First! Converges with GLIYC Swap Meet

by | Oct 23, 2023 | 2023-2024, Home Page

Kai Linde, the first iceboating sailing in the world in Sweden and Dash’s first iceboat trailer rescue.

Ice sailors from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and New York gathered at the Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet in Green Lake, WI, on Sunday, October 22, 2023. Meanwhile, 4,000 miles away in Sweden, Norwegian DN sailor Kai Linde had the 2023-2024 season’s first iceboat ride in the world. Who will be first in North America? New York DNer Paul Chamberland, who came for the Swap Meet, will try for that milestone when he visits family in Alberta, Canada, in a few weeks. Paul is optimistic about the upcoming week of ice-making temperatures and hopes to find some sailable ice.

The Green Lake Ice Yacht Club delivered perfect fall weather for the event and organized the raffle, a tradition started by the Skeeter Iceboat Club’s Jane Pegel.

Of course, this being iceboating, a trailer situation presented some problem-solving opportunities right off the bat for new DN Junior Sailing Secretary Sam Bartel. Speaking of Jane Pegel, she generously donated her trailer to the DN Junior program a few years ago. Sam collected the trailer from Madison on Saturday night, but unfortunately, the axle broke on his way to Green Lake near Beaver Dam. As we know, trailers can always be unpredictable. Daniel Hearn, Dale Gordon, Dash, and I swung by Don Anderson’s to borrow a flatbed trailer and rescued the DN trailer on the way home from the Swap Meet with an assist from trailer specialist DNer Matt Meyer.

Thanks to the Green Lake Ice Yacht Club for a fantastic Swap Meet with perfect conditions.

Classic fall day in Green Lake.

The local constabulary tries to keep the peace in Green Lake.

View from the car

First

“Ice sailing season has started! On the 22nd of October at Kuolitisjaure, 700 meters above sea level, just after the Swedish border. Good hard ice, 10 cm thick, but little wind!” via Kai Lind

Picture of the Week: Northern Lights & Classic Dutch Ice Yachts

by | 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

 

Certain Uncertainty

by | Feb 20, 2023 | 2022-2023, Home Page

Race Committee at Ullnasjön for DN Sweden Ranking Regatta 8.

Uncertainty is the only certainty there is – John Allen Paulos (received PHD from UW Madison)

There’s another tricky weather event sliding towards the Midwest this week. Europe is experiencing the same weather pattern as the DN class tries to find ice for the European Championship. Their primary site in Latvia received too much snow, and they are on the way to Lithuania today. I flew back last night, opting for the more familiar uncertainty of Wisconsin’s weather. A big thank you to DN Sweden for their hospitality at the Grand Masters and Ranking Regattas. What an experience!

The ice optimists (in all classes!) will have their boats ready for the Northwest at Lake Pepin in MN or local 4LIYC racing this coming weekend. Sleet and ice are on tap for the Madison area this week. With a 12″ base of ice, Kegonsa may be an option for club racing. Watch for the Northwest update on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 and the 4LIYC racing update on Friday, February 24.

If you don’t have plans for ice sailing this weekend, the Iceboat Foundation has you covered with certainty. Via Don Sanford:

Mary B fans…
If you have time on your hands this Sunday, February 26, 2023, come on over to the Monona Public Library, 1000 Nichols Rd. in Monona.
Gretta Wing-Miller and I will be guests of the East Side History Club. They invited us on the condition that we bring along our film, Mary B: Madison’s Legendary Iceboat (the fastest thing on ice). And, of course, we will!
Doors open at 1:30
Film starts at 2:00
Come early for a good seat

Sweden FIRST!

by | Nov 19, 2021 | 2021-2022, Home Page

Photo: Dideric van RIemsdijk

Sharpen your runners! Breaking news from northern Sweden today. The Swedish ice sailors are first in the world as far as we know to pull the string on the hard-water and open the new season. Congratulations to our Swedish ice sailing friends.