1973: The First DN World Championship

by | Sep 2, 2022 | 2023 Worlds & North Americans, Home Page

1973: Ain Vilde, Estonia

49 years later, 2022: Robert Graczyk, Poland

In 1937, the Detroit News newspaper asked for volunteers to attend a workshop to create an easy-to-build, easily transported, and inexpensive iceboat, which came to be known as the DN. The DN’s popularity grew, and sailors organized a class and sanctioned the first North American championship in 1953, won by Jack Moran of Michigan.

The comparatively small boat found its way to Europe. The “Johnny Appleseed” of European DN sailing, Holland’s Wim Van Aker, traveled the continent, giving DNs to aspiring ice sailors with the instruction, “do something with these.” And did they ever.

North American and European class officers, including Wim Van Aker, Bill Connell, and Art Teutsch, organized the first world DN championship for the 1973 season. They set it up so that the World Championship alternates between Europe and North America. Michigan’s Lake St. Clair was the primary site, but, as can happen in this sport, the lack of ice conditions on Lake St. Clair forced a move.

DN sailors from America, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and Holland made their way to Gull Lake, Michigan. After dealing with less-than-ideal sticky snow conditions and several days without wind, the race committee and 41 competitors hung tough and finally completed the regatta. There are familiar names on the 1973 results list, with a few still racing. Estonian Ain Vilde won the first Worlds in a tight battle by two points over Gull Lake local Randy Johnson.

2023 also marks the 70th anniversary of the North American championship. Tim Woodhouse of Michigan won the 1973 North American Championship, held a few weeks earlier than the World championship.

The IDNIYRA will celebrate these anniversaries at the DN World and North American championships regattas in 2023. Western Region Commodore Chris Berger and the committee are in the planning stages to bring you a great regatta and commemorate 50 years of international competition. It’s time to start thinking ice!

Read more:
The DN Iceboat
A Brief History of the DN
The Blue Streak 60
North American Championship Records
World Championship History Records

Randy Johnson US4000

by | Oct 14, 2019 | 2019, Home Page

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