Paul Delnero is sailing Attatash Pond in Merrimac, MA today with a couple of other boats. He reports 5″ of grey ice with healed drain holes covered with 4″. Surface grade 8.
In western New York state Jeff Kester and his gang are sailing on Chautauqua Lake in Lakewood. No word on conditions, but sailing is sailing!
Bob Strzelewicz completed the salvage operation on Quabog today. He was able to get far enough out with just waders.
The summary of the de-briefing with the sodden skipper is basically this: stay well hydrated and fed. Dehydration leads to disorientation and confusion, which was the major cause here.
Thanks, Bob, for the terrific effort!
It is not a happy day in Maine. Our anticipated coastal nudge never happened and the snow just kept coming until finally changing to rain late. Too late.
White, white as far as the eye can see, and from midwestern reports it appears to be sea to sea.
Somewhere out there is another Quabog, a little hidden gem just waiting to be discovered, and like Quabog last weekend perhaps the only sailable ice in the world. Let’s find it!
Kate Morrone sent this report from today at Quabog:
We had a great day today. There were 5 of us who had left our boats on the ice in the morning. The wind was stronger than yesterday and gusty. Around noon up showed another 6 or 7.
Around 1:00 a guy from LI sailed into the open water that was marked with the cone (operator error). His buddy he was sailing with was near when Bob and I stopped. Bob got his throw rope out and the friend and Bob were able to pull him out. He said he wanted to get his boat but luckily his friend was firm about taking him to shore. Bob called the FD to report it. They came with a hover craft to retrieve it but could not find it and thought because of the current it got pulled under the ice. It was an older wood DN.
The sailing was fun all day and we were done by 2ish. The ice turned soft all of a sudden and our runners were digging in.
Who’d of thought to carry slush runners in the middle of February?
Presidents Day Regatta results have been posted at http://www.theneiya.org.
Photos yet again by Jackie Mushinsky.
Very important to credit our photographer today: Jackie Mushinski! Many thanks.
In honor of the holiday and past presidents, the NEIYA inaugurated The Presidents Day Cup and held it at Quabog Pond today. The hard core of eastern DN racing showed up, with a few notable exceptions, and seven races were run. Secretary Karen Binder did an excellent job of organizing and running the event. There were a handful of cruisers as well, who took their laps while the DN fleet rested between races. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to share such a small plate of ice with both groups. Happily, this is usually how it works out.
Here’s a perfect example. The Pocket Skeeter is flanked by a pair of racing DN’s. For the DN’s he becomes an element in the course, no more no less. He or she sees you, you see them, and you maneuver accordingly.
Breaking down at the end of the day. There are still a few boats on the ice planning to sail tomorrow. The ice is just about perfect, and probably safe to say the best known ice in the USA.
Stand by http://www.theneiya.org for race results.
Light snow here in Maine this morning didn’t do too much damage. Still hoping for rain Tuesday and cold soon thereafter.
This just in from bob:
7 boats sailed today, light winds in morning, good wind after 11: 30. Good hard ice, 5.25 inches and below freezing all day and tonight.
Wind tomorrow 10 plus. Hazards are marked, putting in on right side of parking lot. My boat is there and will stay till Monday afternoon.
Someone asked what I would rate it, only ice is always a 10, its the only ice we have. Hope to see you tomorrow. Bob S
