First DN regatta

[DN 5449]

Just returned from my first DN regatta in Minnesota.Special thanks to Mark Kiefer and his Ice scouting team,Geoff Sobering for all his help.Thanks to John Harper for checking over my boat,Ron Sherry for his starting tips, Julie Richards for helping keep me warm and Kent Baker for buying me a beer (when I was left stranded by my shopping Wife).
Had a fantastic time,the racing is a high speed adrenaline rush.Very similar to racing my Hobie only on really fast forward.Learned a ton of stuff,probably most important is there a little piece called a mast bearing cup that needs to be screwed in or your mast can come out of the base. Also learned that even after being cold all day a nice cold beer still tastes good. I can't wait to get out again,where is the next event?
Mike Madge

[DN 5449]

Also forgot to mention Dan Hearn for lending me some spikes ,thanks again.

[Geoff Sobering]

It's great having an enthusiastic new class member. 

Hopefully you can draw together a couple of more folks in the Thunder Bay area for local "club" racing. That's really the best way to build lots of experience.
Let me know if there's anything I can help with. I'd be happy to send a few extra copies of recent Runner Tracks and maybe even a couple of copies of Think Ice to help get more people interested up there.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

[DN 5449]

Any or all of the above would be put to good use.The interest in the class has hieghtened since having the N.A.'s here last year.Almost everyone you talk to heard about the event.In fact our Canadian border guard talked to me for about 20 mins about ice sailing.I am almost sure I could have sold my boat right there.Not quite ready for that yet.