Our club is called the CIBC, the Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club. Many of its founders and members helped bring iceboating to Midcoast Maine. Their memory is an inspiration: Warner St. Clair, Larry Hardman, Paul Wolters and many others.
This is not to mention many of our still-living inspirations, of whom Lloyd and Dickie come immediately to mind. Knowing these men is as satisfying as eating home-made whole wheat bread. And……they are just as crusty!
For many years, our club was concerned only with racing, and Chickawaukie Lake, in Rockland, was our favored spot. It is near the ocean, and often gets rain when other lakes get snow. Snow is our enemy! So iceboat racing was the first element of our ice-passion.
But in the 2006 season, two new elements were added. Dickie, Cam, and Bill Buchholz began a move toward skatesailing. This was hastened when Will Tuthill got us a good deal on a terrific skatesail called the SkimBat– and even some cheapskates jumped in. Skatesailing has the advantage of a quicker equipment set-up, and an upright sailing position; but it works the body harder and gives it less protection. Great for the young turks.
And in the same season, we began contact with Jamie Hess over in Vermont, who is an ice-crazed nordic skater. Once some of us were skatesailing, we wanted to improve our skates, and Jamie sells the longer, lower, thinner-runnered ’nordic’ skates. We got on his ice- hotline and gradually nordic skating is becoming a part of our club.
The 4th element of our Club is bystanding. This element is a fast-growing sector as we all age, and is an important part of the whole. Spectators give us inspiration to continue to get out on the ice and to share our experiences. They also support the club financially and give it direction. Please consider signing up and coming for a sail!
