2016 Canadian Championships

[wnethercote]

Last year we risked a late date for the Canadian Championships and it didn't happen.  We would like to try an early date this year (with a later fall-back), but don't want to conflict with US events because, geography being what it is, we are more likely to get attendees from nearby US Regions than Canadians from the extremes of our region (it is a 2800km drive from Halifax to Thunder Bay).  Early January is pretty well committed for other events.

Is their appetite for an event during the holiday period, or will the family say no?  December 28 and 29 have been suggested with the venue in the Montreal to Kingston (plus or minus) corridor.  Big ice is unlikely that early, but there are lakes that could support a 20 to 30 boat regatta.

Please reply with interest.  In the second week of November we will issue an NOR, with dates based upon responses.

Warren Nethercote
Canadian Rear Commodore

[keukaflyer]

I'm in.

[john curtis]

Talking with people here in Kingston the dates you propose ( Jan 28-29) might be a little early for people travelling to see family.

Was the idea to avoid scheduling over top of the Western Regionals on Jan 2-3?

We will probably get more people around here that weekend or if necessary the 29-30 as people come back home from trips to see family.

Its a tough call.  Part of me thinks we should schedule over top of the Western Regionals and lose the 3-4 boats who are going there instead.  The weather may decide for us.

We can discuss at the DN get together at Sean Marshall's house next Saturday.



John

[wnethercote]

NOTICE OF RACE
Canadian DN Championship Regatta
Jan 16-17, 2016
Canadian Region IDNIYRA

Organizing Authority
 International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association
Canadian Region

1. Rules:

All races will be governed by the Racing Rules of the National Iceboat Authority; the By-Laws of the IDNIYRA, and Official Specifications of the DN Ice Yacht; the Notice of Race, including any amendments to the Notice of Race, (except as any of these are altered by the sailing instructions) and the Sailing Instructions. The Sailing Instructions can be modified at the Skippers Meeting and by a notice posted on the official notice board.

Nine race regatta format – 3 race minimum will constitute the regatta. One fleet is anticipated, but if a gold/silver split is required it will first be based on IDNIYRA rankings, with assignment by race committee thereafter. Discard race after 6 races sailed.

2. Eligibility:

All DN class yachts meeting the requirements of the Official Specifications and whose skippers meet the requirements of the By-Laws of the IDNIYRA as stated in the section IDNIYRA Regattas are eligible to enter and race in the championship.

3. Site Information and Postings:

A. The primary site is within the North American Canadian Region, with preference to a site on the Trenton – Kingston – Montreal axis
 B. Site and Headquarters Information will be determined by the regatta organizer.
 C. Official regatta information, updates and accommodations:  see http://dnamerica.org/forum/index.php?board=11.0
4. Entry and Fee:
  Register in the pits Saturday morning
  $20 registration fee (Canadian or US funds accepted at par)

5. Schedule of Events:
•Sat 9:15-10am on ice registration
•Sat 10am Skippers Meeting
•Sat 11am First start
•Sunday 10:00am First start. No race will start after 3PM

6. Sailing instructions

Official Sailing Instructions will be provided at registration.

7. Prizes

There is a perpetual trophy for 1st place.

8. Proof of Insurance

Proof of personal or race liability insurance ($300,000 minimum)

  Warren Nethercote
  Canadian Region Rear Commodore

[wnethercote]

Update, PM Monday 11 January:  Forecasts for the week are not promising.  Kingston and Montreal forecasts promise snow, and high winds yesterday broke up the Bay of Quinte ice sheet.  The Halifax forecast suggests snow in the east as well.  The Thunder Bay Forecast is free of significant snowfall in the coming week, although that venue is rather remote from most of the sailors.

More information as the week progresses, but it is difficult to be optimistic!

Warren Nethercote, DN 3786
Canadian Rear Commodore

[wnethercote]

Draft Sailing Instructions
Canadian DN Championship Regatta
Canadian Region IDNIYRA

1.   The Race Course will be three laps of the National Iceboat Authority INLINE Course.  Marks will be orange tetrahedrons; the Darling marks will be smaller than the Windward and Leeward marks.

2.   The first race of the day will start at 11:00AM on Saturday, and at 10:00AM on Sunday.  Subsequent races each day will start as soon as possible after starting positions are available, but a yacht shall not be required to start sooner than 15 minutes after finishing.  No race will be started after 3:00PM on Sunday.

3.   A rope or wire starting line may be used: DO NOT SAIL OVER THE LINE!  Each yacht’s leeward runner shall be positioned at her starting number.

4.   The starting signal shall be the rapid lowering of the starter’s arms (or flag) after he/she raises his arms (or flag) to signify the preparatory signal.  If the start is to be delayed after the preparatory signal, the starter will slowly lower his arms (or flag).

4.   The finish of the first boat will be indicated by the display of a flag at the leeward end of the finish line.  When a flag is so displayed the Bart rule is in effect.  The flag will be displayed until all yachts have finished or the time limit has expired, whichever is sooner.

5.   The time limit for the first finisher in a race is 6 ½ minutes per mile of rhumb line course length (e.g., for a 1 mile course, 3 laps x 2 legs per lap x 6 ½ minutes = 39 minutes).   Any yacht not finishing within 20 minutes of the first yacht shall be scored DNF.

6.   There will be a maximum of nine races, with three races required to constitute a series.  There will be one discard if six or more races are completed.

7.   Intention to protest must be reported to the race committee immediately after the race in question.  A written protest must be filed with the race committee or the Canadian Rear Commodore at the launch site within two hours of the finish of the last race of the day.

Warren Nethercote
Canadian Rear Commodore

[wnethercote]

Update: Kingston (primary/only? site) got 3 to 4 inches of blowing snow last night.  An ice check of Colonel By Lake will be done approx 1330 EST today with a goal of making a go/no go decision this evening.

Warren Nethercote
Canadian Rear Commodore

[wnethercote]

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS POSTPONED

Colonel By lake received 3 to 5 inches of wind-blown snow last night and there is a wet area in the centre of the plate (the racing area).  Probability of successfully racing on this plate this weekend is poor, so we are postponing to a future date.  There is about 5 inches of ice, so future prospects for the lake are good.

Both Trenton and Montreal lost their ice sheets over the last few days, so we need to wait for the next freeze for bigger ice.

Warren

[wnethercote]

Warning:  we may hold the Canadian Championships this weekend, 5/6 March, on Lake Mactaquac, New Brunswick.  There has already been an email distribution via Nova Ice Yacht Club, New England Ice Yachting Association, and Kingston and Montreal email Groups.  Apologies for late announcement here as I was on the road.

Last Weekend there was sailing on good ice at Mactaquac in New Brunswick.  The site is accessible from Nova Scotia, PEI, Ontario/Quebec via the Trans Canada and New England via I95.  It has been proposed that we hold the Canadians there this coming weekend, subject to a favourable ice report after today's storm.  I drove the Trans Canada in the area of the site this morning and there was no, or at worst negligible snow, changing to freezing rain then rain.  Looks promising.

Final announcement will be made tomorrow, Thursday.

Point to note: the Eastern Rear Commodore has suggested the possibility of holding BOTH the Canadians and the Easterns as one-day events this weekend, if the ice cooperates on Moosehead.

Warren Nethercote
Canadian Rear Commodore

[wnethercote]

The 2016 Canadian Championships are Postponed.

The New England Ice Yachting Association is planning to hold the New England Championships this weekend and Kingston Harbour is being sailed as we speak, so the prospect of any 'from away' participants is weak - hardly the stuff of a national championship.  There will likely be sailing and scrub racing at Mactaquac this weekend for those nearby.

Warren Nethercote
Canadian Rear Commodore

[Oliver Moore]

No Eastern Champs this weekend either.  The weather did not cooperate.  We are still holding out hope of hosting the New England Champs somewhere further south.  For information please see the New England Ice Yacht Assn. website: theneiya.org

Oliver Moore

[us2360]

Just don't go west Pete Johns