Kingston hosts International Ice Yacht Racing Championships

by Sail Canada on 25 Jan 2015 Tourism Kingston and the Kingston Yacht Club are pleased to announce that Kingston will host the International Detroit News Ice Yacht Racing Association (IDNIYRA) World Championships and North American Championships from January 25-31.

Over 100 participants from more than 15 countries including Canada, USA, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Russia and France are expected to attend the championship events which will take place on Lake Ontario with event headquarters at the Kingston Yacht Club, located at 1 Maitland Street.

Each year, the location for the IDNIYRA Championships is rotated between Europe and North America, with the North American location rotating between Eastern, Central and Western Regions. Kingston was determined as a location for the 2015 IDNIYRA Championships due to its location within the North American Eastern Region and its available ice, which is required to be smooth and free of snow.

Ice yacht racing involves an ice boat comprised of a hull attached to a perpendicular cross piece called a runner plank, with three runners attached to the boat, one on each end of the plank and at the front end of the hull (bow). The race course consists of two markers anchored to the ice and set approximately one and a half miles apart, directly parallel to the wind direction. Participants are required to complete the length of the course three times to finish the race. Ice yachts are wind powered and can reach speeds of up to five times the speed of wind. Speeds of 100 km/hr are common

'We are excited that Kingston has been chosen to host the 2015 IDNIYRA Championship events for the first time,' Brandon Pickard, Sport Tourism Development Officer with Tourism Kingston notes 'It is a great opportunity to showcase Kingston as a four season sailing destination to international athletes and we look forward to hosting future ice yachting events.'

John Curtis, President of Wind Athletics adds, 'Weather and ice conditions across North America conspired to give Kingston the best ice and weather forecast the IDNIYRA Championship organizers could ask for. Spectators are invited to attend the events at the Kingston Yacht Club throughout the week.' We will also be hosting the Canadian Championships Feb 14-15.

The economic Impact from this event is estimated to be $225,000 for the seven day event.

For more information and official Regatta updates please visit https://ice.idniyra.org/hotline.

For more information please contact:

Brandon Pickard
Sport Tourism Development Officer
Tourism Kingston
Tel: 613-544-2725 ext. 7273
Email: pickard@kingstoncanada.com

John Curtis
President Wind Athletes
Tel: 613-328-4015