Jan. 4, I wrote Mr. Roger Jolly, who compiles the "Most Popular" sailing class list. He must be revising away, or ignoring me. I haven't heard from him.
Dear Mr. Jolly,
May I bring to your attention participation numbers for the International DN Ice Yacht at its North American Championship in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Also, the DN World Championships were held on Madison, Wisconsin's Lake Mendota in 2005, and offshore Menominee, Mich. on Lake Michigan's Green Bay in 2007.
Sometimes sailors register for an event, then don't show up.
Here are the numbers for participants who sailed one or more races in these five world class events:
(These figures are available at
www.IDNIYRA.org, regatta results)
2005 WC 103
2005 NAC 75
2006 NAC 80
2007 WC 123
2007 NAC 104
Total 485
Average per regatta: 97
With all due respect to the MC Scow, a yacht I raced for 10 years, there may be a case to declare it the second most popular racing class.
Summer sailors might argue,"a DN's not a sailboat!"
It most certainly is. It is powered only by a sail.
"But it sails on ice."
Yes, but water and ice are merely different forms of H2O.
"But the total number of DN regatta participants race in two or three fleets!"
Yes, they do; for safety reasons; fleet size is limited to 50. Sailors are seeded by previous race results.
These yachts typically race at speeds from 45 to 55 mph!
"But a DN isn't a one-design!" Yes, but it has a super tight set of specifications, and all participating yachts must comply with the rules.
(It also may be argued that E-Scows, and a number of other boats on the list, are not "truly" one-design).
Now that's anarchy.
Please consider revising your list.
Randy Rogoski,
DN US 4192.
Participant in all five regattas cited above.
Central Lakes Region rear commodore 1997-2001.
Regatta Chairman, 2001 DN world and North American Championships, (participants: 114 WC, 87 NAC, average: 100).