Ice Boating: a preferred winter sport?
Ice Boating or ice yachting is an interesting sport to say the least. Where sailing is practiced on water, this sport replaces the key ingredient with ice. Iceboats that are used to race across ice are similar to normal sailboats but are fitted with skis or runners that help it glide over ice with ease. These boats have a long history that stretches back to the early 19th century in Europe. After the initial days, the sport is slowly gaining popularity.
Ice boats were used to transport goods and people across Europe. This was their primary purpose in the beginning until some pioneering daredevils got together and thought that they could use it for racing. A few of these early racers got together, bought a couple of ice boats and decided to race them across a frozen lake. When the first few of these races took place, people were interested in these boats that could race across ice. Slowly but steadily, racing clubs came into being. Teams developed and the sport took off. The shape of these ice boats changed over the years, with modern technology being used and newer material finding their way into the construction of these boats. The sport of ice boat racing moved in parallel with other forms of motorsports of the time and also with the overall sailing market.
An ice boat has three large skis under it that are called runners - two runners make a triangular shape under the boat with a third ski acting as a steering runner. These boats are propelled by a large sail flying from a mast. There are several different classes of ice boats used all around the world. The most common one is the International DN Class; this type of boat is very popular in North America and Europe. It is a one person wooden boat with a 16 feet high mast. Then there is the Skeeter class which is a very fast paced boat which is usually made from carbon fibre to make it more aerodynamic. The modern ‘A’ type of Skeeter boat is the fastest boat on ice in the world at the moment. Races that feature Skeeter boats are more exciting due to the high speeds.
Ice Boating is mainly limited to North America and Europe, simply for the reason that other parts of the world do not have ice that is thick enough to support the weight of these boats. It’s quite similar to Formula 1 racing. In such extreme climates, different races have been developed. Dog sled racing developed in the coldest places in the world for this very same reason. Because of the fact that other types of racing are impossible to conduct, iceboat racing has developed into one of the most popular forms of racing in those parts of the world. Speed is another reason why this sport has become so popular. Normal DN Class ice boats can reach speeds of 50 to 60 mph while the lighter Skeeter Class can reach speeds in excess of 100 mph. Racing at those speeds is very dangerous but that adds to the excitement. Many crashes have taken place over the years but overall, the sport is a safe one.
This particular sport does not look like it will spread around the world anytime soon. The simple reason for this is that vast sections of the world do not have ice that is thick enough to support ice boat racing. Fans have to travel to the coldest parts of the world in order to witness the sport which is why loyalty to this sport is essential.
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