Two Sunday-Monday sailings: same great forecast, same great ice. Almost. The light snow Saturday created wind packed drifts yesterday that would have been a game changer if not for the 15-30mph breeze. It was easy to dodge around most of the drifts but every now you missed the clear lane and the boat would groan as it powered through the deep stuff. Remember, we’re not sailing A Class stern steerers here.

The wind blew all night, note the streams of blowing snow above, and today the drifts were noticeably smaller and the entire plate was completely hospitable. The major N-S pressure ridge had dried up and froze tight and could be crossed anywhere. Our fleet made a number of lovely tours to Frye Island, deep reaching downwind, racing the scudding snow until the snow trash ice hove into view. Then it was the brutal realiy check that yes, it was still blowing a gale and we put the bows up for the long slog back. Crossing back onto the home plate, it was a screaming reach back to Nasons Beach to get warm, have a snack, check in to see who has showed up and just revel in the tranquility of our pits in the lee with the full sun.
And then back out and do it again.

We had fourteen boats today. Above: MacEwan, Boivert, Boynton, Guertin, Buchholz, Gagnon, Malliet.

Missing are Fortier, Butterfield and buddy, Linc and Andrew Davis with Cheapskates, and Chuckie with TJ from the Androscoggin Lockley Sailers Association.
Also in attendace was Clayton, of the Steampunk Cheapskate Ironmongers Group.

Here’s a bit of ice art to cap it off. If art imitates life then here we have contrast, drama and beauty with no understanding of how it all comes to be.
Such is ice sailing.