KYC News

DN Canadian Championships

The DN Canadian Ice Boating Championships were held at Kingston Yacht Club in Kingston ON this past weekend. A total of 7 races were held in decent winter conditions.

Saturday proved to be the preferable racing day as the temperature had dropped to -5 C overnight solidifying all the remaining puddles on the ice left over from a rain on Wednesday. It proved to be superb ice conditions and the wind was ideal with 8-10kts of breeze.

The wind on Saturday was 8-10 kts but the ice was a little soft so it was time to power up. The best combination for the day seems to be an FO1 (fuller sail) with inserts on the side and a Persian slipper in the front. The two US boats, fresh back from the DN Worlds in Estonia, seemed to have arrived with their top end gear looking very polished in the transitions at the start and when the wind died.

Sunday’s racing was more challenging. Although the ice had hardened up very well, the north east wind was quite light and shifty. It eventually shifted to the North West and then later to the South West after racing finished for the day.

Sunday saw the two US boats extend their lead but Canadian, Peter VanRossem, also placed 2nd in race 6, beating Oliver Moore by almost a full lap. Peter demonstrated his strategic prowess in Kingston Harbour by always choosing the right giving the US boats a run for their money in every race. With his new boat almost complete, he will be a force to be reckoned with next year!

Final top 3 results:

1st James Thieler (US)
2nd Oliver Moore (US)
3rd Peter Van Rossem (1st Canadian)

Complete results not yet available.

Photos
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A big thank you was extended to all the volunteers who helped run the regatta and especially the Queen's University Sailing Team who provided 6 people to help run the event.

With the World Championships set for the Central Region of North America next January, there is a good chance Kingston will host the event if they have the best ice in the region. There is no question Kingston Yacht Club has the capacity to hold such an event. Kingston sailor and Olympian, John Curtis remarked "I'm not sure if I like the summer sailing in Kingston or winter sailing better."

(Pictured above is part of the fleet assembling near the start area in preparation for the race. Starts are done from a standing position. At the drop of a flag the races run to get the apparent wind up, hop into their boats and sheet in. Half the fleet starts on starboard and the other half on port. One's start position is determined by a draw for the first race and then by finish position in the previous race.)