HOW FAST DOES IT GO?

Under the right conditions, a DN can reach speeds of upwards of 4 times the wind speed. Sailing at 100 km/h is not entirely unusual and speeds over 140 km/h have been recorded in racing! How is that possible? Much has to do with the low friction between the meads and the ice and the shape of the sail. But also the rig/sail's ability to change shape (flatten out) after speed.

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IS IT SAFE?

Traveling at high speeds is potentially dangerous regardless of the vehicle you are in.

But if you learn how to handle the ice hunt, follow the wading rules, maintain your equipment, avoid bad ice and weather conditions and a little common sense, you have come a long way towards making ice hunting sailing a safe sport.

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THE DN YACHT HAS NO BRAKES, HOW DO YOU STOP?

To stop the hunt, you steer straight into the wind and release the shot. Of course, it is not done in an instant, but can mean a long braking distance depending on the speed. Putting the spiked shoes into the ice as a brake is NOT recommended as it can end unhappily with the feet getting stuck and being hit by the plank.

The DN yacht must also be equipped with a parking brake that should be lowered when stopped. With it folded down, you can leave the hunt without much risk.

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HOW MUCH DOES A DN HUNT COST?

DN yachts can be found in many price ranges, from a few thousand for a non-competitive "cruising yacht" to well over SEK 100,000 for a new full-fledged competition machine with carbon fiber everywhere the rules allow. If you want to start racing, you should look at used yachts from around SEK 30,000, which usually include a carbon fiber mast, a modern sail and a couple of sets of jibs.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU SAIL DURING A SEASON?

A lot depends on the climate/weather and also how far you are prepared to travel. There is usually ice in large parts of Sweden from January to March, but it is often possible to sail both in December and April. The big culprit is the snow, a little depending on how sluggish it is, it is possible to sail in up to 1 dm. But the snow also insulates the ice so well that it almost stops growth, even if it's minus 10 outside. Of course, all lakes and fjords do not freeze on the same night, but are filled with navigable ice over time, so there is often good ice within a 1-2 hour drive.

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HOW DO I GET STARTED?

If there is a club in your area, we recommend that you first contact it. We also hope to arrange try-on days during the season. Ads for used yachts can be found both in our forum and on e.g. The block.

To race, you need:

Membership in a club (connected to the Swedish Ice Sailing Association)

Membership in DN Sweden

Racing license

Valid liability insurance

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