Syracuse man, 68,races in national regatta at Wawasee CHARLOTTE STEFANSKI | The Journal Gazette
When Rick Lemberg moved from Chicago to Syracuse, he was asked by his friends on Lake Wawasee if he had ever tried ice sailing.
It was the most expensive boat ride he ever took.
Now 68, Lemberg is the owner of many boats, including his DN ice yacht, which he races with as many as 50 other sailors at a given time.
“It’s just an adrenaline rush. It’s just like racing a stock car. The speed is unbelievable,” Lemberg said. “And of course the camaraderie. I’ve known a lot of these guys for a long time, and it’s just a huge, international club.”
The race came to him last month, when the DN North American National Championship moved from Lake Indian in Ohio to Lake Wawasee. Continue reading.
As our season winds down, let’s reflect upon the simple joy of sailing an iceboat through the experience of a 100 year old DN sailor. Bruce Brown US1610 shares this video of his father-in-law, long-time IDNIYRA member Mel Nichols US2780, sailing Bruce’s DN on March 12, 2019 on Wolf Lake in Michigan. DN iceboating helps to keep us young!
The DN community extends it deepest condolences to the friends and family of Nick Vitale, a long time DN sailor and class member from Vermillion, OH who walked on Sunday, March 5th. Nick’s obituary is posted here. Fair winds and never-ending black ice, Nick.
Director of Harken engineering, Steve Orlebeke US4926, shares his obsession with ice sailing in the Harken magazine “At The Front”:
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Whisper it with me…black ice. One more time…black ice. I have a confession to make: I dream about black ice — even sometimes in July. Occasionally, even when I’m in a bunk on a boat sailing in soft water. Continue reading.
Before the ice Opti… this "junior" DN was attempted.
A look back 35 years ago through the lens of Henry Bossett’s camera at the 1984 DN Worlds in Krynica Morska, Poland. The IDNIYRA Yearbook entry for that year reads: “The Gold Cup was sailed at Krynica Morska, Poland. The race was extremely well organized. Hot soup was served on the ice at noon. The ice was good quality salt ice. The winds were moderate.” T. Haagma of the USSR won the Gold Cup in 1984. Henry writes:
With Worlds and NA’s just completed, this came up as a memory of mine today [on Facebook]. Ten, either World or European Champions show up, as well as Wim VanAcker and Skip Boston – Piotr Burczynski, Ron Sherry, Endel Vooremaa, Vaiko Voorermaa, Bogdan Kramer, Matti Kullmann, Vello Kuusk, T. Haagma, Ain Vilde, Henry Bossett. Also a Polish business introduction of a Junior DN that never gained traction.
The DN is most popular iceboat in the world. Whether you are a racer or cruiser, your $25 membership in the IDNIYRA helps to promote the art and skill of DN ice yacht construction and the sport of ice yachting on all the hard waters of the world.
