Here’s a link to a presentation at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum on the history of the Skeeter class at their monthly Think & Drink. Presented by Mike Peters and Deb Whitehorse.
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Fresh from the Central Region DN Regatta, Milo Fleming shows off his fisrt place trophy in the Silver division. Way to go Milo!
Sailing in Maine today at Pushaw Lake was wonderful, as reported by T:
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Launched from Gould Landing, sailed western side of the lake between Dollar Island and Lucky Landing. Hazards had been reported aroubd Dollar Island and elsewhere so we avoided that whole area. Three DNs and two Whizzes racked up a bunch of scratch races on ice that was an easy 9 out of 10. In other news, there will likely be a regatta somewhere in the east this weekend; Maybe Canadian champs, maybe an Eastern regatta. Stay tuned for details….” And for the more locally inclined, Bob MacEwen and Lincoln Davis sailed on Clarey Lake in Whitefield.
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There’s great ice everywhere. Great Pond is reported to be completely frozen with very nice ice.
But for now, we are all going to Pushaw. Come join the fun. It looks like it will last a good while.
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club 
January 6, 2021I was on this cold day for a sail on a small pond (upper range pond, near Poland me.) with another dn-friend who called 911 when I cracked through the ice and tried to get back on top. I succeeded thanks to the ice picks and my heavy survival suit. The ambulance guys checked me out and drove me back to the public rampLesson learned:- have those ice picks around your neck. ALWAYS!- keep your phone in a watertight bag on you.- share (family) phone numbers with your buddies, so they can contact.- Don’t go on unknown ponds/lakes, even when a local friend scated around and says ‘it’s perfect, i think 5-6 inches all around’.- the ice at the boat ramp was about 8 inches thick. Be aware that shallow water has thicker ice!- Go only when your club tells you it’s safe. They are experienced and have scout-reports on a daily base.I was gliding maybe 10-20 kts, ice surface looked black all around. It was in the middle of the pond that all of a sudden one runner cracked through. Speed stalled, the other runner went down. Scary, panick, what the hell .. then the boat started sinking backwards, front runner up. I have to get out out of here quick, I thought, but I was already sitting in freezing water when the boat capsized.Pushed myself of the boat and got to the rim, found my icepicks and try to pull myself out of the hole. Trouble. Mainsheet was somehow wrapped around my waist!Finally out, back on my feet, it was a challenge to get the dn out of the hole. Mast horizontal, one runner stuck under the ice.Then I heard my phone ringing (still dry in my brest pocket). It was the rescue team on shore, I just now saw their flashing lights: “are you allright?” Yes, Thank you. I will drag me and my wreck to the shore, see you soon.I guess that the weak spot that I found, was open water untill a few nights ago. Probably 20-30 ft diameter in size and frozen over during the last cold nights. On the surface absolutely no indication that this was only 1-2Â inch thick.If you’re moving with some speed, mostly lying on your back like in a coffin, you can’t tell if a slightly different color and structure of the ice could be a visual warning. I didn’t see it coming at all. Just felt the freezing water creeping up and immediately cooling my feet and legs.Jos RuksSent from my Galaxy