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Grand Masters Regatta Report
Michael Pettersson L65 and Tomas Lindgren S81 line up at the two and one blocks to race.
DN Finland organized the third annual Grand Masters regatta on Lake Öljaren near Katrineholm, Sweden, February 8-10, 2022. In 2018, Ollie Virta L121, Timo Caravitis L37, and Richard Gustring S713 originated this informal fun regatta noted for its unusual starting procedure. Running starts are prohibited. Competitors must be at least 60 years old, start the race with one leg on the plank, and push off with the other leg. And yes, the regatta committee does watch for any infractions to this rule.
DN Finland and DN Sweden take turns managing the regatta. John Winquist L601 served as PRO assisted by Vesa Karhusaari and Dideric van Riemsdijk S867.
Snow put a temporary hold on ice sailing in North America after the U.S. Nationals. I had always wanted to see the Grand Masters event and took a chance on traveling to Europe, which was a bit more complicated because of pandemic restrictions.
The O’Hare Delta agents were baffled whether I needed a visa to travel to Sweden (a visa was not required) or even fly through Amsterdam. The regulations were so confusing that they passed me off to the next flight. And so it went until I presented my test results at immigration in Gothenburg, Sweden. I had made it!
When I arrived, Sweden didn’t have many restrictions, and all regulations ended a few days later. Ice sailing life was back to normal, the same as my last visit here for the World Championship in February 2020 before the world shut down. Our pandemic lives were a big topic of discussion, and we were overjoyed to be back on the ice and with friends again.
DN Finland was kind enough to give me a yellow vest and scoring tools. Hard black ice with a skim of water with winds around 15 mph, gusting to 20, made for sporty conditions. The regatta was called complete after six races. The camaraderie among these long-time friends was the focus of the regatta and the four-race per day limit assured plenty of time for socializing and evening group dinners.
Thank you, DN Finland, DN Sweden, and all ice sailing friends, for welcoming me to your special event. Perhaps it’s time to organize a Grand Masters regatta in North America.
2022 DN Central Championship Postponed
Via Central Lakes Commodore Rob Holman: The Central Lakes Regatta has been postponed. The next update will be Wednesday, February 15, 2022 after 5 PM ET.
2022 U.S. Nationals Sean Heavey Drone Video
2022 US Nationals MP4 from Sean R. Heavey on Vimeo.
Here’s what many of you have been waiting for, Sean R. Heavey’s drone video from the U.S. Nationals. The drone video starts on Lake Monona in Madison, WI and transitions to some fantastic racing action on Lake Senachwine in Putnam, IL.
Sean R. Heavey Photo Gallery 2022 U.S. Nationals.
“Lake Senachwine hosts U.S National DN Ice Yacht races after last minute relocation”
The residents around the Lake Senachwine area gave the DN class a warm welcome everywhere, be it on the ice or in their restaurants. We appreciated your interest and making us feel at home on your lake. Here’s their local newspaper’s write up:
Lake Senachwine hosts U.S National DN Ice Yacht races after last minute relocation
Originally scheduled for Madison, Wisconsin; competition moves to Putnam on four days notice
By Jayce Eustice
Competitor Pete Johns of Decatur helped bring the organization’s attention to the lake where he spends some time in the winter.“This freeze’s early because it’s shallow, but it had a bunch of snow on it this year so I haven’t sailed it yet,” Johns said. “I had a guy drive up here on Sunday and it was perfect.” Read more.
Rule 69 Blog: Olympic Ice Yachting?
Like clockwork, sailing fans raise the subject of DN ice yacht racing as an Olympic sport in the weeks before the event. UK DN racer David Howlett K13 (an uber high-level soft water sailing coach and trainer) shared this recent blog post from Rule 69 Sailing that asked the question.
Follow the links below to the September 2017 issue of Runner Tracks for more background and timeline provided by former IDNIYRA European Secretary Chris Williams.
Every time a Winter Olympics comes around, I can’t help myself but dig out the old World Sailing video of David ‘Sid’ Howlett, Ben Ainslie’s uber-trainer, and join him full square in his passion for ice yachting and I’m still left thinking that it would be a superb discipline, even as a demonstration event, at a Games. Continue reading.
2017 September Runner Tracks
ICE SAILING AS AN OLYMPIC SPORT WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED FOR 10 YEARS. WHAT HAPPENED?
Flipbook Magazine
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US Nationals: Sherry Gold & Binder Silver
Peter Van Rossem, Inverary, Ontario, Canada and JR Francis of Petosky, Michigan in close competition at the DN US Nationals on Senachwine Lake, Putnam, IL. Photo by Gretchen Dorian.
Results
Gretchen Dorian Photo Gallery
The ice and wind converged in just the right quantities on the last day of the US Nationals on Lake Senachwine in Putnam, Illinois. Ron Sherry of Clinton Township, Michigan, found his gear and took three bullets, again showing why he is a five-time world champion, 14-time North American champion, and three-time European DN champion. The Gold fleet competition was tough, and everyone took notice of the Canadians as their training efforts paid off, with 3 of them in the top ten. Karen Binder of Bristol, Rhode Island, lined up in the one-block five times and dominated the Silver fleet. Thanks to the Race Committee and competitors who hung tough and waited for the right venue to come in. Stay tuned for more updates and links to photo galleries.
U.S. Nationals: Day 1 PM Update
Matt Meyer at sunset. Photo: Sean R. Heavey
It was a wind waiting game today on Senachwine Lake in Putnam, IL. Two hours before sunset, the breeze started to fill in, and the Race Committee quickly set a course and lined up the mini-qualifier fleet. Winds were nine mph gusting to 11 mph. Michigan’s Julie Richards again showed her light air mastery and won the race.
Thursday, January 27 schedule:
9 AM Skipper’s Meeting
10 AM Gold Fleet Race One
2022 US Nationals: Starting Positions Day 1
U.S. Nationals Update Tues Jan 25: Called ON for Senachawine, Putnam, IL
Photo: Sean R Heavey
The 2022 US Nationals is ON for Senachwine Lake in Putnam, IL. There are some hazards in the ice. We will do our best to mark what we find, but there may be some hazards not marked. The forecast for Wednesday January 26 is very cold and light wind in the morning. Skippers meeting will be at the launch area at 11 AM CT, with a start for the first mini qualifier at 1 PM. Registration is open and will close at 7 PM CT Tuesday January 25.
US NATIONALS PAGEWHAT TO KNOW
Dates: Racing begins Wednesday, January 26, 2022.
Skipper’s meeting at 11 AM. CT
First Race at 1 PM CT
Location: Senachwine Lake, Putnam IL
5299 Lake Rd, Putnam, IL 61560
LAUNCH:
Narrow loading/unloading zone. Please be courteous, unload, and go park.
LODGING
AmericInn by Wyndham Princeton IL
2120 Claude Bailey Pkwy, Princeton, Illinois 61356
+1-815-872-5000
RE-CHECK IN
You will receive a text message today from IDNIYRA asking you to confirm your attendance. Please let us know by replying to the text. Starting positions for the mini-qualifier and the first Gold Fleet race scheduled for Wednesday, January 26, will be redrawn tonight, posted online, and shared through the texting program.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Skipper’s Meeting 11 AM CT at the launch
First Race (Mini-qualifier) at 1 PM CT
U.S. Nationals Monday, Jan 24 PM Update
Andy Allen US5451 2021 Silver Fleet Champion Photo Gretchen Dorian
The 2022 U.S. Nationals site location has been moved to Senachwine Lake near Putnam, IL. Senachwine in IL is good right now. Raceable with approximately 1″ of snow. Very low temps tonight into tomorrow may change the snow texture. It will be sailed again Tuesday morning with an update provided by 10AM Tuesday January 25. If the surface is sailable, registration and recheck-in will reopen at 10 AM and close at 7PM CT Tuesday January 25.
NEXT UPDATE: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 by 10 AM.
Next update is Tuesday, Jan 25 at 10 AM. Racing scheduled to begin on Weds Jan 26. Stand by for hotel and launch area info.
US NATIONALS PAGEWHAT TO KNOW
Dates: Racing begins Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Skipper’s meeting at 9 AM.
Location: Senachwine Lake, Putnam IL
5299 Lake Rd, Putnam, IL 61560
LAUNCH:
Narrow loading/unloading zone. Please be courteous, unload, and go park.
LODGING
AmericInn by Wyndham Princeton IL
2120 Claude Bailey Pkwy, Princeton, Illinois 61356
+1-815-872-5000
REGISTRATION
If the surface is sailable, registration and recheck-in will reopen at 10 AM and close at 7PM CT Tuesday January 25.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
We are planning on an on-time start on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Mini-qualifier at 10 AM.
U.S. Nationals Monday, January 24, AM Update
Photo: gretchendorian.com
Due to slow travel conditions, scouts got a late start. 4 ranked sailors are currently scouting Senachawine Lake in IL. Green Lake in WI is no longer under consideration because of snow. Next update by 3 PM CT, January 24, 2022 or possibly sooner as we hear from scouts.
Current Newsletter
DN VIDEOS
iceboat.org
- Iceboat Frenzy, Four Lakes Edition February 7, 2026
Minnesota Ice Sailing Association
- minnetonka ice wed 1/6 January 7, 2026
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
- Red Bank update: February 6, 2026
New England Ice Yacht Association
- Weekends Outlook 2/7/26 February 6, 2026