Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

And we’re still talking about it!

https://www.yachtingworld.com/special-reports/long-read-a-polar-vortex-the-thickest-ice-seen-in-decades-on-the-navesink-a-100000-tiffany-and-co-trophy-and-longest-deferred-grudge-match-in-sports-history-162699

Secretary Turner took great notes at our meeting this past Sunday and offers them here to all those who couldn’t be there:

The Spring 2026 meeting of the Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club was held Sunday 4/26 at Camp Kieve overlooking Damariscotta Lake under warm sunshine. As the first order of business, Bill Buchholz handed out copies of the “History of Chickawaukee Iceboaters” written by past president Lloyd Roberts. Hopefully a copy will be archived on the club website. The second order of business was the presentation of the Warner St. Clair Trophy for the rookie of the year. This year the trophy was awarded to to two members, the duo of Vlad Korshin and Chris Norbus. They scrounged together an Isabella iceboat, sailed it, dragged it, broke it, fixed it, sailed it some more all the while showing nothing but unbridled enthusiasm. They intend to be back next year, maybe with DN’s. Next was a discussion about scouting for ice. The Damariscotta webcam is no more. The skating groups have lots of eyes but not always the same needs as the iceboaters. The use of strategically place wireless game cams/webcams was brought up and seems worthy of further investigation. Jim Gagnon provided the treasurer’s report. Current dues are keeping the club in good shape and we will continue to circulate a hardcopy newsletter. Mention of the newsletter prompted an invitation to all club members to consider contributing any columns or articles they may feel are worthwhile. The newsletter is typically put together in the fall so there’s time. At this point the meeting was adjourned and moved inside to enjoy the potluck goodies.

respectfully

Jim Turner

Following along our theme of history, Michael Young discovered this clipping from the Bar Harbor Register. There is reference to a Cup, which was the main trophy of the Pemetic Ice Yacht club, of that fine town. That prompted Micheal to search for the Cup. It led him to the Philadelphia Art Museum, the vault of the Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, the local historical society, and conversations with local auctioneers. No Cup yet, but keeping in mind how the Van Nostrand cup was lost or forgotten for many years, there is still hope. And look at that cup now!

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In case you missed it last week, here’s a link to Andy’s talk. Listen to him before Sunday, when talk of all things iceboating will continue at our Spring Meeting and Pot Luck at Camp Kieve. Meeting at 11:00, lunch to follow. Looks like it will be a beautiful day.

Click here to View! Andy Gratton began sailing small boats at 9 years old, iceboating since 17. He learned to windsurf in 1982 and has pursued that sport ever since with some national notoriety. He has raced in many regattas with scow sailboats, windsurfers, keel boats, and iceboats. He has some tall ship experience on a brig, schooner, and skipjack. His favorite sailing is on an old iceboat, cruising the large expanse of ice that is Lake Winnebago in the winter. Andy has given rides to hundreds of people over the years or placed them in a small iceboat to teach them the sport. Some of them are now sailing-buddies with the same passion. This presentation will cover a variety of iceboat designs, where iceboats sail and race, and what it might be like to sail an iceboat. A webinar-style presentation by The American Schooner Association and The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Copyright © 2026 Sailing Services, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you indicated an interest in sailing with us. Our mailing address is: Sailing Services 922 Berwick Dr. Annapolis, MD 22314 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

After a pretty good year in spite of the snow, it time for our Spring Meeting and Pot Luck lunch. We got on Pushaw, Silver, Damariscotta, Schoodic, Moosehead, the MDI ponds and Lac St Francois. The big prize, of course, was Lake Sebago: four days over two weekends on black ice. First time the big lake has frozen in years. The launch at Nason’s Beach could not have been better, and Nason family, if you are listening, thank you and big tip of the helmet for your continued support of iceboating after all these years.

The meeting and Pot Luck will be at Camp Kieve overlooking Lake Damariscotta, Sunday April 26.

Business meeting starting at 11:00, lunch to follow. On the big deck weather permitting, otherwise inside. The lodge is at the end of the road. It is NOT the Kennedy Learning center.

Hoping to see you all there!

All-around ice sailor Andy Gratton will be giving a Zoom presentation about our sport. He’s part of a free webinar series hosted by The American Schooner Association and The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race on Thursday, April 16 at 6 PM CT / 7 PM ET Andy has sailed just about everything and owns nearly every class of iceboat known. If you’ve spent any time around iceboating, you’ve likely seen him giving rides in his vintage WISCONSIN stern steerer. This is a good introduction to the sport for sailors who’ve never stepped on the ice, and a reminder of why we keep coming back. Register here: LINK Andy Gratton and WISCONSIN Photo: Gretchen Dorian