Final Confirmation
Western Challenge – A non-sanctioned fun-regatta, no scoring. Date: December 1 – 3, 2023 Primary Site: Lake Christina, Ashby MN
Via Mike Miller on Minnesota Iceboaters Facebook Page:
Christina comes thru again! Quality ice big enough for a proper course. The Great Western Challenge will be sailed here December 1-3. Our buddy land-owner has again offered his property for the launch site. Please do not park in the coned off space. 2 walkways to carry on the lake are there.
LODGING
3 selected lodging options all with an iceboaters deal.
1. Battle Lake Inn $119 double Queen room or Single Queen. If you book online as they prefer, discount will be applied at check in. 20 miles from launch site. 218-862-2500.
2. Bonnie Beach Resort 3 BR newer cabins on Clitheral Lake, near Battle Lake. Full kitchen 2 Bath cabins. 18 miles from launch site. $207 1-4 persons $270 5-6 persons . Must bring own bath and kitchen towels. 218-864-5534
3. Ashby Resort & Motel $120 2 beds and kitchenette. $100 1 Bed plus sofa sleeper. 5 miles from launch on Pelican Lake. 218-747-2959.
Numerous other lodging options in Alexandria or Fergus Falls
The Western Challenge was “great” as always. 70 boats attended the unofficial opening of the 2020-21 iceboat season on Lake Christina just past Mile Marker 8 in Ashby MN. Sailors from near and far dusted of the cobwebs and enjoyed a weekend of comradery and one solid day of racing.
The sailors split into two fleets and over 10 races were run. In keeping with recent tradition, sailors were free to select any starting position for the two lap races. Finishing positions were not recorded but everyone looked fast. It was fun to see many new sailors and an ever-growing fleet of women sailors.
Special thanks to the Minnesota boys for organizing this yearly event. John Dennis, Mike Bloom, Tom Meyer and Mike Miller lead the charge. But the biggest thanks go to Pat Heppert for running the races and providing the 2 x12’s so we could access the ice without getting wet.
DN class members have been doing a lot of ice thinking this summer. Brian and brother Bruce Jones are making dust, mixing glue, and giving their clamps a work-out while building 2 DN hulls in steamy Florida. The IDNIYRA Facebook community has been following along, asking questions, and giving suggestions.
DNer Mike Miller has been dreaming of Minnesota’s Lake Christina, site of many Western Challenges, the first unofficial DN gathering of the season. Mike posted a short video from Lake Christina on the IDNIYRA Facebook page, reminding us what’s “coming soon.” I can’t embed it, so here’s one from Jim McDonagh US5213.
This website has a new page, the Runner Tracks Library, where you can see all the covers of our class newsletter since it went electronic in 2013. Runner Tracks Library
Minnesota DN ice sailing is in the good news of the week.
“The speed and acceleration is what keeps me coming back,” says Mike Miller of Mound. Miller has spent the past 20 winters racing iceboats. “It’s a great way to keep the sailing season going. We always get bummed in the fall when we’re packing up our “soft-water” boats, but as soon as that season ends, another begins.” Continue reading.
It’s a big end of season issue with filled with regatta reports and results and features some world class photography from Gretchen Dorian and Evgeny Ryazhev. The DN class is fortunate to be able to use their work to help promote the sport. Of special note is Gretchen’s cover photo of Anja Fiedler G390 of Germany, the first to be awarded the new IDNIYRA World Championship Trophy for the highest placing woman. Read it here on the Runner Tracks newsletter page.
You can also read Vice Commodore Warren Nethercote’s article about his recent visit to Warsaw for the European Secretaries meeting and Secretary Geoff Sobering’s submission of the minutes from the 2017 North American annual meeting.
Did you know that Runner Tracks is available in three different electronic formats and you can also order it in a print version? Flipbook magazine: Best for laptops and desktop computers PDF: Best for tablets PDF Single Page: Best for mobile devices
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.
