Lloyd always taught us never to go out and just “reach around”. You never learn to sail an iceboat properly. For that you must sail an upwind-downwind course. It’s true, of course, and there is usually a good option for both. Great Pond, like Megunticook, offer great upwind-downwind touring courses. But when the wind backs into the west, Megunticook becomes unstable and frustrating (i.e. this past Monday) but Great Pond becomes a reacher’s paradise. With miles and miles of excellent ice and winds in the twenties one could do full laps of the entire lake with only an occasional tack or gybe. And it’s a big lake.

There is one six mile stretch from deep in the southern marshes to that bay with the sandy beach was run at over a mile a minute in one shot, past islands points and lovely scenery. It only took six minutes but if felt timeless.

The line-up included Ben Fuller, Denis, John Hanson, your correspondent, Bryce, Chris Malliet and Nick Pagnon with Jory’s old Bluebird. Missing from the shot is Dave Fortier. We got a bit worried and went searching, but he was found high and dry and still sailing fast.

The star of the day was Bryce Geele with his DN powered Cheapskate. Huge performance upgrade from the Sailfish rig. What’s next, Sarns plates and a bendy mast? Way to go, Bryce.

Looks like a combination of light rain and snow over the weekend but if we don’t take too big a hit then early in the week looks good. Go find a lake and check it!