in Montana
The boat is “STORMIN” which came from Michigan, and now lives in Montana (Bozeman). It’s in good condition. Includes full set of covers, a Nite sail, straight mast, and full set of cockpit cushions. Runners not included; no trailer. Its been fun – selling because I have too many boats; downsizing! Always stored indoors.
$2300 obo.
4LIYC Club Racing Update for Jan 9-10, 2021
Greg Whitehorse sailing his Renegade BLADE RUNNER on Lake Monona
There will be no Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing for the weekend of January 9-10, 2021. Club members have been keeping a close watch on area lakes. Lakes Kegonsa and Monona are snow-covered. Lake Mendota’s “slow growth” ice holds much promise but needs a few more days of colder temperatures. The next update will be on Friday, January 15, 2021.
SOLD! January 5, 2021: Skeeter Runners in MT
Asking $600.00 or best offer, plus shipping from Montana.
SOLD! December 7, 2020: Skeeter in Iowa
SOLD! Class-A Skeeter with trailer and full covers. Good, solid iceboat.
$2,500
Clear Lake, Iowa
SOLD! December 8, 2020: Yankee
Turnkey iceboat, ready to sail this season with no work!
MUST SELL, no longer have room to store the boat
Located in Southampton, NY (eastern Long Island)
Always stored indoors
One of a few “Bite Me” boats (BITE ME in large letters is on the bottom of the boat, visible when you hike)
Meticulously restored by Keith Kennedy of NJ
One of the nicest looking Yankees you will ever see, all in outstanding condition
23ft mast, 18ft plan
Custom seat cushions in cockpit
Amazing paint job, pin striping and lettering
Dual steering, wheel and foot pedals
Two hull covers (storage and on ice)
Covers for plank, mast and sails
2 sails (one racing, one cruising)
Two sets of stainless runners (like new)
Hand brake
Custom trailer with storage box for runners and tools
Originally $6,500, price lowered to $4,500 firm
Regatta Watch: 2021 Renegade Championship Postponed
Via Renegade Secretary Ron Rosten:
The 2021 Renegade Championship has been postponed until January 15-17, 2021. The next update will be on Sunday, January 10, 2021.
News We Can Use: Polar Vortex Making an Appearance
Enjoying the Vortex
via Accuweather:
“Many of the chips are beginning to line up to suggest we will see a shift of the polar vortex and an Arctic invasion across the central and eastern U.S. and Canada toward the end of the month,” Pastelok warns.
“The pattern also looks favorable for the bitter Arctic blast to be ushered in by a big storm somewhere in the eastern U.S.”
“Enjoy the ‘warmth’ while it lasts,” Anderson says, “because Old Man Winter is looking to return with a vengeance.” Read more.
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