Photo left from Dutch A Division Catamaran Facebook page. Photo right from 2021 DN Nationals by Gretchen Dorian. Chris Berger US5166
As we approach the upcoming ice sailing season, there’s plenty to share about what’s been happening in the DN class over the summer. From cutting-edge developments in other sailing classes inspired by DN rigging to exciting news from the America’s Cup and the growth of our youth programs, this summer has been anything but quiet.
DN Influence on A Class Catamaran Masts
The A Class catamaran community is embracing innovation inspired by iceboating, as seen in the recent Dutch Nationals. Photos from the event, shared on the Dutch A Division Catamaran Association Facebook page, highlight the “DN-mast” fitted on the DNA F1X catamarans of Mischa Heemskerk and Pieterjan Dwarshuis. Pieterjan commented on this groundbreaking rig:
“Without any doubt the future for the foiling A’s. More automatic, easier to handle, more stable to foil, and faster—just like the DN rig. The tuning process is still a challenge, but this innovation will make foilers easier, safer, and more fun.”
This DN-inspired mast design, which ditches traditional diamonds and spreaders for lowers, is being hailed as the future of foiling A Cats. As the tuning evolves, we may soon see these rigs making waves in the A Class World Championships which take place September 7 – 14 in Punta Ala, Italy.
DN Class Ties to the America’s Cup
The America’s Cup is in full swing, and we have a special connection to the action this year. Maxime Bachelin, helming for the Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing, has deep roots in the DN class. His father, Pierre Bachelin Z25, has been an active DN sailor for many years, competing in North America multiple times. Meanwhile, in the Youth America’s Cup, Fontana, WI sailors Harry Melges IV, Kyle Navin, and Finn Rowe—who all have DN seat time and sail Nites—also represent the USA. Ice sailing has helped shape these sailors into the top competitors they are today.
Junior Sailing: Building the Future of Ice Sailing
Our North American Junior Sailing Director, Sam Bartel US1011, has been busy fostering the next generation of DN sailors this summer in Minnesota. Sam shared some great photos of junior sailors hard at work making their runner planks and learning valuable skills that will serve them well in the future.
Stan walking out to start a World Championship Gold Fleet race.
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Polish ice sailing legend Stan Macur. Stan played a crucial role in the international ice sailing community, shaping the sport for future generations of sailors.
For 20 years, Stan served as the IDNIYRA European Junior Sailing Director. His contributions to the sport went beyond his administrative roles. As a competitor, Stan was formidable, placing third in the World Championships three times, securing second place in the North Americans, and winning the European Championship in 1993.
Stan’s tools of the trade, his loud hailer and horn.
His generosity also marks Stan’s legacy. Pete Johns shared his story about meeting Stan for the first time at a regatta on Hamilton Bay in Canada, before the Iron Curtain fell. Stan, touring with Russian minders, struck up a friendship with Pete and promised to build a boat for him so that Pete could compete in Europe at the next World Championship. Pete never heard from Stan during the year and didn’t know he’d have a DN waiting for him at the Worlds. Despite the communication challenges of the time, Stan kept his word. When Pete arrived in Europe, he found that Stan had built and set up a boat for him, helping him place well in the regatta. This gesture marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two sailors.
Stan served as the Principal Race Officer (PRO) for many DN World Championships in Europe, where his signature battered horn would signal the start of each race.
The ice sailing community has lost a giant in Stan Macur. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of ice sailors. The IDNIYRA extends our sympathies to Stan’s family and the Polish DN Association. The worldwide ice-sailing community will miss him.
Stan’s Obituary:
To our deepest sadness, Stan Macur P-111, a Polish iceboater and a multimedalist of ice-sailing regatta on both national and international level, passed away on July 19th 2024. Stan started his sailing adventure in his teenage years. When he discovered ice-sailing, it became his life passion. Already as a junior, he won senior Polish DN Championships in 1972. Then he achieved many more successes in ice-sailing, among which there were three bronze medals in DN World Championships and a golden medal in DN European Championships in 1993. For most of his sailing career he represented the AZS Olsztyn sailing club.
After finishing his career as a competitor, he devoted himself to work for the ice-sailing community, which included being a board member of IDNYIRA-Europe and leading the Professional Race Committee that conducts the main ice-sailing events: DN World and European Championships. Stan also tried to spread his passion for ice-sailing to young people. For many years he was the IDNYIRA-Europe Junior Programme Manager and also worked as a trainer.
His professional life was also connected to sailing, as he constructed boats and other sailing equipment. Even though ice-sailing was his life passion, he was first of all devoted to his family and friends. He valued time spent together and his closest ones -wife Joanna and daughters Kasia, Julia and Sylwia; could always count on him.
Stan, thank you for all your contributions. We will miss you a lot.
The funeral will be held on July 27th 2024 in Olsztyn, starting at 12 pm in St. Francis Church (Olsztyn/Kortowo), and then at the Communal Cementery Poprzeczna in Olsztyn.
“After-school iceboat racing practice?” Common in Poland, now in Minnesota thanks to IDNIYRA Junior Sailing Director Sam Bartel.
Wow, the last 3 days have been incredible! I’ve had the pleasure of coaching 18 high school and middle school sailors from the Lake Minnetonka Sailing School race teams as they discover the thrill of ice sailing. Some of these kids tried iceboating with me earlier this year, and others just had their first rides recently. Seeing all these new ice sailors leaving with ear-to-ear smiles is priceless.
In addition to giving some kids their first rides, I’ve been coaching the more experienced ones on racing skills. Yesterday marked our first after-school iceboat racing practice, complete with 4 scrub races and 5 DNs on the line. It’s amazing to see the enthusiasm – some of these kids are really getting into it, asking tons of questions, sailing until after sunset, and coming back for more every day. A couple of them are even asking when the next junior regatta is scheduled… we need to bring these events back ASAP!
Our local high school teams are gearing up for a training trip to Florida next weekend. Between now and then, we’re planning to hit the ice every day, running more scrub races and helping more kids get into the sport. I feel very fortunate to have such great conditions at our home venue on Lake Minnetonka!
Cheers,
Samuel Bartel
IDNIYRA Junior Director US1011
The Online Magazine of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association
December 2023
It’s time to reveal the December edition of Runner Tracks and revisit the Western Challenge to discover why this event is one of the best in the world of ice sailing. There’s also a nice surprise photospread at the end from Michigan DNer and photographer Chris Clark US4789.
Whether you are an experienced ice boater or a newcomer, Runner Tracks is the ultimate resource for everything related to ice boating. Check out the complete online library here.
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Skeeter Sailor and Past Champions Iceboat Shop Trailer-Repair-Specialist, Ken Whitehorse
Junior Program Trailer Locked and Loaded
Submitted by Daniel Hearn
It’s an exciting day for ice sailing in the US of A! Thanks to 4LIYC’s Ken Whitehorse, with an assist from Paul Krueger, the chariot that will carry the next generation of American ice sailors into the future is ready to roll.
Can’t think of a better trailer for the job, as this one was formerly owned by the legendary, Jane Pegel, who always carried the torch for everything youth sailing. Now, the original aluminum frame, with high capacity rack system and dock box, is equipped with a new axle, bearings and leaf springs; new LED lights, a shiny new safety, new radial tires on new rims, and a new spare bias ply tire on a new rim.
Our new enthusiastic and visionary Junior Program leader, Sam Bartel, is now well equipped. He has gathered up an arsenal of DNs and Ice Optis which will ride on this trailer. And he’s got a back of newbie ice sailing kids lined up to give it a go at the Great Western Challenge. Pinch me, I must be dreaming!
Many thanks to Donny Anderson for the trailer donation for this cause. And to Dave Elsmo for the dock box donation. Think Ice! And let’s all help Sam refill the pipeline!
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.
