Disclaimer

[Ken Smith]

We've had some discussions about proper language.

What do you think?

Safety and Legal Disclaimers.  For all the reasons listed on this notice, everyone on the ice is responsible for their own self, racers, observers, volunteers, everybody.  Ice boat races occur often in weather conditions that are not safe for those not properly dressed. Ice is slippery often. Long periods of standing around in the cold can be dangerous.  Either that or something else sometimes makes people do foolish things not good for their own safety.

Iceboat racing involves people trying to make little wood and fiberglass boxes attain high speed, sometimes at the margins of control, on a frozen lake.  During a race, as many as 50 of these little boxes are criss-crossing on an up-wind and down-wind course, converging at marks.  The only way collisions are avoided is by alert observation of the other boats and strict observance to some basic right-of-way rules.  Even then, there is always the potential for a loss of control, or some slight lack of appropriate diligence, improper observation of the rules, or a mistaken input or lack or steering ability.  These basic right-of-way rules don’t even really apply except during racing, but the savy will usually follow them at all times anyway.

For the unfamiliar, the rules can be summarized as follows.  Note there are substantial differences form sailing rules on soft water!  This is a novice summary, not a legal-language re-do of the NIA rules:
1.   Don’t hit anybody or anything with your boat
2.   Especially don’t hit any body or any boat not sailing, including fishermen, motor vehicles, skaters, or especially the race committee
3.   If you are off the wind (reaching or down wind), you have to avoid any boat sailing on the wind (close hauled) regardless of their tack or your tack.
4.   If two boats are both on the wind, or two boats are both off the wind, then the one with the wind coming from the left side of his boat has to avoid the other. (starboard tack has right of way over port tack)
5.   If two boats are on the same tack and converging,
      a.   If on the wind, the windward boat has to give way to the leeward boat.
      b.   If off the wind, the leeward boat has to give way to the windward boat.
6.   If overtaking a boat, don’t hit it, give him room to go where he wants.  He doesn’t have to avoid you.
7.   You cannot force a boat into a hazard; give him room if he needs it.
8.   There are no special rules at marks, read those above, and follow them there, too.

The thickness and strength of the ice is checked by inspection of relatively tiny areas compared to the total ice area.  There are almost certainly hazards rendering some of the ice unsafe to walk on or sail over or both.  Despite a sincere effort on the part of the organizer to keep these areas either off the racing area, or at least mark and notify participants of the known hazardous areas, some one is not going to get all the information necessary to avoid all the hazards and some of the hazards will not be known. It is often the case that some known hazards exist between the set up areas and racing areas.  Hazards include (among other things) cracks, thin ice, ridges, ice chunks, debris on the ice, airplanes, snow mobiles, very rough ice, two layers of ice with water between them (shell ice), plants, gravel, rocks, open holes, gas holes, spring holes, fishing holes, sturgeon holes big enough for refrigerators, and irate locals (?-holes).  Avoiding them or passing them carefully is well advised.

This icy surface is notorious for unexpectedly changing at times and locations unknown, for skimming over formerly open water into ice thicknesses insufficient to sustain the weight of a boat or pedestrian, for forming cracks and new ridges, and for opening areas of open water where ice formerly was solid.  This is a partial list of hazards.  Clearly, no one but you can decide if you want to take these known risks to go out there.  Some of us just can’t resist, but you make your own call.

[KB [us5219]]

You could simplify it by saying:

It is The US Coast Guard as well as most local authorities position that "No Ice is Safe Ice"

That said,  Who wants to go have some fun?

Play Safe Everybody!  I am looking forward to another great season!

[KB [us5219]]

Okay Item #3
I refer to http://iceboat.org/elements/NEIYA_rules_no_club.jpg   - the graphic rules here do not specifically adress the case of a Port-tack boat going upwind having rights over a starboard boat going downwind.   So perhaps I need to actually READ some rules...
Let me know If I am wrong here but I thought the first Right of way rule above all was the Port-Starboard rule.  (well after the basic rule of done hit anybody, of course)
Case in point:  Last year at centrals due to light air and sticky ice it was impossible to tell which boats were going upwind and which were going down.  If starboard tack boats are faced with trying to decide which port tack boats they need to give way to according to your interpretation of the rule, they would be confused and could actually end up causing an accident.  If Port-Starboard rule comes first, then this would not be confusing in this case.

Common sense too will tell you if you are trying to guide a missle on slippery surface that is accelerating downwind to nearly 60 Mph, you certainly want to steer clear of anything and anyone regardless of tack, heading, or political preference.  But if only it were always that simple...

[DN 805]

I encourage everyone to actually read The Rules of the National Iceboat Authority.
The Definitions and Sailing Rules sections appear in the 2010 DN yearbook, pp 100 - 102.  It is very important to understand the definitions printed on page 100. 

You can also access the entire NIA Rules via links at IDNIYRA.org or Iceboat.org.  By doing so, you will find race management procedures and decisions on appeals, which will help you understand the Rules.  I have found it worthwhile to print out a copy to carry with me to regattas.

If you're a soft water sailor, don't let those rules confuse you as you prepare for the coming iceboating season.  National Iceboat Authority Rules were written by iceboaters, for iceboaters, and differ from the Racing Rules of Sailing used on soft water because were sailing at high speeds on a slippery racing surface that may have obstructions.  Keep in mind that the NIA Rules and procedures are designed to be used for all types of iceboats, from 10 ft. Ice Optis to 55 ft. stern steerers sailing on tight courses on small ponds and long courses on big expanses of ice.

Let me call your particular attention to the definitions of On-the-Wind and Off-the-Wind, wherein it tells you that these relate to your heading as compared to the actual wind direction.  Being On-the-Wind or Off-the-Wind are independent of the leg of the course because, particularly in sticky conditions in light air, it is impossible to know which leg of the course and toward which mark converging boats are sailing.

After you have studied the Rules, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  My email address is listed in the DN yearbook under Technical Committee.  The phone and FAX numbers are not current.   If I am unable to answer your question, I'll forward the question to the other members of the National Iceboat Authority Board of Directors. 

Jane Pegel
Member, National Iceboat Authority Board of Directors.

[KB [us5219]]

Yup, there it is Rule#2 within the right of way rules (page 10 of the NIA 2004 rules, page 101 of the DN 2010 yearbook).  This is one point that is not illustrated clearly in what has otherwise been a very useful graphic presentation of the rules.
The link I found to the rules: http://idniyra.org/NIA-May-2004.pdf
I am printing a copy out for our club race-chairman (he is sort of new to this stuff). Very helpful information to both racers and committee.
Thank you, Jane!