DN Regatta Reports

Balancing Act: Navigating Tongue Weight at the Current Fast Champions Ice Boat Shop

It took half the race committee to move the trailer at the DN North Americans.

During the recent Northwest regatta and 2024 DN North American Championship on Lake Waconia in Waconia, MN, attendees who had the task of maneuvering the DN Western Region ATV trailer on the ice might have felt like they were steering the Titanic due to its hefty tongue weight. However, despite its weight, the trailer was a dream to tow and allowed me to improve my trailer-backing skills. Nevertheless, the necessity for maneuverability on the ice outweighed the benefits of towing ease, prompting a visit to the Current Fast Champions Ice Boat Shop (formerly known as the Past Champions Ice Boat Shop) for further customization and weight reduction.
CFCIBS Wrench-Turner Ken Whitehorse reports:

The tongue weight on DN Western Region trailer was 400 lbs ! That’s like throwing a 55 gal drum of water in the back of you car! Yikes! Hope you DN racers don’t need this next week! The Current Champs Shop is kinda busy swapping out old used air for new air in trailers tires this month!

Tale of the scale.

The Current Fast Champions crew found their runner-sharpening halted by an open-wheel midget racing car that had rolled into the shop.

Luckily, they were able to access the big machine.

DN World Championship Photo Gallery from Parnu, Estonia


A very quick update from Parnu, Estonia where the 2024 DN World, European, and Junior World Championship is taking place. The course a bit over 4 miles from the launch, quite a hike on this big ice. Took a few pictures on the way in yesterday of a Gold fleet race from a view rarely seen. Back with more later – it’s a whirlwind of activity at a regatta as you all know!
DNIYRA European Website for official information
IDNIYRA Europe Facebook
IDNIYRA Europe YouTube for daily reports
Gilles Morelle Images – Professional Photographer

Senior Shuffle Postponed

Chilling and grilling.

The first annual Senior Shuffle has been postponed. Light winds and 3″ of powdery snow caused the postponement of the 2024 Western Region Championship on Twin Lake at Phelps, WI.  We still plan to hold the Shuffle on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after the Western Region Championship, whenever that may take place.

 

2024 DN Senior Shuffle Called ON for Phelps, WI

DN fleet at the 2010 Northwest on Lake Winnebago. Photo: Gretchen Dorian

SENIOR SHUFFLE CHAMPIONSHIP
REGISTER: Click here to register for the regatta.

DATES: January 8 – 10, 2024
LOCATION: North Twin Lake, Phelps Wisconsin
Launch:
North Twin Lakes Landing Road, Phelps, WI. Roll trailers on please.

LODGING:
Best Western Derby Inn
US-45, Eagle River, WI 54521
+17154791600

Days Inn by Wyndham
844 N Railroad St North, Eagle River, WI 54521
+17154777025

Coady’s Point of View Resort
3932 Point of View Trail, Phelps, WI 54554
+17152044111
https://povresort.com/

SCHEDULE:

  • Saturday: 5 PM CT online registration closes.
  • Monday: 9:00 AM CT Skippers Meeting. 10:00 CT First start. Senior Fleet will start first (if multiple fleets).
  • Tuesday: 10:00 CT First start.
  • Wednesday: 10:00 CT First start. Races can start as late as 1 PM or at the discretion of the Race Committee.

NOTICE OF RACE
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Regatta Watch: 2024 DN Senior Shuffle Called ON

The 2024 Senior Shuffle

REGISTER FOR THE SHUFFLE

Dates: January 8 – 10,  2024, after the DN Western Region Championship
Location: Two locations under consideration for the DN Western Region Championship: Lake Osakis in Minnesota or Vilas County in Wisconsin. Final confirmation of location by 5 PM CT Thursday, January 4, 2024.
NOTICE OF RACE
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Get ready for North America’s take on the European DN Grand Masters Regatta.
It’s the first, maybe annual, no-running regatta for the “more seasoned” DN sailors. It will take place the three days following the Western Regional Championships, on the same ice.

DATES

  • January 8 – 10, 2024, the three days after the DN Western Region Championship, which is scheduled for January 6 – 7.

WHO’S INVITED?

  • Open to Seniors (50-59), Masters (60-69) and Grand Masters (70+) who will race under Shuffle Rules with one start.
  • Open to “aspiring” Seniors (49 or younger) who will also race under Shuffle Rules with a separate start.

WHAT ARE THE SHUFFLE RULES?

  • No running. Not at the start. Not during a race. No track stars allowed in a Shuffle race!
  • Starting positions will be determined, in advance, by random draw for every race. No one is advantaged or disadvantaged with a starting position based on their previous race performance. It’s all luck of the draw.
  • Racers must start with one foot on their plank, and are limited to five kicks.
  • Racers must stay in their boats unless they come to a complete stop during a race. In that event, a racer will have one additional 5-kick opportunity to complete a race. A second stop is an automatic DNF.
  • No more than 4 races which count on any one day. Scrub racing may continue after official races for any who are interested.
    Maybe we’ll award prizes…maybe we won’t. But what we do know, is that this is all about fun and camaraderie.
  • Oh, yeah. And that means no protests. We’re going to race like a Wisconsin intersection. “You go. No, you go. Ohhhh, please, I insist der my friend. Oh, cripes, tanks, der good buddy!”

OTHER DETAILS

  • $50 registration fee to cover prizes and extras
  • All registration will be online. If you’re tech-challenged, ask a youngster for help.
  • Because we’re so green, race documents will only be published online.

EVENT CONTACTS

2023 DN Western Challenge Called ON for MN Dec 1 – 3


The informal first regatta of the season, the DN Western Challenge, has been called on for December 1 – 3, 2023. Primary site is Lake Christina in Ashby, MN. Final confirmation for regatta and site will be made on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The DN Western Challenge is a fun regatta with no formal racing or scoring.
Next update will be Wednesday, November 29, 2023 by noon CT. 

First!


Staying true to our tradition of recognizing the first boat on the ice, we present Canadian DN sailor Paul Chamberland. Yesterday, he powered two DNs through the woods to get to Owlseye Lake near his hometown in Alberta, Canada. Paul reported that the lake is 5.5″ maximum depth, making it the perfect early season lake.

Announcing the DN Senior Shuffle Regatta!

Announcing the DN Senior Shuffle Regatta!

Get ready for North America’s take on the European DN Grand Masters Regatta.
It’s the first, maybe annual, no-running regatta for the “more seasoned” DN sailors. It will take place the three days following the Western Regional Championships, hopefully on the same ice.

TENTATIVE DATES

  • January 8 – 10, 2024, the three days after the DN Western Region Championship, which is scheduled for January 6 – 7.

WHO’S INVITED?

  • Open to Seniors (50-59), Masters (60-69) and Grand Masters (70+) who will race under Shuffle Rules with one start.
  • Open to “aspiring” Seniors (49 or younger) who will also race under Shuffle Rules with a separate start.

WHAT ARE THE SHUFFLE RULES?

  • No running. Not at the start. Not during a race. No track stars allowed in a Shuffle race!
  • Starting positions will be determined, in advance, by random draw for every race. No one is advantaged or disadvantaged with a starting position based on their previous race performance. It’s all luck of the draw.
  • Racers must start with one foot on their plank, and are limited to five kicks.
  • Racers must stay in their boats unless they come to a complete stop during a race. In that event, a racer will have one additional 5-kick opportunity to complete a race. A second stop is an automatic DNF.
  • No more than 4 races which count on any one day. Scrub racing may continue after official races for any who are interested.
    Maybe we’ll award prizes…maybe we won’t. But what we do know, is that this is all about fun and camaraderie.
  • Oh, yeah. And that means no protests. We’re going to race like a Wisconsin intersection. “You go. No, you go. Ohhhh, please, I insist der my friend. Oh, cripes, tanks, der good buddy!”

OTHER DETAILS

  • $50 registration fee to cover prizes and extras
  • All registration will be online. If you’re tech-challenged, ask a youngster for help.
  • Because we’re so green, race documents will only be published online.

EVENT CONTACTS

1954 Northwest History

DN iceboat plan c1950s from the files of John Bluel

1954 Northwest Archives
Since we are on the subject of the Northwest regatta, Kenny Beal, great-grandson of a long-time 4LIYC member, John Bluel, shared some of his grandfather’s documents with the club, including a report from Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Secretary Frank Meyer about the 1954 Northwest.

Rather than the typical three-day event, the regatta was held over two weekends in Pewaukee because of challenging weather conditions. The 4LIYC’s Carl Bernard won the A Class Stern Steerer title in MARY B, competing against Skeeter Iceboat Club’s Lou Loenneke of Lake Geneva.

1954 was the first year that the DN Class competed in the Northwest. The DNs had one race in bad weather, and the Northwest officials decided that the fleet would sail the remainder of their races in the Detroit area “as all the entries were from that vicinity.” Skip Boston won that first Northwest DN title.

Online Ship’s Store

Regatta Dates 2024

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Click for 4LIYC Meeting Dates

2023-2024

  • November 8 Zoom
  • November 22 Elections
  • December 6
  • December 20
  • January 3 Honor Roll Nominations
  • January 17 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
  • January 31 – in person, no Zoom
  • February 15 Business Meeting – Zoom only
  • March 6 – in person, no Zoom. Last meeting of the season.

Location: In person at Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club or Online using the Zoom App Members please email debwhitehorse@iceboat.org for the link.

Time: 6:30 PM

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