LATEST NEWS
Message from the IDNIYRA Commodore
Skipper’s meeting at the 2019 Gold Cup on Indian Lake in Ohio. Photo: Debbie Parker
Special Message from the Commodore
Recently, Deb Whitehorse sent out a membership renewal reminder. The IDNIYRA By-laws define the membership year as November 1 through October 31st and only members in good standing may vote on Association affairs, per the IDNIYRA Constitution.
In the last column in Runner Tracks I said that we hoped to have simultaneous postal votes on the EPIC Agreement in North America and Europe this November. The new IDNIYRA EU is now operational and accepting memberships, so the simultaneous postal vote will happen! You should expect to receive ballots about the second week of November and will have to return them to the IDNIYRA Secretary on or before 29 November. Note well, to be counted, your ballot must be back to the Secretary, not just postmarked, by 29 November. This is a shorter turn-around than normal for postal ballots so that the result of the ballot can be reflected in the 2020 yearbook if the measure passes.
So … if you would like to receive a ballot to vote on the EPIC Agreement, please ensure that you renew your membership. The easiest way is on-line, at https://www.idniyra.org/membership/. The best 26 bucks you’ve ever spent!
Background: In 2018, the North American and European Governing Committees jointly developed two documents, the EPIC (Established Procedures for Iceboat Competition) Agreement and the Regatta Management Agreement. We then published them in Runner Tracks to enable member feedback. These agreements (published in full at here ), if approved by the membership, would satisfy a several goals:
- That we continue to sail the same DN in both North America and Europe
- That we organize racing the same way in both North America and Europe
- That we strengthen our trans-Atlantic relationships so that the DN continues to be the strongest iceboat class world-wide
- That we replace the current Specifications Management System so that we can vote electronically on all matters, including technical specifications
- That membership in the class be on the same basis in North America and Europe, i.e., an individual paying a fee to IDNIYRA or IDNIYRA EU.
If a 2/3rds majority of IDNIYRA and IDNIYRA EU member ballots approve the EPIC and Regatta Management Agreements, this will be the last postal vote conducted by the DN Class.
Warren Nethercote KC3786 Commodore IDNIYRA
International DN History Trophy Case
Polish DN sailor, Romuald Rowecki P25, shared these two pictures of his DN trophy case. Note the big North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club Red Bank, NJ sticker in the back and the bold graphics from the 1977 Gold Cup. Romuald was in the first group of Europeans that traveled to North America to sail at the 1971 championship. (Runner Tracks September 2019). Romuald also wrote an article for the May issue of Runner Tracks detailing the history of DN sailing in Poland.
Notice for Submission of Annual Meeting Proposals
Please submit all proposals for the 2020 IDNIYRA North American Annual Governing Meeting by October 26, 2019.
You can email them to the Secretary: secretary.idniyra@gmail.com
IDNIYRA Constitution
ARTICLE VIII – MEETING AND QUORUM
All proposals to be made at the IDNIYRA Annual Meeting shall be submitted to the Governing Committee in writing ninety
(90) days prior to the meeting
Randy Johnson US4000
Courtesy Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club Facebook page
Obituary
Life long ice sailor, Randy Johnson US4000, passed on October 3, 2019. Randy was a member and former Commodore of the Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club in Michigan. The entire DN community extends our condolences to Randy’s family and to the members of the Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club. Randy finished 2nd place in the Worlds event when it was held at Gull Lake in 1973 and placed 28th in Poland for the Worlds in 1975. He continued to sail competitively all his life.
Randy made sure Gull Lake grew ice every winter through his official role as the “ice seeder” for the Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club.
The memorial service to celebrate Dale’s life will be held Monday, October 28th at 11:00 a.m. at the Grace Spring Bible Church located at 8643 Gull Road Richland, MI 49083.
Courtesy of the Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club Facebook page
DN Sailing on Lake Baikal in March 2020
Become part of an international community that comes together every March to sail on one of the most remote places on the planet, Lake Baikal in Siberia. Those of you from North America who are attending the 2020 Gold Cup in Europe have an opportunity to get your DN to Lake Baikal via the Trans Siberian railway. Jorg Bohn G-737 explains it all below.
What to Know: Lake Baikal 2020
Going East!
By DN G-737 Jörg Bohn
Iceboat Swap Meet Mega Weekend: November 2-3
Looking to attend an iceboat swap meet? We’ve got you covered across iceboating country, from east to west. If you are new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, swap meets are the perfect place to kick the tires, shop for parts, and meet ice sailors. Have a boat or parts to sell? Take them to your local swap meet.
EAST:
New England Ice Yacht Club
Saturday November 2, 2019
10 AM with lunch at noon
Hudson-Concord Elks Hall
99 Park Street, Hudson, MA 01749
More information.
CENTRAL:
West Michigan Swap Meet at the Muskegon Yacht Club
Saturday, November 2, 2019
9 AM – 1 PM
3198 Edgewater St, Muskegon, MI 49441
WEST
Skeeter Iceboat Club Swap Meet
Sunday, November 3, 2019
9 AM to Noon
Lucke’s Cantina
220 N. Elkhorn Rd. (WI Hwy 67), Williams Bay, WI.
More information
FAR WEST
Minnesota Ice Sailors Swap Meet
Saturday, November 2, 2019
9 AM – Noon
Sailcrafters
7450 Oxford St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
More information
Notice of Dues & An Announcement
Photo: gretchendorian.com
To get one of these cool membership cards, join or renew your class membership for the upcoming season. Go to the Membership Page to renew and help support the most popular iceboat class on the planet.
NEW FEATURE! IDNIYRA MEMBER ONLINE ACCOUNT ACCESS!
Question about when your membership expires? Need to change your email, phone, or address? Back by popular demand, paid members will now have the ability to log in to this website, edit their contact information, and learn when their membership expires. You have to join or renew your membership to access this feature.
IMPORTANT: Members who have previously purchased a 2 or 3 year membership (in other words, your membership is expiring on Oct 31, 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023) will receive an email with your password so that you access your account online. You will receive this email in a few days.
QUESTIONS? Please contact Deb secretary.idniyra@gmail.com
Renew or Join for the 2020 Season
YOUR IDNIYRA MEMBERSHIP
- Supports the number one ice sailing class in the world and this website
- Supports the class newsletter Runner Tracks published 4 times yearly
- Supports the annual class yearbook
- Helps to maintain the value of your boat
- Makes you eligible to vote in officer elections and class business
It’s important to keep your email address current because it is where you will receive electronic ballot for voting purposes and class communications.
September 2019 Runner Tracks
The September issue of Runner Tracks has been uploaded. The Technical Committee reviewed Peter Hamrak’s proposals, previously published in the May issue, and working with Peter, have submitted the ballot language. Then, we go back to 1971 for a look at what was then called “the championship”, a regatta held at Geist Reservoir in Indiana.
RUNNER TRACKS IS AVAILABLE IN THREE DIFFERENT FORMATS:
Flipbook Magazine (Flash, best for desktop computers)
Download pdf file (best for tablets)
Download single page pdf (best for phones)
IN THIS ISSUE
- IDNIYRA As a 501(c)(3) by Warren Nethercote KC-3786
- 3 Specifications Proposals
- From the Archives: The 1971 Championship at Geist Reservoir
- Mast & Runner Specifications by Chad Atkins US4487
- Minutes from the 2019 IDNIYRA European Secretaries Meeting
- Rank List 2020
Get this issue in a full color soft cover book for $18. 
Runner Tracks is brought to you by these fine sponsors:
2019 DN Western Challenge: December 6-8, 2019
North America’s most famous early season DN fun-regatta will take place December 6-8, 2019 on the best ice in Minnesota. This annual regatta draws ice sailors from around North America, Europe, and Russia. The relatively new Mini-Skeeter class will also be joining the fun this year. Start sharpening your runners! Further information will posted on the Minnesota Ice Sailing website.
2020 International Rank List Published
The 2020 IDNIYRA Rank List has been published. See it here.
If you have questions, please email to Deb Whitehorse at secretary.idniyra@gmail.com
International DN Rank List
The IDNIYRA maintains a fleet ranking based on regatta results for continental or higher regattas for the past two years. This ranking shall be the lessor of the following:
- Best finish in the Gold fleet in the previous two years.
- 22 plus your best finish in the silver fleet in the previous two years.
- 40 plus your best finish in the bronze fleet in the previous two years
- 58 plus your best finish in the aluminum fleet in the previous two years
Celebrating 50 Years of What Holds Us Together
DN sailors Jan and Meade Gougeon, inventors of WEST SYSTEMS Epoxy, enjoying a day of iceboating.
Congratulations to the Gougeon family and WEST SYSTEM employees literally being the glue (well, 2 part epoxy) that has been used in all iceboat builds for the past 50 years. The DN class and Gougeon (how most iceboaters refer to WEST SYSTEM) have grown up together. From the WEST SYSTEM website:
Brothers Meade and Jan Gougeon begin building DN class iceboats with wood and epoxy, selling 200 iceboats between 1969 and 1974. “Where we got really lucky in our quest for epoxy technology was to be located 17 miles east of Dow Chemical Co. We introduced Herbert Dow (an avid sailor and the grandson of Dow Chemical’s founder) to iceboating. Herb made it possible for us to work with chemists in Dow’s epoxy lab, helping us to develop resins and hardeners we could use as both an adhesive and a coating,” company founder Meade Gougeon says. With Dow’s help, the Gougeon brothers develop the formulations WEST SYSTEM epoxy products are based on.
Jane and Mead have passed but their legacy lives on in every iceboat being made or repaired. Mead and Jan’s good friend, Ron Sherry, attended the 50th Anniversary party at WEST headquarters in Bay City, Michigan on August 3rd. Ron writes, “Great 50th anniversary party last weekend at the Gougeon brothers plant. Wonderful party filled with food, drinks, boats, and lots and lots of great friends all together to celebrate 50 years of making it easy for anyone to build their ultimate toys.” Ron shared the photos below:
Two great champions, Jan Gougeon US1183 and Poland’s Karol Jablonski P36
Jan Gougeon’s first DN, HOT CANARY
Meade (second from left) and his wife, Janet, when they met with the United States Commission on Energy to discuss making wind turbines.
Jan and Meade taking a moment on their catamaran powerboat.
WEST SYSTEMS company portrait when Jan and Meade were still involved.
Current Newsletter
DN VIDEOS
Minnesota Ice Sailing Association
- main lake sailed Minnetonka December 31, 2024
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
- John Eastman, R.I.P. April 26, 2025