2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
Northwest C Stern Steerer Trophy Request
ACE OF SPADES, Mike Peter’s C Class Stern Steerer at the 2019 Northwest on Lake Pepin. Photo: Pat Heppert
Mike Peters (with crew Terry Reynolds) won the C Stern Steerer division at last weekend’s Northwest regatta. Mike is asking if those who attended could check to see if they mistakenly took the C Stern Steerer keeper trophy last Sunday. He saw it on the trailer before the awards ceremony but then it was gone. Please get in touch with Mike or myself.
UPDATE: 2 4LIYC Racing Rules Proposals
Daniel Hearn and Pete Orlebeke line up to race their DNs on Lake Pepin at the 2019 Northwest. Photo: Pat Hepper
Angelo’s Italian Restaurant is open tonight so come on out to help us celebrate our 4LIYC sailors who brought home some “pots and pans” at the Northwest. Of special note are Tim McCormick who placed first in Renegades and Daniel Hearn who placed first in DNs and second in Renegades. See you all at 6:30!
Tonight is the deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission. Submissions will be voted upon at the February 20 Annual Business Meeting.
UPDATE 1-24-2019: 2 proposals were submitted at the meeting of January 23, 2019
PROPOSAL #1
Racing Rules
Part III Race Management
C. Special Races
Add :
3. A Weekday Series may be sailed and scored for the DN, Renegade, Nite, and Skeeter fleets for races sailed on Lake Kegonsa, Lake Wingra, Lake Monona, or Lake Mendota for races taking place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Weekday Series scores will not be included with weekend or holiday series scores.
Submitted by Deb Whitehorse
PROPOSAL #2
Racing Rules
Part III. Race Management
B Racing
Currently reads:
3. The club will sail a maximum of 8 races per fleet, per weekend, with 4 races per fleet on both Saturday and Sunday. Start time is 10:00 AM. Minimum of 3 boats per race. A lunch break should take place after the 2nd set of races on each day, but is at the discretion of the Race Committee. If a break is taken, the starting time for the next race shall be set and announced by the Race Committee prior to the break. (2/20/2002)
Change to:
3. The club will sail a maximum of 8 races per fleet, per weekend, with 4 races per fleet on both Saturday and Sunday. Start time is 10:00 AM. Minimum of 2 boats per race. A lunch break should take place after the 2nd set of races on each day, but is at the discretion of the Race Committee. If a break is taken, the starting time for the next race shall be set and announced by the Race Committee prior to the break.
Submitted by Ken Whitehorse
Northwest Photos from Gretchen Dorian
Iceboat photographer specialist Gretchen Dorian made the 9 hour drive from northern Michigan to photograph the Northwest, one of her favorite regattas. She set up camp at the weather mark in brutally cold conditions on Saturday and somehow managed to keep the batteries and cameras working. Her first set of photos have been posted on her website. Take a look and stay tuned for more.
Northwest Notes
Jim Gluek among the ATV tracks with his Skeeter, MERLIN. Photo by Jonathon Ringdahl. See the rest of his photos here.
NIYA Secretary/Treasurer receives key to Lake City from Mayor Mark Nichols
There are a thousand little stories that happen at a Northwest regatta. Watching the magnificent stern-steerers take to the stage brings us back to the roots of this sport. Here are a few random stories from the regatta. And hey, you should plan on going next year!
I’ll post more photos and commentary tomorrow.
Regatta like the Northwest do not happen without the time and work from volunteers like the following:
NIYA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk
NIYA Regatta Chair Tim McCormick
NIYA Race Committee members Jay Yaeso, Andy Gratton, George Gerhardt, Chip Sawyer, and John Davenport.
PRO Joe Norton
Assistant to the PRO Scott Goetz (who also brought the 4LIYC ATV)
Tabulating from the Fontana Home Office: Mary Jane Schalk
Lake City Mayor Mark Nichols
The Residents of Lake City
PRO Joe Norton receives key to city from Mayor Mark Nichols
The support that iceboaters receive from the entire town of Lake City is phenomenal. Mayor Mark Nichols has made sure that a porta-potty has been at the landing for the last 3 weekends. He attended our banquet. Saturday night and gave out 3 keys to Lake City (Steve Schalk, Joe Norton, and myself) that recognized our efforts as regatta volunteers. Not only that, but he sailed out to the course on Saturday in his DN and raced! Think about that, how many mayors do you know of that sail iceboats?
3 times 3
There are 4 of us who have attended all 3 regattas in Lake City this January (the DN Western Regions, the ISA, and the NIYA) : John Dennis, Jim McDonagh, Steve Orlebeke, and myself. JD & Jim McDonagh have spent more than half of January on Lake Pepin checking ice and sailing.
ACE OF SPADES & LITTLE WIND line up to race. Photo: Pat Heppert
The Davis stern-steerer family never miss a Northwest regatta. John was thrilled to only have a 3 hour drive this year, the closest the regatta has ever been held to his home in Clear Lake, Iowa.
Daniel Hearn gets ready to race Fred Stritt’s D Stern Steerer Photo: Pat Heppert
Daniel Hearn not only raced and did pretty well in the DN (1st) and Renegade (2nd) classes, he took up Fred Stritt’s offer to race Fred’s D Stern Steerer. Daniel was also seen test driving Pat Heppert’s fast C Skeeter earlier in the day.
Mike Kroll and Gretchen Wilbrandt.
Stern Steerer fanatic Mike Kroll gave soft water Minnesota sailor Gretchen Wilibrandt a ride in his D Stern Steerer. He handed the tiller over to Gretchen and she drove it like she owned it. Could there be a new stern-steerer sailor at the next WSSA?
Northwest Trophy Giving
Sunday morning’s bitter temperatures and no wind at the Northwest meant the regatta was called complete. Prize giving was set up in the parking lot. My phone’s camera did not appreciate the cold weather as you can see by the quality of the pictures. Congratulations to all who participated and to those who took home some hardware. Thanks to all who made the effort to come to this historic regatta which hadn’t been sailed in 3 years. Well done!
A Stern Steerer 1st & Stern Steerer Overall: Erik Sawyer & crew Rick Hennig
C Stern Steerer 1st: Mike Peters & crew Terry Reynolds
D Stern Steerer: 1st Joe Terry, 2nd John Davis
E Skeeter: 1st John Dennis, 2nd Jay Yaeso
Skeeter Triple Crown for winning both Northwest and ISA: John Dennis
Renegade: 2nd Daniel Hearn, 1st Tim McCormick
DN: 2nd Peter Orlebeke, 1st Daniel Hearn, 1st Junior Soren Hughes
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
Stern-Steerers racing at the 2019 Northwest Regatta on Lake Pepin at Lake City, Minnesota. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 2 and 3, 2019. The next update will be Sunday, January 27. Check back here at that time.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA Day 2 PM Update
Provisional Results Back in from an an extremely cold day with light to moderate breeze, enough too power through the snow. It started out light and built throughout the day. All fleets now have 3 races completed.The Northwest had a first today, the mayor of a town where we are sailing joining in to race. Lake City mayor Mark Nichols races soft water boats and raced his first iceboat race today. Off to the banquet.
NIYA: Day 1 PM Update
We were able to get 4 races in before the snow came. The DNs, Renegades, the A Skeeters, and the Stern Steerers sailed in light to moderate shifty conditions on 1/4″ snow covered ice. Visibility soon diminished as the flurries arrived and persisted causing racing to be postponed until tomorrow.
We are hoping the flurries end without ending the regatta. Stand by for tomorrow’s update.
Provisional Results
Bring It On
The Skeeters are back on Lake Pepin this weekend to bring it on for the Northwest, including this boat, Jim Gluek’s A Skeeter Merlin. A Jim McDonagh video production.
Northwest ON for Jan 18-20 @ Lake Pepin MN
Provisional Results
During the regatta, Mary Jane Schalk will be continually uploading Northwest fleet results like she did for the ISA. Check the link often because she tabulates after every race. In the meantime, check out the list of competitors at the Results link.
Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions
Notice – Finishing Method Update for the NIYA Regatta
Please note that the finishing procedure for the One Design classes (DN and Renegade) and the Skeeter Classes must conform to their respective rules per the NIYA By-Laws. Since all of those Classes currently specify use of the Bart rule, that method will be used for 2019 and future NIYA Regattas. The Bart rule method of finish will not be used for the A, B, C, and D class Stern Steerers sailing in their combined race.
LAUNCH
Roschen Park.
SAILING AREA – WHAT TO KNOW
There’s a fairly obvious pressure ridge about 1/3 of a mile south of the launch. Do not sail to the Willows because of open water. There’s about a 2 mile x 2 mile sailing area. Don’t go wandering off!
MAP
LODGING:
THE WILLOWS:
Willows on the River Condominium Resort
100 Central Point Road
Lake City, MN 55041
1-651-345-9900
Website
Map
When making reservations you must tell them you are with the ISA regatta.
IMPORTANT: Must call the hotel directly at 651-345-9900 to get discount. No Expedia.
- Single condo rooms sleep 1 – 4.
Thursday is $125.00, Friday and Saturday are $87.50. - Double rooms sleep 6 -8.
Thursday is $205.00 with Friday and Sat. $127.50.
- Single condo rooms sleep 1 – 4.
AMERICINN
Website
1615 N Lakeshore Drive Lake City, Minnesota
651.345.5611.
2 Queen room (no view) 89.90 + tx.
Single queen with a view $89.90 = tx.
2 queen handicap $89.90 + tx.
2 single King $99.90+ tx.
Suite with 1 king and 1 queen separate rooms $109.90 + tx.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, January 18:
8:30 – 9:30 AM Registration at the launch
10 AM First race
Order of Rotation:
See Sailing Instructions for more detail.
- DN
- Renegade
- E Skeeter
- A, B, C, D Stern Steerers
- ISA B & C Skeeters
6 PM Annual NIYA Meeting at the AmericInn
NIYA AGENDA
Saturday, January 19
9:30 AM First race
Banquet at the Lake House Restaurant at the Willows.
6:30 PM cocktails
7:00 PM dinner and order off the menu.
Sunday, January 20
9:30 AM First Race
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 26 and 27. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta has been called on for January 18 to 20, that regatta takes precedence. Further WSSA updates will be posted January 20.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary
Lake Monona Ice Check Jan 16, 2019
Daniel Hearn is keeping a close eye on Lake Monona. It’s 2″ today, but the ice maker cometh! Look at these weekend temperatures.
The 1901 Minnesota Ice War
50 racing Stern-Steers and an ice harvesting business around Lake Calhoun were not a good mix back in 1901. Read the whole story, “Competition on the ice” from the Southwest Journal.
The people took matters into their own hands. They poured kerosene oil on the ice. The Cedar Lake Ice Company retaliated by laughing that those responsible would simply have to pay more for their unspoiled ice in the summer. And when that didn’t stop them, the ice company started spreading ashes on the ice tracks used by the ice boaters.
2019 Renegade Championship: The Prizes
2019 Renegade Championship Regatta
January 11-13, 2019
Lake Pepin, Lake City, MN
Photos: Greg McCormick
2019 Renegade Championship Results
2019 ISA: The Prizes
2019 International Skeeter Association Regatta
January 11-13, 2019
Lake Pepin, Lake City, MN
Photos: Julie Jankowski
2019 ISA Results
2019 ISA & Renegade Championship: Now, the Thanks
Photo: Steve Brown
It took a cooperative effort to make the ISA a success. Thanks go to the following:
John Dennis & Jim McDonaugh: Ice checking, course setting, race starting
Steve Schalk: ISA Secretary/Treasurer, course setting, flagging, and anything else that needed doing.
Jason Thompson & the rest of the SIBC sailors who helped in any way asked.
Mary Jane Schalk: Off site tabulation. She published race results at a blazing speed, even before the sailors had a chance to walk over to look at the line up sheets to see how they finished! She also contacted the hotels and arranged the banquet.
Julie Jankowski: Facebook video and photo updates which were much appreciated around the world.
Steve Brown: Lake City resident and licensed drone pilot who shared his videos and pictures with all of us.
Don Sanford: Flagging, race starting
Wayne Schmeidlin (Wayne’s Automotive on Cottage Grove Road, Madison) and his son, Adam, who not only tuned up our ATV but made sure my car was in good shape to haul it. We would not have had as many races without an ATV in good working condition.
The people of Lake City, Minnesota who welcomed ice boaters for the second weekend in a row. It’s heartening to see them come to the landing to see what we are up to, ask questions, and take pictures.
All four fleets for always being lined up and ready to race as soon as the last boat crossed the finish line.
2019 ISA & Renegade Championship: First, the Congratulations
Lake Pepin’s titanium-hard ice provided one of the best ISA and Renegade Championships seen in years. The Renegades and A Skeeters had 7 races each which the B and C Skeeters and the Nites had 6, that’s a 26 race regatta, folks! Stay tuned for more photos and some well deserved thank yous.
Final Results
Congratulations to all who participated and to the fleet champions:
A Skeeter: John Dennis, Windjammers Ice Yacht Club
B Skeeter: Jason Thompson, Skeeter Iceboat Club
C Skeeter: Pat Heppert, Skeeter Iceboat Club
Renegade: George Gerhardt, Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club, Oshkosh Ice Yacht Club
Nite: Maureen Krueger Bohleber, Green Lake Ice Yacht Club & Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club
A special congratulations to Nite Class champion Maureen Krueger Bohleber who made history as the first woman to ever win an ISA fleet championship.
Nite Class winners (with Nite Commodore Don Sanford far left) from left: 2nd Mike Peters, 1st Maureen Krueger Bohleber, 3rd Drew Vandervelde, 4th Peter Vandervelde Photo: Julie Jankowski
WSSA Regatta Tentatively Called On for Jan 19-20
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association annual regatta is tentatively called on for January 19 and 20 at Lake Petenwell between Necedah and Wisconsin Rapids. Final confirmation will be on Thursday, January 17. Note that the Northwest Regatta takes precedence. There is 14″ of ice at the launch site with 12″ to 13″ in the area we plan to sail.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary
Regatta Watch: The Northwest Regatta Called On for Jan 18-20
Class A Skeeters rounding the leeward mark on Lake Pepin. Photo: Pat Heppert
Via Northwest Ice Yachting Association Race Committee:
The 2019 Northwest Yachting Association Regatta is tentatively called on for January 18-20. Lake Pepin at Lake City, MN is the primary site with Lake Petenwell near Necedah, Wisconsin as secondary site. This historic regatta, first sailed in 1913, is a three day event that includes the Stern Steerers, A, B, and C Skeeters, Renegades, and DNs. Final confirmation will be posted on Wednesday, January 16 by noon CT. Reminder: The Northwest is now a nine-race regatta.
ISA/Renegade Championship: Day 2 PM Update
Different conditions today compared to yesterday. It was cloudy with the shifty flukies in the morning and dead to juicy in the afternoon.Spectators were treated to hot battles in all fleets. Off to the banquet. Results here.
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