Take a look at this bulletin from the Maine gang- food for thought!!

https://iceboat.me/

Happy Spring Everyone- Just thought I’d share a few thoughts on boat setup before everyone shifts over to soft-water mode… Food for thought for next season!

Getting a DN ice yacht set up properly and up to speed can be a daunting task. Quite often even knowing where to begin can be confusing. With that in mind I thought I’d share some basic starting points for all of the settings and adjustments on the boat. Every boat is a little different so be prepared to do some experimenting to find the sweet spots. That said, starting off in the ballpark will help.

Here are my quick’n’dirty, most basic boat tuning setup tips plus some racing tips.

BASELINE SET UP:

-Make sure your plank bends between 44-46 mm when you stand on the middle of it.

-Attach the plank in the middle or a little forward.

-Put the mast step on the deck in the middle.

-Put the mast socket all the way aft at the mast base.

-Set the mast rake so the boom is horizontal with the mainsheet slack.

-Set the halyard so there is about 12″-14″ inches between the back deck and the boom

-Sidestays should be snug but not loose; you should be able to attach them just by leaning on the adjuster fitting. If you need to pull the mainsheet on or get someone to lean on the mast in order to get the pin in that’s probably too tight…

-Set the mainsheet blocks on the back deck as far aft as they’ll go. Set the ones on the boom so the sheet is pulling aft just a bit when sheeted all the way in and the blocks are easily “nested” or “two-blocked.”

Sail around (upwind AND downwind!) and see how the boat feels; then “tune for effect!” as Jan Gougeon said!

If the boat hikes excessively and is hard to control encourage more mast bend by raising the halyard a bit or easing the sidestays. I like to do this before messing with the rake… It’s easier and doesn’t effect the geometry of the rig and boat. You can try different sidestay adjustments easily by changing a setting on one side but not the other. Sail around on different tacks and see which side feels better. Then match them up to the good side. If these adjustments don’t work try moving the mast step forward to encourage more bend and make life a little easier. Be sure to wind on the headstay to level the boom up again, and make sure the sidestays are still snug but not tight.

If the boat is too easy to sail (never hikes at all, rig bends out too easily, has a lack of pointing ability upwind) do the reverse of the steps above; lower the halyard a bit, tighten the sidestays… If these don’t stiffen things up enough move the mast step aft on the deck. Ease the headstay until the boom is level again… Again, check the sidestay tension and make sure it’s still good. If the mast still bends too much consider putting a “stick” in it (a 1” diameter fiberglass tube from McMaster-Carr about 10 feet long works well).

The boat should be work to sail; It’s a DN, not a La-Z-Boy recliner! It should hike a bit in puffs and breeze, you should have to slide aft and outboard off the starting line and out of tacks to get the rig to pop out to leeward, and you should have to ease and trim a bit to keep the boat on the ice. If you sheet in off the line and the mast just falls to leeward that’s set up too soft… If you haul the sheet in and the boat hikes up without the mast bending that’s too stiff. Hunt and peck until you find the sweet spots for your boat and sailing style! TIP: Keep it simple and try not to overthink things! ONLY MAKE ONE ADJUSTMENT AT A TIME! This way you can get a feel for which adjustment does what…. Also get a tuning partner; a sailor or two with similar gear and sailing level. Between races do practice runs and make adjustments in between. Take turns using one boat as a constant (a “trial horse” in America’s Cup lingo) and one as the adjustment test boat. All the top sailors do this!! Share what you learn after each test run. It really helps to sort out what works and what doesn’t as well as adjusting for changing conditions during the day.

Lastly, don’t be shy about looking over other people’s boats and setups. Every boat is a little different but if you look at the top sailors’ boats you will see patterns emerge… After every race the top five boats are held in the measurement area for about 15-20 minutes; that’s the perfect time to take a look! Remember, it’s not espionage if you are being obvious about it…. Also don’t be shy about asking questions. Most sailors will be happy to share tips over breakfast, on the ice (just not right before a Gold Fleet start!), at dinner, wherever. You never know when some useful little nugget will come your way!

During the race do your best to keep the boat going full speed at all times; maintain fast angles to the wind upwind and down. No pinching upwind or falling off too much downwind! On the upwind legs try to get a feel for when the boat is going full speed and when you can take a little height out of a puff. Downwind be sure to ease the sheet a little (1″-2″) and let some bend come out of the mast (sail downwind with the mast bent maybe half as much as upwind). Generally sailing high and hot downwind works best but sometimes you can ride a good puff down a bit.

Starts: Hit the gym all year and do what it takes to get off the line in the front row. Then you can sail your own race and enjoy it! If you get spit out the back, don’t despair. Try sailing a little low until you can find a lane of clear breeze… If you started near the center of the line you might be able to tack as soon as you can clear other boats and lay the Darling mark. This leaves you all alone in the middle of the course with all of the space and clear air you could ever want…. Take it from this lousy sprinter, you can pull off a good salvage job this way!

Shifts and puffs: Again, keep it simple. Keep your head out of the boat. Try to stay on the tack or gybe that heads you closest to the next mark. Try to visualize where the puffs are and how they are moving down the course and stay in them. And keep in mind where the “picket fences” (groups of other boats chewing up the wind) are and where the bad air they create might be lingering.

Hopefully these tips will help you make sense of these complex little creatures we call DNs!

Last and most important, when you get to the winner’s circle, act like you’ve been there before!

Sail It Like Ya Stole It!

T. Thieler DN US 5224

As winter loosens its grip, they showed up. Not just to say farewell to the ice, but to share a few more miles, smiles, and comradery.

On any given weekend with sailable conditions, NEIYA members and wider iceboat devotees are scattered across New England, the Adirondack region, the Midwest, and Europe, chasing DN championships. This weekend feels a little different. The focus has shifted and focused on a few places.

For the past couple of weeks, eyes have been fixed on the final runs of the season. Moosehead remains the anchor on that list, still delivering as I am writing. But in a late push, Sunapee bubbled to the surface, drawing a dedicated group for one more go.

More on Moosehead to follow. For now, Peter Boynton, W-8, reports in on Sunapee’s last hurrah.

We had a terrific last hurrah of the season with a great group of iceboaters today at Sunapee, with 5 DN’s, 1 BDX and a Whizz.  The ice was a slightly bumpy, but not bad, and the wind was good until it gave out late in the day.  We persevered and were rewarded with more wind and the best runs as the day ended.  It was happy finale to a great winter season on the ice.

Many thanks to the Sunapee ice and launch area scouting crew Mark Friedman & Dave Bjorklund, and thanks to Art Burritt for staging the planks at the State Beach launch area. 

Sailors: Dick Boisvert, Dave Bjorklund, Francois Asselin, Mark Friedman, Cedric Buettner, Peter Boynton
(Art Burritt not in photo)

Peter Boynton W-8

If you missed out this weekend, maybe just maybe there will be more.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

Weekend Happenings

A return of cold air is settling across the region, and with it comes one more go at late-season ice. Conditions are trending in the right direction for spring sailing this weekend but as always this time of year, nothing is guaranteed.

As of last night, plans were still taking shape. That’s part of the rhythm of March ice. Success now isn’t measured in miles logged or races, it’s in rigging up, stepping onto the ice with friends, and taking a run or two after the Ides. Getting on the ice is a big win.

Current chatter points to activity in both Maine and New Hampshire, with groups gathering on Moosehead and Sunapee. Primary launches are expected out of Greenville, ME behind Kelly’s Landing and Mount Sunapee State Beach, Newbury, NH.

A reminder, this is late-season ice. All the usual cautions apply, and then some. Thickness alone doesn’t assure safety. The ice may still measure well, but its strength has changed. Holes, seams, and soft spots from earlier in the season are unlikely to have healed thoroughly, even with this recent cold. Stay sharp, check as you go, and keep your head up. NEVER SAIL ALONE!

If you head out, don’t go it alone grab a buddy, share observations, and keep it safe.

Apologies to our friends at the CT Ice Yacht Club for missing their spring season recap and lunch. You all understand the ice makes the call, and and we follow.

Think Ice,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

P.S. We will have one maybe two Thursday Night recap calls to go. Topics will shift to what and how we do things once the cold returns.

Meanwhile, up near Montreal…. Stay tuned. Updates on the way as we get them

Hi All,

Baie D’Urfe still has about a foot of ice. I wasn’t able to break through after making about 9 “ hole. The top is covered with 1-3 cm of a frozen granulated snow that seems like a granuled sugar forming a type of a coating pancake like. I think the runner should go through it. I don’t think I have ever sailed on such a surface but I think it is still sailable. Closer to shore I found few drifts about 2” deep ( see photo) but I don’t think there were many or any on the lake. The wind forecast for today is about 20-30 km/h and that should help. Long story short until I rig the boat and try we will not know, so I am going to Bertold Park around 10 amand will rig my boat. Jacek Marzenski
KC 5247

Hey Folks-

Greetings from Kelly’s Landing in Greenville Junction, ME.

The weather is here there and everywhere….

Yesterday there was 4”-6” snow on top of two feet (according to locals) of solid black ice. In any case I did see some big pickup trucks driving on and off of the lake so that says something….

Overnight temps were high 40s / low 50s and light rain. Plus crazy gusting wind as a front went by. Sounded like a freight train out there, not to be confused with the actual freight trains that run behind the hotel here.

So at sunrise it was well below freezing, blowing snow and it looked like 90% of the snow had melted off the ice. Now at 8:30 it’s looking like the breeze is fading, sun coming out, and maybe good conditions for the weekend. I’m going to walk it and maybe sail it this morning and will send a report. Hopefully no shell

Too late to call an official regatta but we could have a great weekend of scratch racing and hanging out. Plenty of lodging I. Greenville and a good launch area….

I’ll be here all weekend, marks will be set and scratch races will happen if conditions are good!

Stay tuned….. in the meantime here are some shots of the lake this morning. Check the forecast and make a call!

T Thieler DN US 5224

Hey Folks-
Sad to say we are going to put the eastern champs on hold again…. Had a look at Moosehead today and there’s just a bit too much snow…. Bummer!

That said next week and beyond might be good; the locals tell me the ice under the snow is a good two feet thick so it might hang in there for awhile. Will keep an eye on it!

We’ve also heard rumors of Sebago Lake clearing off…. If anyone has any info on that let me know.

Stay tuned! T

Hey Folks-

The Moosehead Lake webcams are showing some snow… Hard to say how much or how heavy….

I’ll be headed up there tonight to take a look in the morning; Stay tuned here for a report early tomorrow.

Stay tuned! T

The drumbeat called and some twenty answered. They heard it, packed up, and stepped onto the ice for a proper day of spring sailing. Those who showed saw the window open and acted without a second invitation. Reaping the rewards of fast spring ice with propelled by a stiff sometimes gusty breeze.

By early afternoon the sun had its say, softening the top and reminding us that spring ice is always on borrowed time. We took the miles we were given and came off satisfied.

Shout out to John Brisson for getting the MIT iceboat team out on another lake. Many of the students will be shifting to their soft-water practice next week a tough transition, of colder and slower. It’s great to see the next generation of iceboaters ansering the call. See you all next season.

Eyes are turning further north. The Drumbeat has changed pitch to stomping moose hooves. Calling us to Moosehead.

James “T” Thieler is working to hold the IDNIYRA Eastern Championships at Moosehead this coming weekend. Stay tuned. And if racing isn’t your game, don’t let that stop you. Moosehead is huge with plenty of room and beautiful for all.

Moosehead was sailed last Thursday, as reported on iceboat.me. It’s a haul for most, no question. But the North Woods have a pull of their own, and the lake delivers. This is the kind of place that belongs on every iceboater’s list. Up there, they measure ice in feet, not inches.

Start making the plan. Sort the gear. Call your buddies. Figure out the road north.

Race it. Cruise it. Don’t miss it

Follow the stomping hooves to Moosehead,

Think Moose Ice,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

Hey Folks-

Once again the forecast during the week is looking favorable for decent ice at Moosehead Lake in central Maine this weekend.

AND the weekend itself looks good too!

So as IDNIYRA Eastern Regional Commodore I am calling the regatta on for the weekend.

Please email me at t_thieler@yahoo.com and let me know if you are interested, this will help me get a read on how many hotel rooms etc we will need.

Look forward to hearing from everyone! Stay tuned….

T Thieler DN US 5224

Last night’s call helped bring some order to our spring outing plans. No new ice has been reported, but with active sailing on Moosehead, Squam, and Sunapee, we have more than enough options. Winni still holds ice, though it has pulled away from shore at Brewsters Beach Wolfeboro.

For tomorrow, expect groups sailing out of State Beach on Sunapee, Greenville, ME (see iceboat.me), and Squam. Cones will likely be set up on Sunapee for anyone looking to take a few scratch race runs, regardless of class.

This report comes together in the waning hours of winter let’s make the most of this spring ice while we have it. Let’s hope the last winter post is but the beginning of a few more spring runs.

Stay sharp and be safe. The ice is always changing.

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

If you want, I can tighten it further for email or add a slightly more poetic NEIYA tone like your earlier piece.

The drums beats on.

A steady, unmistakable call rising from lakes that reaches deep into the heart of every iceboater. The ice is speaking, she is calling us from near and far, offering rewards to those willing to listen.

That call carries on through the din. Through work, schedules, obligations, long-planned commitments, and the endless list of tasks that seem to anchor us away from the ice. There is always a reason not to answer. Cast off whatever is holding you back.

But the drums beat on.

Hear the call. Answer the call.

As already reported here and by Bill at iceboat.me, our big lakes are showing their thick, dark, and just a bit battle-scarred ice. The kind of ice that stirs the soul.

Tonight’s call will no doubt be a lively one. Where we have ice, where we go, and how we make the most of what’s in front of us will lead the discussion. Talk than.

The Spring season is speaking.

The drums are beating.

Will you answer?

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org