DN EASTERNS- STAND DOWN
Unfortunately the weather is throwing a few curveballs at Damariscotta; snow, rain/snow, and either light winds or gusts into the 30’s depending on which forecast you’re looking at.
This being the case we’ve decided to table this one for now and hope for a better shot next weekend.
Stay tuned!
DN EASTERN CHAMPS UPDATE
Hey Folks-
We are hearing enough good things about Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, ME to call the DN Easterns ON for this Saturday, March 14th.
A full report on the launch, lake and weather is expected by about 10 AM Friday morning so stay tuned to this site for details.
One way or another it’ll be interesting! Don’t put the boats and gear away yet… Also keep in mind that we have sailed Moosehead Lake into mid-April a few times. Food for thought!
OK, more later… Think positive! T DN US 5224
DN EASTERNS…. Hopefully
Hey Gang-
Just wanted to let everyone know that this season is not done yet!
It’s still cold at night up north and the Birches webcam on Moosehead Lake shows some promising pictures…. Maybe some other sights further south could be sailable as well. We hope to have some first hand reports in the next few days so keep an eye on this website.
We really want to get the Eastern Champs in before we stick a fork in this season so don’t stow the gear yet!
If you have never sailed Moosehead before you really need to. It’s way up north, the ice goes on and on and on, and the scenery is amazing. The clear night sky is something to see as well!
So cross your fingers, stay loaded up, make sure your angles and plates are in good shape, and hope to see everyone this weekend!
T Thieler
Watuppa Sailing Last Sunday
Despite a forecast for light winds about a dozen boats showed up to make some tracks on Watuppa Pond in Fall River last Sunday!
About 8 DNs had a bunch of short scratch races around the marks; it was a great chance to experiment with rig tuning and boat setup. We did a bit of boat-swapping as well, that is always very instructive. We didn’t keep score but Atkins showed that he still has the mojo and several other boats were in the hunt as well. We also welcomed two new sailors, Al and Rowan. Watch out for these guys!
Meanwhile a handful of Whizzes and turbo’ed up DNs were having a blast ripping through the drifts closer to the shoreline. Quite a sight and a good time had by all!
In any case it was a great day and we all made it home before the snow started. Looks like southern New England is done for awhile but maybe, just maybe, northern parts of NY, VT and ME might have dodged the bullet. Stay tuned!
Sailing Sunday!
Hope springs eternal! Thieler, Atkins and maybe a few others will be sailing out of the South Watuppa Boat Ramp tomorrow (Sunday the 22nd).
Thieler and Stanton walked the lake today, found a bit of slush but a good base underneath. There is one ridge the looks hazardous near the eastern edge of the lake but it is easily spotted and avoidable. It’s only about 50 yards long.
It’ll be interesting to see if plates, angles, or some other runner is the best choice- bring them all and try them all!
I’ll be there around 9:30. Hope to see a few people!
T Thieler
Doc Fellows Report
The Doc Fellows is in the books! Ten sailors showed up today to a shifty, surprisingly breezy, long pond near Brewster Massachusetts.
No breeze, bright sun, and high temps in the morning didn’t have any of us optimistic but sure enough the clouds rolled in and the breeze picked up and the ice stayed good all day.
Seven races were run and Paul Chamberland showed that putting the time in pays off! Today was his 40th day on the Ice this year and what better way to celebrate by putting together a consistent regatta. Congratulations to Paul on a well deserved win!
Out the top three were Jeff Roseberry in second and Sean Healey in third.
We will roll right into the Bean Pot championship tomorrow; same time and schedule as today, see the post about the Doc Fellows for information. Come and join the fun; tomorrow’s forecast looks pretty good!
Many thanks to Nina Fleming for tabulating the scores and posting them on SailWave for us and to Rick Bishop’s friend Craig for helping out with running races!
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WEEKEND REGATTA UPDATE
Hey Folks-
After a short discussion with Atkins we decided to tweak the regatta slate for this weekend. He rightly pointed out that the Eastern Champs should be on a big plate with plenty of room to stretch out.
So we will hold off on the Easterns and instead do the Doc Fellows this Saturday and roll into the Beanpot Regatta on Sunday. This regatta is the MA state championship and comes with a very cool trophy!
No matter what name we call it we should have some good racing! To paraphrase Shakespeare, “A rose by any other name is still a rose…”
So here are the details again:
Hey Folks! We are calling the Doc Fellows Regatta ON for this Saturday!
The place will be Long Pond, MA out on Cape Cod. Not the biggest lake in NE but it’ll do!
IF we get the regatta in on Saturday we may roll right into the Beanpot Regatta on Sunday. We will play that by ear.
The launch will be at Long Pond Brewster Beach. Take Rt 6 east, turn north onto Rt 124, take a right onto Crowells Bog Rd, and follow that until you see the launch area on your right. Follow these directions closely as there is more than one “Long Pond” out there….
We will have a skipper’s meeting in the parking lot at 9:30, with the first start at 10:30. Normal rules apply. All contestants must have proof of $300,000 general liability coverage. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
Saturday is Valentine’s Day so make sure to figure out how to work around that….
Stay tuned to this site for updates!
REGATTAS THIS WEEKEND!
Hey Folks! We are calling the Eastern Regional Champs ON for this Saturday!
The place will be Long Pond, MA out on Cape Cod. Not the biggest lake in NE but it’ll do!
IF we get the regatta in on Saturday we may roll right into the Doc Fellows Championship on Sunday. We will play that by ear.
The launch will be at Long Pond Brewster Beach. Take Rt 6 east, turn north onto Rt 124, take a right onto Crowells Bog Rd, and follow that until you see the launch area on your right. Follow these directions closely as there is more than one “Long Pond” out there….
We will have a skipper’s meeting in the parking lot at 9:30, with the first start at 10:30. Normal rules apply. All contestants must have proof of $300,000 general liability coverage. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
Saturday is Valentine’s Day so make sure to figure out how to work around that….
Stay tuned to this site for updates!
Sailing Friday and Saturday!
Hello All- Paul Chamberland is getting a group together to do some scratch racing in Westport, NY this Friday and Saturday.
If you are interested the launch is just south of the Westport Lakeside Motel at 74 Champlain Ave, Westport NY, 12993
Scratch racing will likely commence around 10-11AM and if you know Paul it won’t stop until the sun goes down!
As always use caution and talk to locals and other sailors before letting it rip. The SW side of the bay has thin ice so avoid that; see attached photo!
If the plate is still ok in a week we are hoping to host the DN Eastern Regional Champs! Stay tuned….
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DN NA AND NATIONAL CHAMPS REPORT
Hey Folks! The troops are home and hopefully the dust has settled for everyone. More importantly, hope everyone is thawed out; It was a chilly week in Wisconsin!
The DN North American Champs went off in grand style out in Green Lake, WI. Head Honcho Tim Mower did a great job of managing the weather situation (a delicate balance of snow belts and extreme cold patches) and no doubt lots of opinions to land us at Green Lake. We took a long look at Lake Wawasee in northern Indiana but rough surfaces, a snow dump, and some open spots and other hazards that damaged at least one boat and one person convinced us that continuing to WI was the right call.
That said the hurry-up-and-wait at Wawasee wasn’t all bad. It gave everyone there plenty of time to catch up and talk smack and have some good food as well!
Once the call was made it was a short hop up to Green Lake. The surface was good, the breeze was up (except for one morning), and heat exhaustion was not a risk as temps stayed in the single digits for the whole event. Getting out of the warm van when we arrived to the launch site every morning took some willpower, let’s just say that…. BUT the racing was awesome. Seven races were run in three fleets, boat damage was minimal although Eben Whitcomb’s trusty WHARF RAT drew the short straw and split the hull and deck. Good news is Eben can build and/or fix anything and he had it glued and screwed and ready for action the next day.
At the pointy end of the Gold Fleet racing was tight with six different skippers winning a race (including a horizon job by John Curtis in race 4!) and only 7 points separating 1st from 5th places. Karol Jablonski kept it together to take the top spot followed by Struble, Sherry, Orlebeke and Thieler.
Top Canadian was Nicolas Mabboux in 7th, with Van Rossem, Curtis, Marzenski, and Druiven also making Canada proud! NE represented well also with Thieler and Roseberry doing well in the Gold and Chamberland, Demerest, Whitcomb, Silsby, Treusdell, Valentine making their presence known in the Silver. Bob Haag and Ben Shaevitz gave it their all in the Bronze!
Hats off to the gang that makes these events happen; Deb Whitehorse, Nina Fleming, Pat Heppart, the Foellers, Fred Stritt, Dave Ryan, Paul Hickman, Dan Williams, Maureen Bohleber, Greg Mullett, Dan Hearn, and probably some who I’ve forgotten. Big thanks to DN legend Joe Norton for showing us around his shop and letting us borrow a sweet 4-wheeler with a heated enclosure. If there was a week to have one of these this was it! If you think you know what goes in to running an event like this, trust me, you don’t. These people work their tails off to make these events happen and they take running them as seriously as we take competing in them!
For more details and results see the real report here: 2026 North American Championship – DN North America
Following race 7 the committee sent us right into race 1 of the National Champs but more on that later.
Stay Tuned!! T Thieler, DN US 5224
My apologies for the lack of action shots from on the ice; it was too cold for cameras or bare fingers! Here’s a few random shots though….
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DN North American Championship: Day 1 Report – DN North America
https://www.idniyra.org/dn-north-american-championship-day-1-report/
So far so good out here! Some broken boats and gear yesterday but everybody all grins at the end of the day….
DN Racing VT – 1/18/26 – Google Photos
Thanks to Danny Burger for these great photos from last weekend!
DN NE CHAMPS THIS WEEKEND! NOR, SI’s, AND INFO
Hello All! IT’S GAME TIME!
Paul, Jeff and Jascek sailed Champlain out of Sand Bar State Park today and are giving it great reviews, so the NE Champs are ON for this weekend!
Regatta location as stated above is Sand Bar State Park in Milton VT. Regatta HQ as it were will be the Hampton Inn in Colchester VT. The guys are working on getting us a regatta discount.
Read the NOR and SI’s below, and make sure you have your proof of insurance. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow morning!
T Thieler on behalf of Paul Chamberland et al
DN NE CHAMPS ARE ON!
OK Gang, it’s on for this weekend!
DN New England Champs are ON. Sounds like Champlain is in good shape, wind forecast is good for the weekend. Chamberland and Roseberry have been sailing and scouting around Sand Bar State Park near Burlington tonight VT and will finalize a site by tomorrow afternoon.
Launch will likely be Sand Bar State Park.
Plenty of lodging in the area; the boys are scoping that out as well.
Skippers Meeting Saturday AM at launch, 10:30AM
First Race at 11:00AM
Be sure to have your insurance with you!!! NO EXCEPTIONS
Regular iceboating rules apply- familiarize yourselves with them at
https://www.idniyra.org/racing/rules-safety/
NOTE- some iceboating Right Of Way rules differ from soft-water rules so read them closely-
IF three of any class show up and want to race they will get a start and races of their own- all welcome!
In the DN Class a Vintage / Classic trophy will be awarded to the boat and skipper that has a certain combo of age / wear and tear / battle scars / character / and results!
We are looking for volunteers to run and score races- earn some karma and volunteer! If you are interesting in helping score or run races contact James “T” Thieler at t_thieler@yahoo.com
If not no big deal, we can use the Maine system (Regatta Chair runs first race, from there on whoever wins a race gets to run and score the next one. Average points awarded for the races missed. I think. Will figure it out when the smart people get there)
Feel free to contact me with any questions or to let me know what I’ve forgotten-
Stay tuned to NEIYA site for details and updates!
Think ICE and LINE ‘EM UP!!
RACING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Hey Folks-
Here we go! Sounds like there is ice to be had up in VT!
Scouts and locals report regatta-quality ice up at Sand Bar State Park just north of Mallets Bay.
Sand Bar | Vermont State Parks
It has been decided that this weekend’s racing should be called the Great Eastern Challenge because well, why not?
The sailors who scouted today will be out early looking for a course-sized sheet of good ice. They are hoping to have an area scoped out and marks set by noon. Scratch racing will ensue.
As always BE CAUTIOUS!! THERE ARE CRACKS AND HAZARDS! Check with locals and proceed slowly and cautiously until you get to the course. Be mindful of skaters and kite sailors etc as well.
The majority of boats will be DNs (old and new welcome!) but other types are welcome.
Contact Paul Chamberland with questions at 518 764 0005
See you all there!
DN NA REGISTRATION- SIGN UP AND SAVE!
Register Today and Save $50 – DN North America
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Kingston Ontario Swap Meet!
The Kingston, Ontario group is happy to announce, we are doing a Swap Meet for iceboats.
Where?
John Curtis is graciously hosting at his house on NOVEMBER 15, 2025 from 1200 – 1700
44 Alwington Ave
Kingston, ON
Canada
John, as most know, is an excellent builder of many things and he especially loves to build iceboats, planks, runners…everything really. He’ll be happy to show you his shop where all the magic is done. Make sure you ask him about his new runner sharpening hand tools when you see him. I’m sure they will sell quick.
We will again have a blade sharpener on site for anyone who needs a quick pass to make their runners sharp. Also, I’m sure John will have his alignment jig handy if one needs an alignment.
I have heard of some iceboats for sale. This would be a good time to bring it and set it up for interested buyers. Last year two complete boats were sold at the meet.
Chilli will be hot served after the meet gets started. It went fast last year, I didn’t even get any so get there early.
Don’t forget to bring sails, masts, Booms, chocks…whatever you have extra you won’t need.
DN RANK LIST PUBLISHED
Hey Gang-
The DN Rank List for 2026 has been published! Take a look and see how you, your friends and rivals all stack up. Good for inspiration and motivation!
Speaking of motivation, there is a chill to the air this morning… Time to get into the shop and the gym and start prepping for the season. Looking forward to it!
T Thieler DN US 5224
Rank list here:
Design Insights… Fascinating Stuff
Hey Gang-
This video has been around for a long time and I wanted to get it out there as it is one of my favorites!
It is a behind-the-scenes look at every aspect of designing and building the 12 Meter yacht that won the America’s Cup in 1987.
Some very smart people are involved and it is very interesting to see how they went about deciding what type of boat to design, which avenues to pursue, which ones to ignore, and how they investigated and verified all of their conclusions. They even talk about how they raised the money to pay for it all! Lots of cool footage of everything from sailing to tank testing to design meetings.
I know 12 Meter yachts are a world away from iceboats but the concepts and ideas presented in the documentary are relevant and applicable to iceboating, whether you are racing or cruising!
Watch, learn and enjoy!
NOVA: Sail Wars (1986) | America’s Cup Comeback ⛵🏆 – YouTube
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Spring At Winni
A hopeful group showed up to Brewster Beach in Wolfeboro NH to give Winnipesaukee a shot yesterday.
The ice was about 18” where we checked, a bit of slush on top. Very sailable!
BUT…. Not a bit of breeze. Apart from one or two “sucker puffs” there was nada.
Ah well, it was good to hang out and socialize a bit and we got to see Sean break out his summer wardrobe (you have to admit he’s got the legs for it) and the passing birds made good use of the mastheads!
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2025 DN World Championship Kicks Off in Fond du Lac – DN North America
https://www.idniyra.org/2025-dn-world-championship-kicks-off-in-fond-du-lac/
Hey Gang- the big show starts today! Keep an eye on IDNIYRA site for updates
DN WORLDS AND NA CHAMPS ARE ON!
Hey Gang-
Looks like we are good to go west for the big show; Load ’em up and hit the road!
Look forward to seeing everyone out there. Still time to sign up if you haven’t yet! See the IDNIYRA site for more information.
NE DN CHAMPS DONE!
Hey Gang-
It was a good day all around on South Watuppa as all manner of craft were out and about (Whizzes, Skimmers, and some other miscellaneous craft) including a dozen or so DNs racing for the NE Regional Championship!
West winds made for big shifts and well-defined puffs so heads-up sailing was the order of the day. The mental game was one of not getting upset when the other boats had the puffs or lifts; In those conditions it’s important to remember that the boats in front of you will likely also draw a short straw at some point in the race….
We all owe a huge round of applause to Nina Fleming for once again tabulating the scores in real time from her house in Maine and to George Williams for making the ultimate sacrifice of not sailing his own boat on a great day in order to start races, run races, keep score of the races, finish the races, and make sure the rest of us got to play!
Full results below but in 5th was The Man From Nantucket, Chris Gordon with 22 points. 4Th was claimed by The Terror Of Swan Island, Jeff Roseberry. In 3rd was the man with the best hair in the NEIYA, Paul Chamberland. In a close second was Karen The Red Baron Binder. 1st was claimed (barely) by James “T” Thieler (insert your own funny nickname here).
Over the course of six races several people had moments of glory and some great, fast downwind legs!
Results here:
https://www.sailwave.com/results/2025_New_Engand_DN_Championship.htm
Thanks to all for showing up; There will be some scratch racing at the same place tomorrow for anyone who wants to show up.
Next up, Gold Cup and North American champs; See IDNIYRA site for details!
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NE Champs Regatta SIs and NOR
Hey Gang-
If you are planning to race in the NE DN Champs at South Watuppa Pond this weekend read and know these documents!
Registration at 9:30 at the launch!
See you there….
2025 New England Region Championship NOR.odt
2025 New England Region Championship Sailing Instructions.odt
New England Ice Yacht Association 