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2024 Jinzhou International DN Open – Prize Giving Day

Jost Kolb G936 2nd, Anton Didenko R163 1st, Valerie Dickenko R166 3rd

Wu Ming CH006, Wang Qi Guang CH999, Duan Yu Fu CH700

The 2024 Jinzhou DN International Open regatta is now completed. Congratulations to all who participated in this historic event. Joerg Bohn G737 reported that after racing and prize-giving, they will “pack up and move about 60 miles north to a bigger race area with perfect ice and size; you’ll find the lake a little outside of Panjin Shi with a kind of oval shape or like a drop shape. And over 2 km course possible… The wind is little.”


Map of the next lake where they plan to sail

2024 Centrals Update #3 – Stay Tuned

Photo: Gretchen Dorian

Attention Central region: With these recent cold temperatures,  we will be looking for suitable ice to run the Central Region Championship. I have spoken to the Western Regional Commodore about current plans for Westerns. Given there may be a potential conflict, we have plans to talk later this week to make the best decision with the current conditions.

Stay tuned,

Pete Johanson US-5633 Central Region Commodore

2024 Western Region Championship Update for Jan 20-21

Photo: Hannah Noll / Harken

Due to last night’s big freeze, there might be a good opportunity for ice in southern Wisconsin. However, we are monitoring the weather forecast for next Saturday, which is expected to be very cold. We will gather feedback from the ice scouts with hopes of holding the 2024 Western Region Championship on January 20-21. The next update is Wednesday, January 17, 2024, by 8 PM CT. For those that have registered for last weekend’s attempt, please note that your 2024 Western Region Championship registration is still valid, regardless of location.
Chris Berger US5166 Western Region Commodore

2024 Jinzhou Open – Too Windy? No Problem – Move Inland

No racing today. Too much wind. Instead we went to a frozen river in the middle of the Jinzhou City and raced Chinese iceboats that are similar to Blokarts. In actuality, it was a public demonstration organized by the President Wang of the Jinzhou Yacht Club. I couldn’t believe the number of spectators along the shoreline. Thousands came out to watch. Later in the day the DN sailors mentored local college kids as the students sailed iceboats for their first time. It was so fun to spend time with them and watch them progress. Fortunately, the language barriers didn’t get in the way. Tomorrow we hit the ice bright and early as we hope to get back to racing.
Think ice.
Mike Bloom US321

Link to video

2024 Jinzhou International DN Open – Race Day

Screenshot from video. Mike Bloom sailing US5166 and Jost Kolb in G936.

Here’s the main event, Mike Bloom’s racing report from Jinzhou, China:

Three races in the books. Pretty windy. Ice is about a seven. It has an orange peel texture and drifts. The course was maybe .75 miles. The top guys sailed 95 degree inserts. I sailed 90 degree inserts because that’s all I brought. Wish they didn’t have stiffeners as the ice is 40 percent drifts. I sailed two races with a full sail then switched to a flat sail. I should have sailed the flat sail all three races but you can’t fix stupid. I think I’m in about fifth. Best race a fourth. The Russian kid, Anton Didenko R163, is winning with three bullets. Tonight we have a reception with the Mayor of Jinzhou. It’s another example of the Chinese making a big deal about everything. They are making us all feel so special and important. It’s kind of fun for once.
Joerg did an interview for Chinese national TV. Someone said the station is watched by literally millions of viewers. I heard he did a great job.
Think ice!
Mike Bloom US321

Joerg Bohn checks in:

The Chinese are just starting iceboating. They are brave to sail with wooden and aluminum masts and stiff planks. Their first boats built are heavy too. But they are very enthusiastic people. You will see CH-999 at the Worlds. Give them 3-5 years and they’ll be competitive. Their organization is outstanding. They flew in the Baikal Race Committee. We are sailing on the sea but there are lakes too. Can only encourage everyone to come here next year. Tomorrow perhaps too high winds in the forecast.
Joerg Bohn G737

 

 

2024 Jinzhou International DN Open – Opening Ceremony

Mike Bloom at opening ceremonies. (Image is Photoshopped.)

The opening ceremony was quite the production. Lots of dignitaries, people in government with important titles and big wigs in the sailing community Plus several hundred spectators. Joerg Bohn got a special plaque. All covered by Chinese radio and TV. And they had fireworks!
Mike Bloom US321

 

 

2024 Jinzhou International DN Open Update

The inaugural international DN regatta in China has begun, and Minnesota sailor Mike Bloom, US321 checks are. The time difference adds a bit of mystery about when the races kicked off. Joerg Bohn, G737, has also shared photos and videos. Check them out on our Facebook page.
Stay tuned for further updates on this groundbreaking DN regatta, which is taking place in the heart of China.

Life is good! Jost Kolb G936 and I successfully met up this morning at the Beijing train station. On any given day, it’s got to be one of the busiest places in the world. I have never seen so many people in one place. Jost and I then traveled together for 3 hours on a bullet train traveling 241km/hr to Jinzhou [Liaoning] South. There we meet up with Joerg Bohn G737 and Valarie Dichenko R166 for a fun mini-reunion at the regatta headquarters.
The entire fleet then took a bus to dinner at a local restaurant. The big debate of the evening surrounded a bottle of clear liquid supplied by our hosts. The Russians insisted it was vodka while the Chinese said it was white wine. Unfortunately, despite emptying several several bottles, no decision was rendered. Instead, promises were made to try again tomorrow night.
After dinner I learned racing starts tomorrow. That’s a day earlier than what I expected. I probably should have put the Notice of Race, which was written in Chinese, though Google Translate.
It was also nice to see that the race committee is much of the same crew that ran the races when I was in Baikal. It’s a top-notch crew. With their experience, they’ll have no trouble cycling through the 3 fleets. So I expect lots of racing.
First race tomorrow is at noon. I plan to get up early, put the boat on the ice and attend the opening ceremonies. Hopefully, I’ll get a couple of laps in before they drop the first flag.
That’s all for now.
Think ice.
Mike Bloom US321

Via Joerg Bohn G737

First day at the sports university. They are educating sports teacher (Masters degree). Summer sailing is already a possible choice. The whole university is moving into a new campus in September into the neighborhood of the Jinzhou Sailing Club. They have professional sailing coaches. They have a partnership with the sailing club and can use all Olympic classes and beyond. Now they started, due to at least 3 month ice, every year. It is perfectly smooth and dry and is part of the bay, which is part of the South Chinese Sea. We will race against 20 students who picked sailing as their major. They had 30 DNs built. They are more the old style DN at are really heavy. Now the bought the first boats from Poland and will due to President of the sailing Club Wang, Qiguang registered for both, Worlds- and North Americans gain new experience over the season.

2024 Centrals Update #2 – Postponed

Kent Baker US5219 Photo: Catherine Firmbach

I realize it’s early in the week, but given the current weather patterns and no sailable ice in the central region, we will put the 2024 Central Region Championship under postponement. I will update when we have something to talk about.

Think Ice!

Pete Johanson US 5633

Thinking Ice with DN China

The Summer Palace surrounded by beautiful ice in Beijing, China.

Ice sailing has the power to carry us to the most unexpected corners of the globe. Minnesota DN sailor Mike Bloom US321 finds himself in eastern China for the inaugural international DN regatta hosted by DN China. We’ll share reports as they come in.

I made it to Beijing China. I meet up with Joerg Bohn G737 and Jost Kolb G936 on Thursday. The DN regatta starts on Sunday on Bohai Bay in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Provence. It 2 hours north east of Beijing on the 200km per hour bullet train.
I’m spending today at China’s world renown Summer Palace. It really is spectacular. Only an iceboater would visit a summer palace in the middle of winter. The highlight is the large frozen lake. Not quite big enough to set a course but the hundreds of people out on the ice sure are enjoying themselves. Most are walking but many are driving pedal powered kick sleds.
Until next time.
Think ice
Mike Bloom US321

2024 Western Region Championship Update

I would like to express my gratitude to all those who registered and travelled to Phelps, Wisconsin. Please note that your registration for the 2024 Western Region Championship still stands, regardless of where it is eventually located. It looks like the Western Region will be experiencing heavy snowfall this week, followed by a drop in temperature. The arctic cold temperatures expected next weekend should provide more opportunities for big ice. Next update is Sunday, January 14, 2024.
Chris Berger US5166 Western Region Commodore

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