DN CLASS ELECTRONIC-ONLY BALLOTING
As you may have heard four important proposals are on the ballot for the DN class- It is very important that every member of the DN class vote on it! And remind all the class members you now to do the same- Spread the word!
ALL BALLOTING IS BEING DONE ELECTRONICALLY VIA EMAIL. It only takes a few minutes (even if you are not tech-savvy) and doesn’t cost a thing. So don’t wait for a paper ballot to show up in out in the mailbox!
All paid up IDNIYRA members should have received an email on March 25 from the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association (invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com) inviting you to click a few links and file your vote on this Spring 2020 Tech Specifications Ballot.
IF YOU DID NOT SEE THIS IN YOUR EMAIL INBOX DO THE FOLLOWING ASAP:
-Make sure you are a paid up DN Class member (If not, join and get paid up and VOTE!)
-Check your spam and / or junk mail folders and make sure it isn’t rotting away in there
-If you still can’t find it or have any other questions email DN Class Secretary Deb Whitehorse at debwhitehorse@gmail.com and she can get you sorted out.
Chad Atkins wrote a good article about these proposals in the September 2019 issue of RUNNER TRACKS- He works with composites for a living and has been building and sailing DNs for decades; he is very qualified to comment and his opinions carry a lot of weight. Click the link and go to page 20.
https://139655-515924-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Runner-Tracks-September-2019-tablet.pdf
If you still aren’t sure re-read the following explanations and opinions from Paul Goodwin- DN Class guru, builder, engineer, tinkerer and all around good guy:
My take on the 2020 Proposals – Paul Goodwin
The first two proposals are to change specs that were written when the class first made the transition from wood to composite masts. It was clear at the time that the composite mast would make the older mast technologies obsolete, at huge cost to class members. This was justified because we were breaking the older masts at an alarming rate. The idea behind the minimum weight and balance point specs was to reduce the incentive to constantly look for the latest, greatest, high-tech (and expensive) composite mast material.
1) Deletion of the minimum weight for the mast –
I think removing the minimum weight will not be good for the class. The intent of this spec is to discourage using exotic (and expensive) materials. High modulus carbon fiber comes to mind, but there are potentially more exotic and expensive fibers available. I believe eliminating the min weight will accelerate a technology war leading to lighter and more expensive masts. Sailors will have mast envy, with the perception that lighter is better, driving the cost of masts ever higher.
My Vote: NO
2) Deletion of the balance point on the mast –
The reason for the balance point was to make a builder put some of the ballast up higher in the mast, rather than building a super light mast with a big chunk of weight at the base. I think the spec is still valid. I don’t want to make it easier to build super light, expensive masts. In the overall cost of building a pre-preg carbon mast in an autoclave, the time and cost of adding ballast is insignificant.
My vote: NO
3) Allow runners to be built of any material –
I think this proposal has no merit at all. I challenge everybody to think about how they would use this change to design a runner body that reduces the cost, and at the same time remains competitive against the super stiff lightweight carbon bodies that will be coming when there is no restriction on design and material. The DN is not the class for a rule that allows unlimited use of exotic materials.
My vote: NO
4) Amend the minimum thickness of insert plate to allow commercial material tolerance –
This one makes sense. The reduction in thickness allows use of commercially available steel, which can reduce the cost and is easier to find. The change is so small that it is insignificant for performance.
My vote: YES.
Hoping For A Happy Ending
Denis Guertin checks in from North of the Border…. Like a lot of us, he could use a happy ending.
Sailing Over The Border
As we watch little waves lap the muddy shores of our beloved lakes, there’s a different story up north. It seems that the Fat Lady was stopped at the border and could not get into Quebec. Denis Guertin has this to report:
MONDAY: Today was just crazy speed sailing. The south portion of the lake is a North – South orientation. Today’s wind was South and really good for our DN rigs. We just sailed tacking upwind to the South end of the lake, and then sailed high speed downwind to the island near my camp.
We had to stop at 3:00 because Frank had a side stay just about to break. In fact, it is the short cable used to lengthen his DN sidestay to fit the Whizz that was the problem. We were lucky that he saw it before it breaks far away from the camp !!
More sailing in the forecast for us… maybe Wednesday if Frank is free from work. Just a bit of snow expected tonight, but nothing serious. Forgot to mention that we had 4 DNs sailing with us this afternoon…
“FRIDAY: I got here in Lambton at about 2:30. I did not even care to walk on the ice and decided to rig my Whizz to enjoy that nice little breeze that I felt on the shore. So I put my skunners just in case the surface would be too soft.
I jumped into the boat, downhill from the shore to the lake because the water level is so low… and stalled in 1,5’’ of sticky wet slush. I tried to get going but the wind was not strong enough for this sticky slush. I went back to the shore!
It will freeze hard tonight, giving me one of the best ice of the season tomorrow.., oups! Sorry… I should say an acceptable ice tomorrow!! But the wind forecast is one of the worst of the season!!! But the boat is ready to go… just in case!!
SATURDAY: My boat has been laying there all day, waiting for just a little breeze to come, but nothing came. I know it must be difficult for you to have this ice just under your eyes and not be able to enjoy it, but can you imagine how it is for me to have it just under my FEET and not be able to enjoy it.
It will freeze again tonight, rain expected tomorrow at around noon, and SE wind early in the morning. Guess who will sail in the morning tomorrow?? The ice is amazingly smooth… oups, sorry again!! The ice looks OK, but we have seen better!! The frozen slush made like a topping of icing on a cake!! No more snowmobile tracks, all even and smooth as far as I want.
Stay tuned for the end of the story tomorrow… hoping for a happy ending!!”
More On DN Tech Ballot…
This is from Paul Goodwin, a guy who knows and cares about the class- read and VOTE!!!
My take on the 2020 Proposals – Paul Goodwin
The first two proposals are to change specs that were written when the class first made the transition from wood to composite masts. It was clear at the time that the composite mast would make the older mast technologies obsolete, at huge cost to class members. This was justified because we were breaking the older masts at an alarming rate. The idea behind the minimum weight and balance point specs was to reduce the incentive to constantly look for the latest, greatest, high-tech (and expensive) composite mast material.
1) Deletion of the minimum weight for the mast –
I think removing the minimum weight will not be good for the class. The intent of this spec is to discourage using exotic (and expensive) materials. High modulus carbon fiber comes to mind, but there are potentially more exotic and expensive fibers available. I believe eliminating the min weight will accelerate a technology war leading to lighter and more expensive masts. Sailors will have mast envy, with the perception that lighter is better, driving the cost of masts ever higher. My Vote: NO
2) Deletion of the balance point on the mast –
The reason for the balance point was to make a builder put some of the ballast up higher in the mast, rather than building a super light mast with a big chunk of weight at the base. I think the spec is still valid. I don’t want to make it easier to build super light, expensive masts. In the overall cost of building a pre-preg carbon mast in an autoclave, the time and cost of adding ballast is insignificant. My vote: NO
3) Allow runners to be built of any material –
I think this proposal has no merit at all. I challenge everybody to think about how they would use this change to design a runner body that reduces the cost, and at the same time remains competitive against the super stiff lightweight carbon bodies that will be coming when there is no restriction on design and material. The DN is not the class for a rule that allows unlimited use of exotic materials. My vote: NO
4) Amend the minimum thickness of insert plate to allow commercial material tolerance –
This one makes sense. The reduction in thickness allows use of commercially available steel, which can reduce the cost and is easier to find. The change is so small that it is insignificant for performance. My vote: YES.
Regatta Dates! Start The Countdown….
Next season is under way! Start thinking ahead…. It’ll be here before you know it!
2021 Gold Cup & North American Regatta Dates Announced – DN North America
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CIBC Spring Meeting, Season Wrap-Up
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IMPORTANT IDNIYRA BALLOT- FOOD FOR THOUGHT, PLEASE READ
Hello All-
There is an important ballot on the way to all current IDNIYRA members that needs your consideration and your VOTE!
I thought I’d share a few thoughts and get people thinking about how they will vote- When considering how you will vote I urge you to keep the following things in mind;
Will this change make it any easier to build masts or runners?
Will this change provide people who use gear built to the new specs with an advantage (real or merely perceived)?
Will this change make my current gear less competitive or even obsolete?
Will this change keep the cost of staying current from going up?
The four changes to the tech specifications on the ballot are as follows, with my own comments added:
1) Deletion of the existing specification of mast minimum weight;
-It’s been said that a lighter mast will be more responsive to gusts and lulls due to it’s having to overcome less inertia to react. There may be some merit to this- if true then masts built much lighter will have an advantage over the current generation…. To build a lighter mast even tighter controls and more rigorous construction methods will be needed, which could potentially drive costs up. Further, as builders search for the lightest solution there will be inevitable failures….
-Having a minimum weight in place discourages designers and builders from going too far to save that last gram and encourages a reasonably robust spar.
-It is worth noting that many older masts are currently competitive with new ones- The NA’s were won with a 2008 mast and I understand the mast that won the Gold Cup was not brand new by any means. A “next generation” of lighter spars may upset this equilibrium.
2) Deletion of the existing technical specification of minimum mast balance point height;
-Currently the mast has to have a balance point or CG 84″ from the base. Many current spars are built with the CG low enough that corrector weights are needed to address this. While adding these is a nuisance it also helps discourage designers and builders from going overboard with weight reduction and engineering- see above.
3) Amendment of the materials specification of the ‘wood type’ runner body;
-As I understand it this one would remove the requirement to use wood in the runner body- While wood and carbon runners have their issues they are also easily home built and wood is much cheaper and more widely available than carbon or glass in sizes suitable for runner bodies. Runners built only of carbon may potentially be only slightly stiffer than wood and carbon but at a large cost increase. Most runner failures occur at the glue joint between the steel and the body (the glue comes off of the steel) and this would continue to be an issue whether wood is the core material or not.
(4) Amendment of the minimum thickness of insert plate dimensions of the wood type runner with steel insert (insert runner).
-this will allow commonly available steel to be used for minimum insert runners- the steel is something like .0005 thinner than the current minimum- This would not render anything currently in use obsolete but it could potentially make it easier and cheaper to build minimum insert runners
So read the specs and notes in the ballot, vote your conscience, but most importantly VOTE!!!
Stay Tuned and THINK ICE!!
T Thieler, DN US 5224
P.S. If you are an IDNIYRA member in good standing you should have received ballot information via email earlier today with the subject line “Vote now: International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association – IDNIYRA Spring 2020 Technical Specifications Ballot”. If not contact Deb Whitehorse debwhitehorse@gmail.com
Summer Projects Underway….
From Scott Valentine out on LI- These guys have the right idea about getting an early start on the iceboat worklist!
“Here we see Vice Commodore Pete checking his rigging and making some adjustments before putting boat away. If you are doing any summer Iceboat projects, take a picture and send it out. If any needs help, advice, parts or just want to talk Iceboating, please let me know
Your Commodore,
Scott”
MADGE AND HIS LOANER ARE FAMOUS!
Looks like Mike Madge has been made into a celebrity by the gang at Scuttlebutt! Thanks to Mike for getting the loaner together and to Scuttlebutt for presenting so many articles about iceboating-
https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2020/03/23/being-the-sparkplug-to-promote-activity/
Here are some videos of Madges loaner boat being put to the test- Note that it is temporarily rigged with a sawed-off Hobie 16 mast as the original spruce rig is being glued together at the moment…. These were shot yesterday and the day before!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf7FqXwQSPA&app=desktop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ5UTBu_T4Q&app=desktop
Just goes to show that you don’t need a bleeding-edge hi tech boat to have a good day on the ice….
We should all make it a point to cobble together a loaner boat and encourage people to try it-
2020 Canadian Champs Video and Photo
Steven St. Clair sent this drone footage and start line photo from the 2020 Canadian Champs in Belleville, Ontario. What a day; Sun, breeze, great race committee, lots of races…. Can’t ask for much more!
See the video here:
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21APg0XWAGa9H2jdA&cid=55A1EDD47FA0C760&id=55A1EDD47FA0C760%217890&parId=root&o=OneUp
Revisit the regatta report here:
https://theneiya.org/2020/03/09/2020-canadian-dn-champs-report-and-results/
LRIBYC Annual Dinner News
From LI….
TO ALL:
The LRIBYC Annual Dinner will be POSTPONED and NOT CANCELED
due to the recent NYS and CDC health guidelines.
We are planning to have the dinner take place sometime in autumn 2020.
Just think of it. What a way to start our new season with a get together
where we can honor the past and project what our future will hold.
Not just a closing but a opening that will jump start our optimism for our
upcoming hard water sailing adventures.
Please be patient, since we have never planned our Annual Dinner for autumn, we
need to figure out what date would be best.
We will be in touch so that we can keep everyone abreast of our plans.
Stay safe and God be with you.
THINK ICE!
John Ziermann DN5426/Gambit/LS45/Treasurer
Rescue Boat
John Pepper writes in with a good idea…. Plenty of food for thought! Feel free to weight in…..
“Here is another concept for the site.
I am needing to upgrade my trailering capacity for a DN and Whizz. I could use a long Jon boat as a lid. At 16 inches deep, it would only need a shallow box below it to cover the boats. It could be hinged from front or side or both. It would likely need a longer box for the Whizz’s spring board. Not sure of mast storage yet.
In case someone needed a flat bottom boat to pull a stuck craft out of the water, pull a few pins, and it is ready to go.
Has anyone attempted this before? If so, any tips? At 150 pounds, its not a light lid, but counter weights or a winch set up from a pop up camper may offset.
John
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BAIKAL….
Joerg Bohn sent a few photos from Baikal…. Looks like the weather finally got back to normal….
Just an amazing place to visit and sail- Put it on your list!
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Repairs And Upgrades, Canada-Style
Bob Crinion of Halifax NS had a good sailing day go wrong a few weeks ago and has been repairing his DN slowly but surely…. As you can see he’s done a nice job on the sideboard but the real upgrade is the new hiking rack made from discarded hockey sticks! How Canadian can ya get, eh? (Sorry, couldn’t resist… hey, I did it again! “Sorry!”)
Bob says broken hockey sticks are readily available up his way if you do a little snooping through the local rubbish bins on a Monday morning….
Light, strong and they look snazzy!
Thanks Bob, look forward to seeing the boat back in action!
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How To Be A CHAMP!
Very good article by Nite campaigner Chad Rechcygl. Some good pointers in here no matter what kind of sailing you do-
My Road to Nite National Champ
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Loaner Boat!
You may think Mike Madge is “that guy out in Thunder Bay Ontario who seems to get on the ice before everyone else on the planet every year” and mostly you’re right.
Mike loves sailing iceboats and is looking to get some more people involved by acquiring a loaner boat for friends and potential new iceboaters to sail. To that end he’s picked up a vintage DN (early 1960’s maybe?) and is prepping it for newbie use.
His plan is to bring it to the ice and let anyone who is interested try it out and hopefully get bitten by the bug! Some of us have been doing things like this for awhile- It’s nice to have the ability to give people the chance to take spin in a boat that is fast enough to provide some thrills yet not so twitchy as to cause a fright! And of course it is less nerve wracking to send a newbie flying across the lake in a boat that is NOT your expensive, delicate, highly tuned and fawn-ed over yacht of your dreams!
I spend the summer collecting email address and compiling a mailing list of people who want to try an iceboat and nag them all like crazy over the winter. All I have to do during the season is send one email to all of them saying “Head to Lake X, there’s good ice and a boat all ready for you!” We seem to get a few takers every season. Good to share the fun!
For my loaner boat I added a designated helmet and goggles, ice picks, creepers and mittens to make that first ride a little more comfortable.
If you want to help grow the sport this is a great way- follow Mike’s lead and pick up and old beater for folks to try out. Check the NEIYA classifieds, there’s all kinds of craft available for really good prices.
DN Ballot Coming Up
Hey Folks- If you are a DN class member read this and start thinking about what way you think you should vote…
Remember, vote early and often!
Notice of Ballot – DN North America
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Great Pond Done For Now
What a difference a day can make… Take a look, have a read, and always proceed with caution!
Great Pond Done
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Sailing On Great Pond Today 3-21-20!
Sounds like the Maine-iacs had a good day on Great Pond!
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Sailing Possibities This Weekend
Hello All- if you are interested in de-quarantining this weekend take a look at the CIBC site…
BEN FRANKLIN’S ICEBOAT DRAWINGS!!!
Have to see these! Click and take a look- Shamelessly stolen from the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club website- Many thanks!
Ben Franklin’s Ice-Boat Drawings – iceboat.org
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BEN FRANKLIN GOES ICEBOATING
This is amazing. Deb Whitehorse has done it again- She has delved into the archives of God Knows Where and found out that Ben Franklin and John Adams had the iceboat bug. Well, Adams maybe not so much….
Click and read, this will blow your mind.
When Ben Franklin Ordered Iceboat Plans – iceboat.org
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Boat Lifting Horses
John Pepper writes in with a cool tech tip- if you have a boat that is on the heavy side to lift read the description and check out the photos-
Seems like the sailable ice is out of range for me, it was a good season.
Maybe this can be the first tech tip of the building season??
Here is something I used the last time out. My Skeeter plank is overbuilt, so lifting was a chore. This helps. It worked on the springboard too. Not sure the minimum number of blocks needed, but might be workable with double blocks vs the triples I employed. It needs to have lots of rope, and start essentially flat, this just barely cleared when sitting on the chocks. The cleat held it up and was easy to lock and unlock.
I may integrate the blocks, using the plywood legs as the block housing for a future and flatter version. It would look spiffy with maple sheaves set into a series of slots in the plywood. I can send sketches.
Regards,
John
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THE BAIKAL BEAST
Check out this little puff coming over the hill in Baikal….
https://www.iceboat.org/2020/03/17/may-the-wind-take-your-troubles-away/
BAIKAL UPDATE
Sounds like the annual expedition to Lake Baikal is a little less than ideal this year.
This makes sense if you think about it; after about ten near-perfect years in a row it seems like a less than optimum one was due. Sailors and iceboaters know not every day can be perfect!
That said, the gang seems to be making lemonade from the lemons they’ve been given. Unpredictable winds and less than perfect ice will not ruin the party!
That said it sounds like coronavirus may be cutting it short as some sailors are pulling the plug and heading for home before quarantines take effect, borders close and airlines start cancelling more flights.
Ugh. We live in interesting times indeed.
But here is the latest in Mike Bloom’s own words!
“Yesterday is why you travel to Baikal. When the winds called the Baikal Beast exceeded 17m/s [33 knots. Just have to point out that a New England sailor wouldn’t flinch.] and racing was cancelled.
I was invited to visit the Stupa on the big island out in the lake. So I put on my spikes for a 7 km walk in winds so strong it could blow us off our feet.
Dedric organized the day and we were joined by his wife Alexandra, Chris Berger and Marci and two other Dutch sailors both named Hans.
A Stupa is a religious structure containing the remains of Buddhist monks and is used as a place of meditation.
The shape of the stupa represents a Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne. But a local guide said the stupa may represent the five purified elements: land, water, air, fire, and sun.
We honored the Buddhist tradition of circumambulation which is an important ritual of walking three times around the Stupa. As a result, Stupas have a path around them.
We also left a small token at the alter. Surrounding the Stupa were many prayer flags. Being there was a moving and spiritual experience.
We then walked back to the ice and walked to the tip of the island to view a famous rock outcropping in the shape of a dragon.
From there we walked around edge of the island to seek shelter as the winds really picked up. We stopped in a beautiful spot with an amazing view of the lake. The rock outcroppings were covered with ice and Dideric and Marci surprisingly produced a bottle of Baikal vodka and glass shot glasses. We all briefly spoke about how fortunate we are to sail in Baikal and to be together with friends from around the world.
We drank a toast to Mark (Doctor) Christensen and then a separate toast to fun and friendship.
As we started the 7k/m trek home suddenly four dirt Buggy’s were heading straight for us. They were incredibly loud and appeared to be having way too much fun. Turns out they were sent by Jörg to find us.
After a couple of high speed 360’s they stopped and offered three of us a ride to see some ice caves, mountain goats and another large spiritual rock shrine. So without hesitation Hans, Hans and I jumped in. After all, what could go wrong traveling at freeway speeds on a sheet of ice in dirt buggy’s driven by a bunch of crazed iceboaters!
Some three hours later we were back on shore for the regatta’s international dinner. Each sailor brought food from their home country.
Jorge brought eel. Hamrak brought salami and herring. Jost brought bread and sausage. Marci made delicious American baked beans. The Swiss brought Cheese and chocolate while I have no idea who brought the rest.
After a very fun dinner the music started, as did the dancing. Young and old joined the festivities and international boundaries were no longer relevant.
Sailing continues today. The ice has gotten slightly better. Not sure about the wind though.
I made the difficult decision to join Berger and Marci and return home today. Air travel out of Irkutsk is getting difficult. European borders are being closed to foreigners. My airline reservations keep getting cancelled. Many others have already left.
My trip to Baikal was everything Ron Sherry, Jörg and Dideric promised it would be. The people, the culture, the geography is indescribable. It was truly a remarkable journey. One I will remember forever.
Think ice.
Mike Bloom
Chris Berger and Marci had this on the table five minutes after racing f was called off.
The trekkers…
Party in Siberia
Dragon head rocks
The Stupa
Bohn and Bloom
New England Ice Yacht Association 