Nite News 12/19/04
2004 Nite Nationals
Report
By Scott Brown (#559)
NITEs hold rare December Nationals
With the ab
solute
final weekend available to hold the Nite Nationals in 2004,
a first-of-its kind December event was held in the incredible location
of Lake Christina in Ashby, MN. This lake, discovered
and often used by the DNs, is 3 to 5 feet deep, freezes very early and is large
and round. Because there are no powerboats
on the lake, there’s no ramp. But it’s an easy carry-on
location from what’s been
dubbed, “Mile Post 8.”
An unfortunate low-turnout didn’t dampen the spirits. It was understood that more Nites would make the trip in future years once they learned of this awesome location. Bill Dale, Mark Wilfert, Tom Wilfert and Greg Simon traveled furthest and it was great to see them all.
Saturday conditions were foggy, 30 degrees with pebbly ice, some snowy spots and 8-15 mph winds. Sailors were sent to an early lunch in hopes the fog with lift. And it did. Up winds were quick with lots of healing in the puffs but care had to be taken off the air to stay powered up in an occasional light spot. Several boats got caught sailing too aggressively off the air and fell back.
Greg Simon, in his home-built was clearly the fastest of the day with Terry Erwin right on his heals. Scott Brown had two bullets, but failed to learn his lesson on the downwinds along with Tom Nordlie and got stuck several times. Tom and Mark Wilfert were solid and steady with Bill Dale tuning in the conditions with some blazing late day finishes. Mark had an unfortunate pulley malfunction ending his day, and Mike Bloom proved he needs practice at tightening the bolts on his side stays. He sailed upwind in race four with his lower stay blowing back in the breeze. The boats around him didn’t stay too close as his eventual tack and dismasting was very predictable. He took out his frustrations in the following race by running over the windward mark – just to let us all know he was there.
The experimental finish line as proposed by the Four Lakes Yacht Club was used. It was moderately successful as boats finished by rounding the mark easily avoiding the DNs and other spectators standing in the starting blocks. But there was one race where the experimental line almost made a difference. Brown and Erwin approached the finish line on port. Brown was to leeward and just about a boat length ahead. Using the “old rule”, they would have crossed the line with Brown winning by about a boat length. But the experimental rule requires boats to essentially round the mark. Brown had to give room to Erwin to clear the mark. Instead of winning by a boat length, the race was decided by inches. In short, it caused the lead boat to slow down at the finish line in an effort to keep the lead.
Of note was an incident involving scantling rules. Greg Simon sailed a boat that was not class legal because it was home built. The technical committee initially ruled to not allow the boat to be scored, but reversed their decision with the understanding that Greg not bring the illegal hull to future events.
Sunday dawned to a fresh glaze of frozen rain, blowing snow and howling winds. The official highest recorded gust was 62 mph. No sailing that day as even the brand-new buoys courtesy of Terry Erwin could not stand up to the winds.
Obviously, we’d always prefer to hold the Nite Nationals in January in a location that is easily accessible to all competitors. But it’s better to race in December than to not sail at all. And Lake Christina is an excellent location that every Nite sailor would truly enjoy.
Special thanks to DNers
John Dennis, Jim McDonaugh, and Mark Kiefer for their local information and race
course assistance.
2004 Nite Nationals Results
From Mike Bloom (#535): Everyone who attended the 2004 Nite Nationals agrees that we owe Commodore Scott Brown a big “3 Coot Salute” for organizing such a wonderful regatta.
Scott’s endless energy and tireless commitment to the Nite class is the reason why this 5 race event was such a tremendous success, both on and off the ice.
The regatta was held on Lake Christina, in Ashby MN., which to many of the Wisconsin sailors may sound like the middle of nowhere. However, truth be told, Ashby is no farther from Pewaukee than Minnetonka is from Geneva.
But, (and more importantly) what currently separates Ashby from Pewaukee, Minnetonka and Geneva is that they have a huge sheet of regatta quality ICE!!! In the last two weeks, this sleepy little town has held two major iceboating regattas: the DN Western Challenge and the Nite Nationals. Anyone who attended either of these events will tell you that Lake Christina is one of the best iceboating lakes anywhere.
So, if you missed the 2004 Nite Nationals, the next time you find yourself in Ashby, MN take a drive out to mile post 8 and see for yourself what you missed. I guarantee that the next time a regatta is called on for Lake Christina, you will want to attend.
Thanks again, Scott, for a job well done!
Please note the following tentative regatta dates:
2005 Nite Nationals:
January 15-16
2005 ISA: January 21-23 (Tentative)
We are looking for volunteers to help run INCA as Commodore and Vice-Commodore. Please lend us your executive talent for a year or two and sign up.
If you have any information on Nites in your area, please email the webmaster and it will get on the site. Think ICE!!