2026 Regatta Dates Announced

Photo: Anna Suslova

Via IDNIYRA Commodore David Frost US5358

The 2026 continental regatta dates have been set. During last weekend’s European Secretaries meeting, February 14–21, 2026, was selected for the World and European Championships, with Poland as the host.

 

With those dates confirmed, the 2026 North American Championship is tentatively scheduled for January 24–31, 2026, with the Western Region and newly minted Western Region Rear Commodore, Tim Mower US5871, hosting.

 

Please note that the North American dates remain tentative due to the upcoming proposal on the spring ballot. If the proposal passes, racing can begin on Sunday, January 24, 2026. If it does not, racing can begin on Monday, January 25, 2026.

Seahorse Magazine Showcases DN Class

Peter Van Rossum KC2766 on the ice, photo by Anna Suslova, courtesy of Seahorse Magazine.

The April edition of Seahorse Magazine includes an article highlighting the DN class. Dobbs Davis delivers a great article recapping class history and the 2025 Worlds, featuring an interview with Karol Jablonski P36 and the World & North American champion, Matt Struble US183.

Seahorse Magazine is subscription-based, but you can subscribe for instant access or order this individual issue from their back issues section (link) once it’s available.

 

Rasmus Maalinn C20 Crowned 2025 European Champion

Photo: Gilles Morelle. Facebook Page

RESULTS
The 2025 European Championship has a new name for the trophy: Rasmus Maalinn C20 of Estonia. At under 30 years old, Rasmus has achieved a remarkable feat in the world of ice sailing, becoming the first European champion under 30 since Poland’s Michal Burczynski P114 claimed the title in 2004 at the age of 23.

This year’s regatta, held at Lake Pyhäjärvi in Säkylä, Finland, was exciting to follow thanks to live tracking. Waking up early or catching the reruns was well worth it for fans. The Gold fleet tracking replay links are available below, letting you relive the action.

Despite tricky conditions—”plus temperatures” (above 32°F for North Americans) and wet ice—the organizers managed an impressive 12 races in the Gold fleet, and 10 so far in the Silver and Bronze fleets. A huge shoutout to the team for their swift result tabulation, keeping everyone updated without delay.

The regatta opened with a nod to experience, as Poland’s Karol Jabłoński P36—a seven-time European champion—won the first race, setting a high bar for the competition. But Rasmus soon took charge, dominating with 7 out of 12 race wins in the Gold fleet.

Poland’s Michal Burczynski P114 took second with four race wins, showing his lasting talent more than 20 years after his own under-30 win. Fellow Pole Łukasz Zakrzewski P155 rounded out the podium in third with a solid performance. Congratulations to Michal and Łukasz for their excellent showings in a tough field.

Rasmus’s rise began in the junior ice sailing ranks. His name first appeared  in the IDNIYRA yearbook as the 2014 Ice Optimist Champion, and he went on to claim five DN Junior Championship titles. Now, as an adult competitor, he’s brought that success to the continental level.

Rasmus is the first sailor outside Poland and America to win the European Championship since Germany’s Bernd Zeiger G107 in 2010, ending a 15-year streak held by Polish and American sailors.. He joins an elite list of Estonian champions, including Endel Vooremaa, Vello Kuusk, Matti Kuulmann, Vaiko Voorema, Ain Vilde, and Tiit Hagmaa. Many North American competitors will remember having met Rasmus at the 2019 World Championship in North America where he placed 7th in the Gold fleet.

Although the Gold fleet has its champion, the Silver and Bronze fleets remain uncertain. As of now, it’s unclear whether they’ll race tomorrow, Friday, February 28. Currently, Finland’s Oscar Lindell L132, is leading the Silver fleet, and Lithuania’s Antanas Gerasimavicius T4, is leading the Bronze fleet.
UPDATE: The European Championship has been called completed. Congratulations to all participants!

Explore more in the IDNIYRA Continental Championship History.
Live Tracking Links:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Runner Tracks Mid-Winter 2025 Issue Now Online!

The mid-winter 2025 issue of Runner Tracks is now available online. In addition to excellent photography by Anna Suslova, articles by Sam Bartel, Warren Nethercote, and Peter Johanson offer perspectives that make this issue stand out. While we’ll have more regatta reports in the May issue, this mid-winter release holds its own.

RUNNER TRACKS IS AVAILABLE IN THREE DIFFERENT FORMATS:
Flipbook Magazine
Download pdf file (best for tablets)
Download single page pdf (best for phones)

IN THIS ISSUE

  • OFF THE WIND – THOUGHTS ON NIA RULE 4 BY WARREN NETHERCOTE
  • THE GREAT WINDSTORM OF 2025 BY DEB WHITEHORSE
  • MINUTES OF THE 2025 ANNUAL GOVERNING MEETING
  • A MOMENTUM BUILDING YEAR BY SAM BARTEL
  • A WEEK OF WINS BY PETER JOHANSON

Get this issue in a full color soft cover book for $20. Click here to buy.

Visit the Runner Tracks archive to read it now. Hard copies of the full-color softcover book are available for $20.

Thank you to our contributors, photographers, and sponsors for their continued support.

New SA Podcast Featuring 2025 DN World & North American Champion Matt Struble

Matt Struble capturing the moment—2025 DN World Champion in action! Photo by Anna Suslova.

As most of us in North America are snowed out from ice sailing, it’s the perfect time to sit back and listen to the latest Sailing Anarchy podcast featuring 2025 DN World & North American Champion Matt Struble!SA’s Scott Tempesta caught up with Matt after his dominant performance on Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he secured the DN World & North American titles. While his scores made it look easy, Matt shares just how tough the event really was. As Scott put it: “I just chatted him up, and I can tell he is going to be a great guest!” The episode drops this afternoon, so be sure to tune in and hear insights from one of the best in the sport.

Listen here: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2116610/episodes/16631972-sailing-anarchy-podcast-49.mp3
Or check out the SA podcasts on Apple, Google, or Spotify podcasts.