2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
Where It All Began: Part One – The Club
De Robben Ice Sailing Facebook
De Robben Ice Sailing Website
Sorry I haven’t been posting much this month. I hope this long post will make up for my absence. After the Junior World Ice Sailing championship,me and my brother, Ron, left Sweden and headed to Norway for some sight seeing and to visit our relatives there. (Sailable ice could be found in Norway this winter. Like Sweden, they don’t have much snow.)
In case you didn’t know, the Dutch are the grandfathers of this sport. Back in the 1600s, they were the first ones to throw a plank and runners on a traditional soft water sailing boat in order to utilize the frozen canals of Holland. The day before we left for Norway, Maarten de Groot of the Dutch ice sailing club, De Robben, sent a message that 10 of the club’s old style original Dutch iceboats were heading to Lake Orsa in Sweden for a week of cruising. Maarten and I have been corresponding by email for many years about his club and these historic boats. An opportunity like this might never come along again and I knew I had to find a way to get back here to Orsa after the Norway visit to see these boats and meet the club members. Thankfully, the ticket change was easy (I was credited $19 for the change, thanks Delta!)
Ron and I drove back from Oslo to Uppsala, Sweden on Monday and we enjoyed the warm atmosphere of a family dinner that evening at the home of Swedish junior sailor, Axel Steffner. Ron flew back to Wisconsin yesterday while I rented a car and made the 3.5 hour drive back to Orsa, my third time here this month. (Reminds me of being in Lake City, MN on Pepin for basically the entire month of January 2019.) Google navigation makes driving in Sweden very easy, but the many “watch out for moose” road signs keeps one alert! (Ron and I did see a moose standing near the road in Norway – we thought it was a horse at first.)
I arrived back at Orsa around noon and had lunch with Maarten, his wife Marianne and other club members in their cozy, rustic Orsa Camping cabin. Being able to stay in one place right at the launch is quite a luxury in ice sailing. I spent the rest of the afternoon on the ice.
I learned so much about these boats and the club members who cherish them so much. First, about the club. Here’s a roster of the boats that sail with De Robben. They have over 100 club members and are growing. (There are other clubs like them in the Netherlands where the focus is the old Dutch style boats.) There hasn’t been ice in the Netherlands in 10 years so they’ve had to embrace travel. They have one organizational meeting every November to discuss their upcoming trip. They don’t race, it’s all strictly for pleasure and camaraderie. It’s family oriented ice sailing and many husbands and wives sail together. Club members enjoy helping each other out in the shop and on the ice, one of the best traditions in iceboating all over the world. Last evening, club members gathered in one of the small cabins for drinks and snacks. I counted 18 people and reflected upon the fact that the 4LIYC was going to be meeting in a few hours back home. Sitting in that cabin surrounded by ice sailors was just like being at a 4LIYC meeting except everyone was speaking in Dutch. They are starting to take down the boats today but a few will stay here until Sunday.
I’ll post more later because I want to get ready to head out to the ice and catch some more rides. A sincere thank you to Maarten and all club members from De Robben for this incredible experience. I hope to be able to write part 2 tonight which will focus more on the boats. I’m moving a few km to stay in Furudal for another regatta.
Oh, and one more reason to extend the trip – there’s a Swedish DN ranking regatta this weekend here. The Race Committee has graciously asked me to be part of it.
Regatta Watch: ISA, NIYA, and WSSA Postponed
We Sure Do!
Via ISA & NIYA Secretary Steve Schalk:
There are no sailable sites for the Northwest and ISA championship regattas. Both are postponed to March 6th, 7th and 8th 2020. The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Championship takes precedence if there are suitable conditions for a March 6th start.
Via WSSA Secretary/Treasurer Andy Gratton
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to March 7 and March 8. The Northwest Regatta is scheduled for the same weekend and will take precedence. The next update will be Sunday, March 1. Check back here at that time. Still too much snow.
2020 Junior World DN & Ice Optimist Championship
Results
The World and European Junior Ice Sailing Championship concluded on February 20, 2020. It was one of the most amazing regattas I’ve ever seen for many reasons. Some of them include the first time being around so many young people who iceboat and the commitment and support their parents and coaches make to get them there and have a good experience. You can tell from the photos that the ice was fast. Both the DNs and Ice Optimist fleets showed a high level of sailing skill. The Lithuanian DN Ice Sailing club, organizers of the event, provided hot tea and cookies on the ice every day and the Uppsala, Sweden contingent organized hot lunch every day as well.
One of the best memories I’ll take away from the regatta ironically took place on a day without sailing. Boredom is not a bad thing. The kids played soccer on the ice, skated, and generally horsed around for hours before being excused for the day. That evening, Estonian coach and DN sailor Mikhal Kosk organized a bowling tournament between countries at regatta headquarters. I have no idea who won but it was a blast to watch them having fun.
Here are some photos from the regatta.
Hollywood Swedish Ice
Rainbow’s End
Sorry for the light posting but I’ve been in Europe for the 2020 DN Worlds and now Junior Worlds. Good morning from near Furudal, Sweden, site of the 2020 Junior World DN & Ice Optimist championship. A few quick pictures before heading off to the sailing site. Racing will begin today.
ISA, Northwest, WSSA Regattas Postponed to Feb. 28-March 1
From Steve Schalk, “The ISA and Northwest regattas have again been postponed. The new dates are February 28th, 29th and March 1st, 2020 for both regattas. There are no sailable regatta sites anywhere.”
From Andy Gratton, “The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 29 and March 1. The Northwest Regatta is scheduled for the same weekend and will take precedence. The next update will be Sunday, February 23. Check back here at that time. Still too much snow everywhere.”
4LIYC Scores Published
Leon Lebeau’s Class A Skeeter on Lake Mendota.
Playing catch up here from Sweden. Thanks Tim McCormick for tabulating the club scores. See them here.
Mary B on Lake Mendota Video
Video from February 8, 2020, the Mary B Stern-Steerer on Lake Mendota.
Northwest, ISA, and WSSA Postponed to 2/21-2/23
Steve Schalk reports: The Northwest and ISA regattas are postponed to February 21st, 22nd and 23rd 2020. All potential sites are currently snowed out.
From Andy Gratton: The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 22 and 23. The Northwest Regatta is scheduled for the same weekend and will take precedence. The next update will be Sunday, February 16. Check back here at that time. Too much snow everywhere.
4LIYC Racing Called On Feb 8 – 9
Via Commodore Don Anderson:
Club racing has been called on for Saturday and Sunday, February 8-9, 2020.
Launch at the County Park or Lot 60. Course will be in middle of lake north of the Edgewater
ISA and Renegade Regatta Postponed
The ISA and Renegade Championships have been postponed to February 14th, 15th and 16th.
The launch ramp conditions on the Madison Lakes are not good enough to get the fleets safely on and off the ice.
Regatta Watch: Renegade Championship Called on Feb 7-9
Via George Gerhardt: The Renegade Championship will be sailed in conjunction with the ISA on February 7 – 9, 2020. Primary location is Madison, Wi.
ISA & Renegade Championship Called ON for Feb 7 – 9
The International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championship has been called ON for February 7 – 9, 2020 on Lake Mendota in Madison, WI.
LAUNCH:
You will need a Lake Access Permit. You can purchase one at the launch or purchase one online.
LODGING:
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, February 7:
8:30 – 9:30 AM Registration at the launch
10 AM First race
6 PM Annual ISA Meeting at the
ISA AGENDA
Saturday, February 8
9:30 AM First race
Banquet at
6:30 PM cocktails
7:00 PM dinner and order off the menu.
Sunday, February 9
9:30 AM First Race
2020 ISA Pre-registration
Regatta Watch: ISA Called ON for Feb 7-9; NIYA Postponed
Renegades rounding the weather mark at the 2013 ISA regatta on Lake Kegonsa
The Northwest Regatta has been postponed to February 14th, 15th and 16th, 2020.
The ISA is called on for the Four Lakes of Madison for February 7th, 8th and 9th, 2020. Potential sites are Lake Mendota at Middleton Bay and Lake Kegonsa.
The final call will be made by noon CT on Wednesday February 5th, 2020.
Steve Schalk
ISA and NIYA Secretary/TreasurerOn behalf of the NIYA and ISA Race Committees
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
The mighty TAKU Class A Stern Steerer
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed again to February 15 – 16, 2020. The Northwest Regatta is scheduled for the same weekend and will take precedence. The next update will be Sunday, February 9, 2020. Check back here at that time. Green Lake and Madison lakes are too thin, Lake Geneva is thinner, Green Bay blew out, Menominee is too thin, Petenwell is thick enough but has too much snow, Minnesota lakes have too much snow, Winnebago is melting but still has water under shell ice and crusty snow. Will water skis work on the boats?
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
Area Zamboni Driver Working OT
Seen in our area.
Above is a photo taken by 4LIYC Commodore Don Anderson at Middleton Bay on Lake Mendota, Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 5 PM. [Slightly photoshopped by the ed.] A combination of warm temperatures, sun, and wind are knocking down the slush and drifts – in other words, Zambonifying our lakes this weekend. I took a walk on Lake Waubesa today and it was wetting out beautifully. I’m sure the same can be said of all area lakes. The cold part of the Zamboni arrives Monday night when temperatures head below freezing. Of course, we’ll be checking ice for either club racing or possibly a regatta.
4LIYC Racing Update: No Club Racing for Feb 1-2
When the ice was better on Lake Monona
There will be no Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing for the weekend of February 1-2, 2020. 4LIYC Commodore Don Anderson described Lake Monona like “walking on the moon with 2″ of butter ice on the surface”. The Olin Park landing was too slushy for trailers and Monona was full of drain holes that appeared to have healed, but are thinner than the surrounding ice. Don plans to check Mendota on Tuesday with the hope for some Wednesday sailing. We will continue to monitor the area lakes.
4LIYC Ice Check: Friday 31 January
Lake Monona shows some promise (unlike this ice-encased old barn in Devil’s Lake, ND.) If you would like to join the ice checking crew, please be at the Olin Park landing tomorrow, Friday 31 January at 10:30 AM. If it checks out, 4LIYC racing will be called on for Saturday and Sunday. Stand by for news.
4LIYC Meeting Alert: Free Race Swag Weds Jan 29
Free Thermal Race Vests
Join us Wednesday night, January 29 and receive a FREE, limited edition thermal race vest, guaranteed to make you faster around the track. Available in either men’s or women’s versions, these vests are from the Signature Collection of a world famous ice sailor.
Not an ice sailor? No problem. One of these babies will make you a faster reader, faster cook, faster decision-maker, faster builder. No matter what you’re doing, you’ll be faster. Guys…don’t wear one to bed, however. If you need an explanation, our apology to your wonderful lady.
What’s the catch? No catch. Just show up!
Location: Breakwater Restaurant
6308 Metropolitan Lane
Monona, Wisconsin
Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Time: 6:30 PM
Arrive earlier for dinner
“For the Glory”
Results
Competitors and Race Committee members are slowly making their way back to reality (home) after spending an amazing week on a sheet of Montana ice. Several car loads of sailors went full tourist and headed over to Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse statue, and Devil’s Tower before turning east. Above is the best drone video ever made of iceboat racing by Glasgow, MT photographer Sean Heavey. Be sure to check out his photo gallery as well here. The drone video focuses on Detroit’s Ron Sherry US44 (2nd place in the regatta) and Pewaukee and 4LIYC Skeeter sailor Steve Orlebeke US4926 (4th place in the regatta) as they battle for first place in the last race.
Day 4 of the IDNIYA 2020 North America Ice Yacht Championship on Fort Peck Lake …
Today was epic!! The Montana wind we all know and at times hate came ready to play. While I can write about the day and probably describe it pretty good I’m a visual person so I think maybe a visual will do it more justice.
But first let me set the scene… This is a drone clip of the last Gold fleet race of the day before the regatta was called due to excessive wind speed. The wind had ratchet up to a sustained 18 mph range with gusts to 22+. These boats go 4 to 5 time the wind speed so let’s just say they were scooting along and it’s really hard for a drone to keep up. But I was starting to get the hang of how to fly with them and keep the leaders in sight. The race consists of three laps and this clip picks up the leaders about half way through the second lap. Nobody is going down with out a fight… Does the first place boat hang on?
As a side note… a big thank you to all the racers and race officials for coming all this way to the middle of nowhere. What a great event you put on and I hope your return trips home are made safely. Also thank you to everyone in NE Montana for your hospitality and support. You made everyone feel at home and part of the middle of nowhere family…
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