ASC Winter Sailing

CR-914 Fleet on the starboard lay line.

Who said sailing was for summers only in Alaska? This is the dawn of a new era - winter sailing outdoors and indoors!

Skimmer 45

With two classes of ice boats, the Skimmer 45 and the DN, and the RC CR-914 sailboats there's something for everyone. Even if you are just curious, it should make for some interesting spectating (see iceboat video clips below). The DN has a very active international class association.

DN (Detroit News) iceboat

The DN is the largest iceboat class in the world, so named because it was the winner of an iceboat design contest sponsored by the Detroit News in 1937. That year the newspaper opened up it's shop to 50 builders who assembled the first fleet of "Blue Streak 60" iceboats (as it was originally named).

The DN (Detroit News) iceboat

Sail area: 60 sq. feet
Length: 12 feet
Hull width: 21 inches
Mast length: 16 feet
Runner plank length: 8 feet
Number of runners: 3 (1 front steering runner, 2 side runners)
Hull material: wood
Typical weight: 100-150 lbs.
Maximum speed: 60 MPH
Typical performance: 2-4 times wind speed

DN Worlds - Check out this clip. And I thought cats were fast! Complete with Le Mans style starts, a crash, some blood and lots of speed! They even 'fly a hull', although iceboaters call it "a hike".


DN North Amercians


And some classic Hudson River iceboating with Stern Steering

Jacobs Iceboats