Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Sorry this photo didn’t go through, but here it is now.

Sent from my iPad

Sent from my iPad

>
> 
> Recipe for a light wind day. >
> Ingredients::
> 2 old men
> 2 fine boats
> 1 large slab of hard black ice
> A slight breeze
> And a pinch of patience
>
>
> Step 1. Most important, Show up
> Step 2. Plant a pit flag
> Step 3. Keep one eye on the pit flag
> Step 4. Install and inspect the power train
> Step 5. Keep an eye on the pit flag
> Step 6. Push out of the pits, with a narrow space, light wind in a down wind start (it’s always a challenge)
> Step 7. Sit in the boat soak up large amounts of vitamin D and listen to the sail and wait for the sound of the mast snap > Step 8. Push like hell and jump back in the boat
> Step 9. Build speed
> Step 10. Sail fast and play fox and hound with your sailing partner
> Step 11. Head to the pits and send your friend back to Canada before it starts raining >

>
>

>
>
>
>
> Thanks Denis for the fine sail and leftover half bottle of Chianti it went well with my steak. >
> CIBC wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. >
> See you on the ice soon, hell it’s not even winter yet.
>
> W5
> Sent from my iPad

Six boats showed up for the warm and strong southerly today. Our gateway to the rest of the lake was no longer passable so we set up marks in the south bay and duked it out. Second Island as the bottom mark and a bough near the pits at the top. We welcomed our Canadian pal Denis Guertin for his first sail of the year. Jim Gagnon, Bryce Geel, Linc Davis and Jos VanDyke rounded out the fleet.

Linc missed the line up shot. The wind became light and shifty in the afternoon but on a small plate of ice that was fine. The snow patches began to stiffen and became a strategic element in our low speed duels.

Boats are on the ice and plan to sail tomorrow. It’ll be the last day before the rain. Next possibility appears to be Pushaw on Monday.

This patch of ice takes on an abstract expressionism look. It went on like this for about fifty feet. Amazing.

Long time iceboater Chris Conary died suddenly last week. We will miss his great enthusiasm and seeming endless collection of classic ice boats. Here’s the link to his obituary:
Chris L. Conary – The Lincoln County News.pdf

There are certain activities that are known to reduce one’s general stress level, as well as moderating it quite a bit when those super stress events occur. These activities are known to require three key elements. One, it needs to be dangerous so the adrenalin gets a workout. Two, it needs some element of unpredictability to work the brain in adapting to fast changing events. Lastly, it needs to be social, for obvious reasons.

Does not iceboating tick all the boxes?

So, come sailing tomorrow at Dammy where there is unexplored ice, active leads, and iceboating buddies. Just what we all need coming into this holiday season.

By the way, Dave Godin reports that Holbrook Pond in Holden is very nice, with five inches of black ice.

.