P7 or P to the seventh power
Anyone who has a few years under their belt has adopted a few acronyms in their vocabulary. Granted most of these are used in texting to relay quick items such as lol or ttfn as my students used often. (Junior high). The army term,”SNAFU” is actually used in some cartoons during WWII. In any of my major undertakings, the P7 has played a major part. For the uninitiated P7 (P to the 7th power), refers to “Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Production”. ( I used P6 with my students but we’re all adults here, right?) I’ve incorporated some adaptations as I plan my projects these days such as the rule of thumb to triple the time and cost from your first estimate. This makes the overrides at the end seem not that bad. The time management fact needs more than the time limit. One also needs to factor in the impromptu BarBques, extended shopping trips because your wife, (partner) decided to join with her own shopping agenda, that breeze that came up that wasn’t predicted so you just had to sail, etc. So as the summer days seem to be passing, and your plan to spruce up that iceboat that your lovingly made 30 years ago, are continually on your mind, perhaps it’s about time for P7 to go into effect. Thus I calculated approximately a 40 hr week should do it. The task did not seem all that daunting. Strip the hardware, some good 80 grit sandpaper with a lite touch, and a few hours outside in the shade should get everything ready for a new clear coat of epoxy and some accent paint to cover a few boo boos. I figured by our road trip in September it would be ready to put back in the trailer.
This is where you forgot to factor in those other time eaters. Okay the 5 days at the music festival was great and the week camping on the Maine coast with a group of life long friends was super too. The meniscus knee surgery snuck in there. (Recovery going well.) Oh yeah and then we need to move everything out of downstairs to have our wood floors refinished. And don’t forget to pull the sailboat off the lake before we go. The our island friends will want to see us before we go and I probably should cut the grass. Somehow I think that 40 hours may take 3 months to squeeze in. The good news is I have other iceboats if needed when the early ice gets here.
So as I continue to let life get in the way of my plans, I am an Iceboater which means I’m an eternal optimist and with more practice, P7 will improve with every project. Besides this is what puttering is supposed to be like, right?
I hope the rest of you are properly planning your projects to avoid the dreaded piss poor production. Wish me luck!
Sail On Mike Madge
Sad to send this along…. Mike was a tireless supporter of the DN class with his tuning videos and interviews. His enthusiasm for the sport was off the chart.
He also had the distinction of being the first person in the world to sail an iceboat in the late fall several times; The first ice on the planet was often in his backyard and he certainly took advantage of it! We were all always happy for him and also not-so-secretly jealous….
Sail on Mike; Early ice and good breeze to ya!
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DN International Rank List Is Out!
Hey Gang- The big list is out! Eastern sailors representing well in the top ten with Chad Atkins climbing up to 2nd, T Thieler clinging to 3rd, and the Canadians coming along with Robin Lagraviere in 4th, Jacek Marzenski in 6th, Pete Van Rossem in 7th, John Curtis in 8th.
Click and take a look! Hope it will inspire everyone to ge the gear out and make some time for the shop and the gym!
2025 International Rank List Published – DN North America (idniyra.org)
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DN
Stan Macur, Fair Winds….
The article says it all… Personally I will always remember the sound of his horn calling the fleets to the line….
Even more personal was a time when I mistakenly thought my fleet was being called to the line and I was still fiddling with my boat in the pits; I was looking at the wrong flag but didn’t realize it. I frantically, and I mean FRANTICALLY, finished up my little task and started pushing my boat straight upwind to the line, sprinting like Usain Bolt only much slower and still wearing my Carhartt suit.
When I got to the line I realized the Silver Fleet was going up; that explained the other boat in my spot on the line. With much relief I sat down to catch my breath and brace myself for the inevitable chop-busting that was no doubt coming my way as the whole fleet had seen my panic-driven sprint.
Stan was the first person to get to me. He was smiling and chuckling. I stood to greet him and he slapped me on the back and in his best English basically told me that I’d just done some good running but I should relax a little and enjoy the day!
Good advice…. Fair winds Stan, thanks for all you gave back to the class and everyone in it.
Remembering Stan Macur – DN North America (idniyra.org)
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DN CLASS BALLOT
Hey Gang-
Check your incoming mail for the Notice of Electronic Ballot from the DN Class.
Vote early and often!
T
Notice of Electronic Ballot – DN North America (idniyra.org)
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May Runner Tracks Available!
Hey Folks- You can take your mind of this chilly gray New England spring by reading this month’s Runner Tracks!
Click and enjoy!
Runner Tracks Newsletter May 2024 – DN North America (idniyra.org)
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Fall Meeting In Maine
Hey Folks-
The CIBC fall meeting is this Sunday up at the Farm on Dammy Lake.
Head on up and celebrate a hell of a season. And get some food!
Details here: MEETING TIME | Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
Canadians On The March
Hello All-
One of these days I’m hoping to sit down and write up a report about the DN NA champs… As Mark Keifer would have said, “It was EPIC…”
Plenty of stories to be told but one of the big ones certainly has to be the success of the Canadian team. They have really stepped it up quite a bit in the last few years and deserve some recognition.
We’d also love to know how they’ve done it! Maybe a few clues in this article….
Not Done Yet
The weather balance once again turned against us. In the Nort Woods of Maine, we have had warmer temps setting up the potential to sail on Moosehead and the counterbalance was a good dose and more of the white stuff. We are shut out for the weekend with more of the white coming Saturday. Don’t give up just yet. According to Bill Buchholz, a foot of good solid ice is waiting to be uncovered. There are warmer temps and rain next week which could get us out late next week.
Last night’s call also included discussions on communication improvements for next season as well as a post-season gathering. Stay tuned for gathering details and if you have ideas on how we might communicate more clearly please reach out.
The first notice will likely go out on Chickawaukee Ice Boat Club’s site and of course here and Thursday night’s call.
Keep the faith the next time we sail could be next week.
Think Ice,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
DN RUNNER TRACKS AVAILABLE
Hey Folks- the March issue is out- take a look and keep tabs on what is going on in the class here and over on the other side of the Pond….
Runner Tracks Newsletter March 2024 – DN North America (idniyra.org)
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The End is Nigh
I have not put pen to paper or fingers to plastic keys since our last piece of sailing most of us did in late February or early March. This would be the time we talk about the proverbial fat lady. The inevitable post that is written with the passing of another iceboat season.
Well, I’m not ready just yet. Not ready to tear down and stow my DN. There is a slim chance that Moosehead Lake will give us one last grand send-off. The weather of course will play her hand and we will see. While we await word from the North Woods, we have a few planning details to tackle for next season.
It has been a couple of weeks since we had a full-scale Thursday evening call and tomorrow we will be on again. We have a few things to talk about first can we sail again this spring, second a couple informal end of informal end-of-season gatherings and discuss web-based communication improvements. Anyone who has a desire to help with our website and related communications infrastructure, please make a point of dialing in. Deane Williams and I are the current force behind our web communications. We need more help to improve things. Reach out to me or dial in on Thursday if to help.
Thinking Ice,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
Seasonal Reflections
I know many of you are still seeking that, “last sail”of the season, but I have started the transition from hard water to soft…….at least in my mind. I,myself, am satisfied with the season. Although late in arriving, it came in with some sweet plates of ice nearby. this allowed me to leave the rigs, (yes multiple) set up for extended periods. If I arrived and there was no wind, the skates were on in minutes to provided miles of gliding over some wonderfully smooth ice. I even managed to get in a few bike rides with the studded tires pumping more of that fresh air into the body. I was also happy to hear of other groups finding ice to play on. There were many “first rides” locally as well as resurrected classic boats that made it to the ice. Some fun sails for a couple stern stearers also happened.
It is now time for those good intentions to begin. That final sharpening of the runners and then a coat of wax to ward off moisture, the replacement of that fraying shroud, or the repair of the tack on the sail are all on the list. I might even add a strip and refinish the hull and runner plank to the off season list. A double check of the tool box for the replacement of extra parts or tools loaned to fellow sailors so their day was a happy one is on the list. The storing of sails in a mouse proof area is always a challenge.
The question of should I build that “Whizz” that I bought the plans for 5 years ago……or not. Should I try and sell at least one boat in the fleet? But maybe a friend would want to sail it next year. maybe plane down that runner plank that’s a little too stiff, or add a leaf spring layer to keep my butt off the ice. Maybe a new paint job or set of graphics could be added.
And don’t forget the media! Time to organize all those photos taken into folders with dates and places and definitely names! There’s nothing like a cold rainy spring day to start editing all those GoPro videos.
Yeah I’ll get to it all…..someday before next year……or maybe not. But for now, I still have fresh memories of a nice season with friends and fresh air. And as I sip a little whisky or rum by a warm wood stove on a damp early spring day, I might just doze off skimming across black ice with blue skies.
Happy seasonal memories.
It’s a wrap – end of NAs
After 4 days of racing the Race Committee did an amazing job of getting off a total of 22 races (11 for each fleet) in all kind of conditions. At the awards ceremony, T led with a toast and thanks to "All the boats, planks, and equipment that gave themselves up to the challenges of ice and big wind this week." I won’t go into specifics, but lots of iceboaters will need to go shopping and many more will spend some quality shop time rebuilding stuff. Even T and I suffered damage with my hound breaking on the first windward leg of the 9th race and just as conditions were turning a bit lighter and softer. With no set of extra shrouds and T hound fitting, I ended up missing the last races of the regatta. T had a port starboard situation in the same race, both sailors are fine, but he could not return to racing either.
Saturday racing was called off due to heavy winds, but Jeff Roseberry was still out there ripping it up and was clocked at going more than 60 mph. He should be heartily congratulated on his 15th place finish in the Gold Fleet. His practice and time in the boat certainly paid off. Milo Fleming won the Junior Award and finished 13th in the Silver Fleet. It’s been so fun seeing Milo develop into such a talented sailor and mature young adult since first meeting him when he decided to learn about iceboating for a school project about five years ago. Bob Haag first time competing at the NA’s resulted in winning the Rusty Runner award. Well done, Bob!
And a huge thanks to NEIYA members Henry Capotosto and Nina Fleming for driving 25 plus hours to VOLUNTEER for an entire week helping with all aspects of Race Committee. The volunteers are really incredible with their dedication to pulling off a great regatta for the sailors. We thank you!
For me, if there is any more time on the ice this season and definitely for next season I will make scratch racing courses much longer. At big regattas the course length is a minimum of 1.0 miles. With good starts I am able to keep up with the top sailors for the first 1/3 to ½ of the windward leg, but then they start pulling away. By the 2nd leeward rounding the top ten sailors are just about at the windward mark as the bottom third of the gold fleet are just making the turn at the leeward mark. So, for me it’s a matter of boat speed across longer courses. You see on a small course I am right at the windward mark with T so I went into this regatta feeling like I am really fast, but on long courses it’s a different story. It’s good to know what I need to work on next.
The results are below…and hopefully at least one or two days of sailing on Moosehead will happen before the season is officially over.
Karen Binder
DN 5630
https://iceresults.org/dn/2024nas.html
| Sailwave results for 2024 IDNIYRA NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP at LAKE WACONIA, MINNESOTA 2024 sailwave results iceresults.org |
Beware the Ides of March
7 hardy souls ventured cautiously onto lake Wentworth today for a march sail. The lake was definitely alive as cracks opened, water seeped up, and barely covered drain holes jumped at you. A safe area for play was established and fresh air and sunshine prevailed.
Freeze Frame!
The Zamboni has visited lake Wentworth and has made a great improvement. Not quite a 10 but a definite sailable 7. Tight to shore still at the 109 launch areas but a few things not perfect. There is a big lead area about 100 meters off of Albee Beach. Don’t know about the backside of Stamp Act Island either. I plan on one more sail, setting up tomorrow.
Day 3 Report
We awoke to 3F, snow drifts on the lake, super hard ice, and a building wind. I am pretty sure I have not experienced such a set of changing ice conditions at a regatta before. Although, I am relatively new to this and the gentleman I sat across from at the restaurant has been racing ice boats for 50 years!
Each fleet had four races with each race involving a bit more wind than the previous one. Most sailors switched to their MS1 sails and either 95 degree or 100 degree runners. Despite the insane winds of yesterday, I found sailing today much more difficult. The hard ice makes the boat vibrate and bounce around and then "float a bit" when a big puff hits. You pretty much feel like your boat could completely spin out at almost any point. Every mark round is especially exhilarating…
T and I both had "big bummers" today. Mine was in the 2nd race of the morning after I switched to my flatter sail. I had trouble getting the foot of my sail into the boom as the bolt was stiff and frozen. I was rushing and had to get to the line. Once the flag dropped, I sprinted and eased into the boat. After sheeting in, I noticed the foot was bunching all up. I had forgotten to secure my outhaul. I had to stop my boat, get out, attach and tighten my outhaul. t. I debated withdrawing for a moment, but got back in my boat.
T’s big bummer was at the end of the day with being sandwiched between two boats. One boat avoiding a snow drift and one boat heading him up. Two boats bumped and his tiller broke. He is confident a quick morning fix will return him to the ice tomorrow.
The rest of Team NEIYA did a great job….here are the provisional results…
2nd Day Report – sorry for delay
Sorry…I tried posting this yesterday morning but it didn’t go thru….standby for the report on day 3 of sailing.
The forecast was for big winds today and the forecast was spot on. The temperature dropped overnight and solidified the surface, but Pat Heppert noted at the skippers meeting the ice depth went from 9-11 inches to 7-9 inches given the incredible heat the day before.
Race Committee called the Silver Fleet to the line and Ed Demerest, having had issues with his mast the previous day, finished in third place. Nicely done, Ed! Milo is sailing very consistently, avoiding the big bummers, and is currently in sixth place overall. I also want to give a shout out to NEIYA Treasurer, Bob Haag, competing for the first this year. Our Commodore John Stanton is also being very consistent and is 27th in the standings.
When gold fleet was called to the line, the breeze was strong but definitely built throughout the race. I know at the start some people were measuring on their anemometers a range of 20-22 knots. It seemed an even split between those sailing with their MS1 and the ABSS and also split between 95s and 100 degree runners. I chose the MS1 and my 95 degree inserts.
By the third lap, most folks were just trying to get themselves and their boats over the line safely. The big wind brought several spin outs and others with significant boat/equipment damage. Most of us who sailed the race got a huge surge of adrenaline and satisfaction of crossing the line in the hairy conditions, but we all were relieved that racing was then called off for the day. Sixty of the seventy sailors dropped their sails in the pit area and bare poled it back to the shore. It was that hairy. For a comparison, if you did/attempted the Winnie the Hard Way a few years ago it was like that…
This morning, we awoke to a temperature of 2F. It will warm up later in the morning, but the ice will now be super hard and there is already breeze.
Results: https://iceresults.org/dn/2024nas.html
Video of the 3rd windward lap: https://www.facebook.com/julie.jankowski.12/videos/412353528115350/?idorvanity=432333643482302
Karen Binder
DN 5630
Regatta Photos
There are a million great sailing photos of this regatta online. But I wanted to offer a peek into a typical morning at the hotel and off the lake.
Eben Whitcomb at breakfast shamelessly feeding his coffee while a disgusted Pete John’s looks on.
The notorious hotel waffle. God knows what is in these things and what the future health repercussions will be but damn are they tasty. And a little nauseating at the end.
Eben and Bob Haag smiling those big New England smiles.
Dave Frost’s dog helping check ice
Heading out of Newport RI to begin this little odyssey
Prince. Singer, guitar player, pop culture icon. Love him or hate you have to say he made an impression. Try to listen to “1999” and not move your booty just a little. Can’t be done. What’s this have to do w iceboating? His studio recording facility was a few miles from here. Operated now as a museum. His shoe collection is currently on display.
As always, it’s not just about the sailing!
Big day yesterday, honking wind, FAST speeds, three of the fastest weather mark roundings of my life, some broken gear and a few sore sailors rocking some ice packs today. More to come…..
T 5224
Miami ICE…report on the first day…
Good Morning:
The ice held up relatively well despite the Miami-like temperatures and with very strong winds in the morning. The Race Committee was able to get in four races before the wind died at 1:30 PM.
The silver qualifier and the first race for the gold fleet were in both in big breeze with powerful gusts. I had my ABSS sail up, but I put in a stiffer top batten and then loosened my rig slightly. I choose my 95 degree inserts, but the top sailors were sailing 100 degree inserts. When I got to the line, I saw one of my bolts that screws my plank in was rolling around in the cockpit with one of pins on my stud plate broken off. With no way to fix it, I just hoped the bumps and speed would not rip my plank off. For the gold fleet race, the left side was favored and I started on the right side. Go figure, but I was able to keep up with Ron and Chris Berger for most of the windward leg. Unfortunately, when we tacked over the left side was pretty much already at the mark. I kept sailing my race and finished a respectable 19th out of 38 boats.
For the second race, T suggested I put on my MS1 as four of the top sailors used that sail in the first race. I felt like the wind was dying, but after some back and forth with him I put on my MS1. When I got to the line, the breeze totally dropped out. Paniced, I looked back and saw several others (including T!) quickly changing their sails. I ran back to the pit and thanks to Paul Chamberland who was next to me, we were able to put my ABSS sail back on just before the RC said "Ready on the Left…"
The breeze was light, but I was able to get off the line well and built speed. I made it to the mark somewhere in the top 10. I just kept working to keep my speed on the downwind leg staying high and I was sliding forward hard for my gybes which powered the bow around to then catch the breeze. I was seeing people getting out of their boats pushing and I just was determined not to lose any speed. Approaching the finish line on my third downwind leg, I saw a lot of recognizable boats in the pit. Had I been passed? I was confident no one passed me, but worried a bit. When I got back T said many boats had been barded (lapped so they have to stop racing). I waited for the sheet to be posted. I finished 8th!
By the end of that race, the wind completely died and Race Committee said we were done. When we were heading back to pit, you could actually see waves of heat moving across the surface of the lake and the outdoor temperature display on the van dashboard was 61 degrees!
Video: https://vimeo.com/916958969
DN North Americans – Today is the first day
Good morning from Minnesota,
About twelve of us from New England are here and ready for the DN North Americans. We always seem to have great representation and I am sure the results will be strong for our group. Lake Waconia is the chosen spot, but T and Dave Frost, commodore of the IDNIYRA, spent the last two days driving between two locations in search of the best plate taking into consideration the upcoming weather. Two days ago Waconia had very hard "pancakes" or 2" raised bumps all over it and they made for significant challenges in big breeze. Warmer temperatures the last two afternoons have softened everything quite a bit which is fantastic.
With the wind predicted today, the more northern lake would have been just too hard on boats and bodies as no melting occurred. So, the final determination was to stay on Lake Waconia. What’s really weird is that the temperatures today are forecast to reach 60 F. That’s not a typo. And then by Tuesday night, the temperatures will drop to 6 F. Again, not a typo. We have no idea what the extreme fluctuations will cause.
With T scouting I have been sailing the last three days. Given how little sailing I have done this winter, it was great to scratch race with several others. Unfortunately, in the morning the hard bump caused my brake on one of my favorite front runners to flip over and got stuck beneath the runner while I was on a fast downwind leg. I stopped as soon as I could, but it was enough to cause a very significant gouge in the edge of the blade. No way to fix it before the regatta.
One of the challenges at the big regattas is equipment choice. You receive two stickers for your sail choice. Meaning, if you have three sails in your van you are only allowed to use two of them during the regatta. For runners, you receive nine stickers. With conditions being so variable it will make for important decisions each morning.
More to come as it all unfolds, melts, and then refreezes.
Karen Binder
DN 5630
Hang on!
8 boats on Wentworth today with wind to spare. Barn find stern steerer joined Cyclone for a thrilling day. One casualty as a BDX had a few issues. A ride on my gaffer helped make his day better. Back tomorrow as tonight’s low temps should give hard ice.
Wentworth strong
Lake Wentworth seemed to have survived the light snow which reflected the sun and kept ice firm. Depending on wind, could be a good sailing day tomorrow. A few hazards are growing so beware.
2024 DN North American Championship Called ON for Waconia, MN – DN North America
Hey Folks- looks like we are off to MN to duke it out for the NA champs.
We tried to find a spot to host this event out east but came up short…. Lakes too small, open water, snow, un-sail-able rough ice…. Just couldn’t put all the pieces together.
But not for lack of trying! Have to thank Chamberland, Roseberry, Bucholz, Zierman, Hill, Brush, Gervais, Silfvenius, and others for putting in the time and the miles. Kudos gang!
Anyway stay tuned to the IDNIYRA site for updates. And check NEIYA site for local sailing- sounds like plenty of good sailing to be had in NE this weekend and beyond!
https://www.idniyra.org/2024-dn-north-american-championship-called-on-for-waconia-mn/
Looking at the Weekend 2/21/24
We are coming up on the weekend and in front of our Thursday call here is what we know.
MA:
Quaboag Pond as reported by Bob S. has lost most of its snow but left a bumpy but looks to be sailable for the weekend. Bob will keep a watchful eye on it between now and the weekend.
NH:
Sunapee just keeps getting better and better according to people who sailed on Tuesday
Wentworth boats are still set up there more info to come out tomorrow
Winnipesaukee is looking good off of Leavitts and may well be a prime weekend destination more info to come
ME:
As reported by Bill Buchholz on iceboat.me Maine has a couple of venues with Damariscotta bubbling to the top
This year’s DN North American Championship was scheduled to take place in the Eastern Lakes Region. Despite the extraordinary efforts of James “T” Thieler, Bill Buchholz, Paul Chamberland, and Jeff Roseberry— who scoured both large and small lakes in Maine and John Zierman and Charlie (S) Silfvenius, who monitored conditions on Lake Champlain and Lake Winnipesaukee, respectively, suitable ice was not found. A contingent of NEIYA sailors is already en route or soon to depart for Lake Waconia, Waconia, MN. Updates on their westward progress and racing will be provided.
The sun is getting higher on the horizon every day. Don’t put off getting on the ice.
Think Ice,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
P.S. More content from Janet will be up soon.
New England Ice Yacht Association 