The gang in Kingston, Ontario had a day of good sailing last weekend but then the call came that the water level in the lake was rising (the wind pushes the water around in the big lakes- a westerly wind makes the tide come in, so to speak) and big breeze was on the way.

Looks like a few people didn’t get the memo to get the boats off the ice and when the storm hit some boats got moved…. Glad the wind wasn’t blowing offshore!

Two lessons here:
1) When the locals say to move your boat be sure to listen!
2) No matter what the weather ALWAYS secure your boat with an ice-screw.

Same thing happened to me once- at the DN Worlds in 2003. I was a newbie, didn’t own a screw yet. A big squall rolled through overnight and when I showed up at the ice (late of course) Jack Ericson greeted me by saying “You have to get a screw- we pulled your boat out of the trees this morning!” Lesson learned!

Glad to report no big damage or injury- Hope to be back at it this weekend!

All,

The 2019 IDNIYRA Easterns is scheduled for this weekend February 2-3. We are currently looking for venues from NJ to Maine, as always we have a full weather system moving through the entire region Tuesday and Wednesday so please let me know Wednesday pm if your area may have made it out in reasonable shape. I can be mobile for ice checking with a few other dedicated scouts Thursday morning for a possible call as late as Friday February 1st at 2pm.

Also the IDNIYRA Gold Cup and NAC is slated for February 17-23 hosted by the Central Region. We have a good base of Mountain Lakes and Eastern Race Committee and they are looking to take the pulse on any volunteers that would be willing to travel anywhere the event goes all the way to if it comes local in the East or Mountain Lakes (east of ohio/pa). If you haven’t been to one of these events and arn’t planning on racing this could be a very cool experience as about 100 competitors from all over North America and Europe are already entered.

Think Ice!
Best, Chad Atkins
US 4487
IDNIYRA Eastern Rear Commodore
Catkins4487@gmail.com

DN Euros are done! Looks like breeze and snow on the last day shook things up a bit-

Jarek Radski kept it together to take the title and Chris Berger sailed very well to stay in the top ten at 7th place. Not bad at all for a relative newbie and a Yooper at that!

Well done. Results here:
https://www.idniyra.org/2019/01/25/dn-european-championship-final-results/

And one last batch of great photos here:
https://www.idniyra.org/2019/01/25/day-3-dn-european-championship-photos-by-gwidon-libera-2/

In spite of the weather it sounds like there are options for sailing this weekend:

1) Sounds like a group of sailors will be scratch racing DNs out of Kingston Yacht Club in Kingston, Ontario Saturday and maybe Sunday
2) Scratch racing tomorrow on Waneta (a bit west of Ithaca, NY) First race at 11 am. The Waneta Inn has always been hospitable to us and reached out to me last fall to let me know we are welcome to use their ramp. Please be respectful of others and ice fishermen and don’t block the ramp.Surface by the Waneta Inn is rough from its initial freeze. Racing will be further North of the Inn. The surface improves considerably going North. Picture attached.Remember, the ice has not been checked 100% at this time. Also, don’t rely on ice fishermen or other ice boaters to determine its safety. That is up to you, and you alone.
3) Heard rumors that Bantam Lake in CT might be sailable….

As ever, proceed with caution- your safety is your responsibility and yours alone! Don’t sail alone and take all precautions.

Send reports via NEIYA Ice report email system!

Hello All- the weather situation this week has been bizarre- maybe things are back to semi-normal now and with a little luck we can all get shovel-ed out (up north) and dried out (down here in RI) and do some sailing this weekend, possibly even get a regatta in.

If you have sail-able ice get the word out! We’d all love to know about it.

Think ICE!!

This photographer is nothing if not prolific! Almost 100 more images to see from yesterday alone. And good shots at that!

Check out more pics from the DN Euro champs here. Great way to do a bit of recon…
https://www.idniyra.org/2019/01/24/day-2-dn-european-championship-photos-by-gwidon-libera/

Results so far are here:
http://idniyra.eu/

Think ICE!!

Hey Gang- while we wait for the weather to stabilize (In New England, don’t hold your breath!) take a look at these great photos from the European DN Champs.
https://www.idniyra.org/2019/01/24/dn-european-championship-photos-by-gwidon-libera/

Current results here- Chris Berger still hanging in top ten!
http://idniyra.eu/

Think ICE!!

Hey Gang-

Here is the latest from Chris Berger over in Poland- He’s been strong out of the gates, scoring good results in the first two races to be sitting in 2nd place. Well done Chris, keep the mojo workin’!

Pics and words here:
https://www.idniyra.org/2019/01/23/3527/

Hey Gang- The DN Euro Champs are underway and Chris Berger is the only guy there waving the US Flag- be sure to send some good vibes his way!

Click the link and follow the action-

https://sailinganarchy.com/2019/01/23/ice-sailing-dn-european-championship-2019-lake-niardwy-pol-start-today/

Stay tuned to this site for the next local news- the weather the last few days has been interesting to say the least but then again this IS New England; there must be sailable ice somewhere!

T US 5224

This just in from out west via Mike Bloom- all of us in New England also send our congrats and appreciation for all you’ve done- you’ve been a great friend to be class and the people in it!

Here’s the article:

IDNIYRA Executive Secretary Deb Whitehorse was honored, among others, Saturday evening by Lake City Minnesota Mayor Mark Nichols when she was presented with a “Key to the City.”

Lake City has a deep and rich iceboat history and had just hosted the DN Western Region Championships, the ISA’s and the Northwestern’s over three consecutive weekends. The Mayor cited Deb’s longstanding commitment and dedication to the great sport of iceboating as the reason for her selection.

Mayor Nichols presented the award during the Northwestern Regatta which was sailed on Lake Pepin.

Hello all-

A group of NEIYA sailors will be scratch racing on Quaboag Pond in Brookfield, MA tomorrow starting at about 10 AM.

If you have a DN or any type of iceboat come join the fun. Racing will be informal and cautious.

Not racing ok come out for a cruise and join in if you ever thought about racing. Who knows you might even catch the competitive spirit.

Hope for some good weather and will see you there!

Think ICE…..

James “T” Thieler