Dedicated to the Sport of Sailing, Class Sailboat Racing, and Water Safety
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
ASC Winter Sailing
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.
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