Scene-er-ific
The wind took a holiday today and so did the competitors at the 2020 JWC. Ice skates and soccer balls appeared and the kids slid around on the ice for hours keeping themselves amused. PRO Stan Macur announced a 0900 Skippers Meeting followed by racing at 1000 for tomorrow, 20 February.
You can do it!
Provisional Results
Back from a long day on the lake and about 2 hours ago, had good intentions of posting a very eloquent story about how wonderful it was to spend a day watching 10 junior races at my first JWC. But then the phone and messages distracted me, so I’ll be my usual brief self. My impressions of the day:
The high level of sailing on fast ice was IMPRESSIVE in both fleets.
Each fleet banged off 5 races efficiently and fast.
Was fascinating to watch the intensity with which coaches watched and spoke with their charges.
There’s reason to be optimistic about the future of European DN ice sailing.
After the racing I kicked the red sled back to shore where there was hot food, tea, and cookies ready to be served. I looked out at the perfect ice, felt the breeze on my face, and took in this tranquil setting with an old Swedish church overlooking the lake. I asked the Uppsala sailing club members who set up the food, “is this heaven?” They laughed…. It’s — it’s Sweden.
Maybe this is heaven
Slick, fast Hollywood ice with shifty, puffy winds greeted the opening day of the 2020 Junior DN and Ice Optimist World Championship near Furudal, Sweden. The unpredictable wind gusts caused postponement of the first race until Tuesday, February 18. The kids kept busy with a bit of sailing, skating, and kicking the soccer ball under a rainbow that hung around for a long time. The sailing site is a 30 minute drive from Orsa Camping, the site of last week’s Gold Cup.
One of the constants in ice sailing is that the ice continually changes. Some big cracks developed overnight on the racing course and the Race Committee made the decision to cancel the European Championship. Competitors were disappointed but respected the fact that the RC put their safety first. I’m staying on for the Junior Championship.
World Champions: From left, 4th Madars Alvikis O31, 3rd Anton Didenko R163, 2nd Karol Jablonski P36, and 1st Lukasz Zakrzewski P155.
European Championship Starting Positions
European Championship Day 1: Another Ground Hog Day*
The European Championship regatta was supposed to have begun today but as of 1400 local time, the wind hasn’t made an appearance. If it does, I’ll let you know.
*Ground Hog Day is a movie about being caught up in a time loop and repeatedly reliving the same day. The 2010 North American regatta is also known affectionately as the Ground Hog Day Regatta.
USE YOUR CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL
ORDER A YEARBOOK: $17
iceboat.org iceboating.net Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club New England Ice Yacht Association