Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

The other day on MDI, the island guys found a small section of Echo Lake that had gone through a decent recovery.

Dan Stillman tess us:
"Mike Young called Jim Turner and me after spotting an acre or two of ice peeking out from the northern end of a crusty, snow-covered Echo Lake on Monday evening. Jim and I scrambled, and twelve hours later we met up.

Mike was testing his newly tuned bendy mast. Jim had his custom-converted blocart out for a shakedown cruise. My DN was dialed in, sporting new transport wheels and a set of fancy pants quick pins.

We had a wonderful time chasing each other, often carrying enough speed to slice through 100′ patches of crusty snow. After a few hours, encroaching slush signaled that the fun was winding down, and by 1:00 we called it a great day.”

Jim Turner was sporting a set of DN runners on his BloKart and by all reports the upgrade in performance over the stock runners was significant. The only downside was when he hiked the runner would rotate over center and when he brought it back down he’d land with the runner upside down facing aft. He used the axle housings to attach the runners. Sounds like some sort of stop is in order.

This is how it is these days. Chickawaukee is showing ice today but without cold nights to firm it up we are still waiting on the shore.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/03/02/move-over-olympics-iceboating-is-the-hottest-sport

Still more reporting on the Van Nostrand Cup Regatta.

Ice recovery around here has been postponed by yet more snow.

Warm temps coming could be a blessing or a curse.

We’re not done yet!

Bob Strzelewicz certainly does. Here’s his report from yesterday. Ya snooze, ya looze:

"This winter has been one for the books, cold as hell and too much snow. March is here with warm weather,hope it will help the ice.
Last week before the snow i was so desperate i went ice fishing and the ice was almost ready to sail, then we got dumped on.
Yesterday Val and i got out the cross country skis and got on the ice behind the house, to our surprise there was only a 1/4 inch to 2 inches of snow on a hard surface, temp was almost 50.
By evening it was wetting out, This morning it looked grey, maybe i can sail today. Went out to breakfast then checked the ice on Webster, it looks pretty good, but on the way home it started snowing.
About noon the snow stops, i start getting my ice boat close ready and Val wants to know what is going on. Going sailing hunny,

By 1/30 i had my boat on the ice, i tried slush runners but the new snow was holding me back in the corners, so i put the plates on and no problems, off to the races.
I sailed around where i skied the day before with no problem,then went further out and got stuck in deep snow with slush, so i sailed a small area where it was hard.
About 3 i started to take down and had to carry my gear back to my truck and then get it into my trailer. Was it worth it ? Hell Yes"
I will sleep good tonight

Bob S

When you stop to think of the effort that went into getting six big stern steerers tuned up, assembled and on the line last week it gives one pause. We set up and take down our boats in under thirty minutes, often moving to another lake the same day. Here’s a great sequence of photos taken by Jon Palmer of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club, showing what it takes to set up one of these majestic vessels of average size.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/191062562@N04/15mzJW

These were taken two seasons ago at Athens, NY, on the Hudson.

Scroll slowly, savor the details, and recall a recent video of Cold Wave blasting through fresh powder on Orange Lake about a month ago. That’s the pay-off.

Still waiting for ice. Any leads?

Long Pond Harwich on the Cape was the venue this past weekend for both the Doc Fellows and The Beanpot Regattas. The Beanpot is the Mass State Championship. Results below.

Winner of the Doc Fellows, Paul Chamberland

Below, Jeff Roseberry took home the Beanpot:

Let’s keep an eye on Sebago as we move through this warm spell.