Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

I didn’t capitalize hardway on purpose even though 6 intrepid iceboaters, including CIBC members, sailed a challenging route from Brewster Beach to Center Harbor and back, the most challenging part, on Sunday March 1. Ann Row, Charlie Sylvanius, Sterling Sykes, George Williams, Eric Lewis, and Lee Spiller departed Brewster Beach at 11 am and arrived back around 5:30 pm after many adventures along the way .
The ice was rough or very rough. The wind was gusting in the 20’s from the west. That only 3 of the six boats were broken was darn lucky. One broken shroud tang, a hull plank separation scabbed together with wood screws (which lasted the length of the lake), a delaminated plank as a result of deep shell ice, oh, and one sailor went into a sunken pressure ridge and got wet enough to inflate his life vest..he was reluctant to share the details.
The rough ice was a challenge and the strong winds added to the stress on boats and sailors. The pressure ridges were active and changed noticeably during the day. One boat was towed in from the Broads to Wolfeboro Bay but the small fleet stayed in contact and as a result reached the pits after sunset with no one left behind.
Lee Spiller

There were a few teething troubles with this, our first event, but good attitudes and imagination prevailed, as they always do. Thanks to the race committee!

1. Denis Guertin W-10 43:20
2. Jim Gagnon W-5 55:15
3. Curtis Rindlaub INGIGO 55:35
4. Frank Henault W-11 1:05:15
5. Steve Lamb W-6 1:14:45
6. Wolfie Wessel DN 00 1:22:20
7. Bryce Geele W-21 1:23:45
8. Kate Morrone PS-1 1:24:48
9. Tom Gloudemans PS-2 1:26:30
10. Ralph Fergeson W-24 1:46:20
Bob McKewen MS-106 DNF: plank separated from boat. Milo Stanley DNF: mast departed this world James Lamb DNF: towed home Milo
Chris Malliet MS-111 DNF: towed hom Bob

Thanks to the good sports who helped out their fellow competitors. It’s in the best tradition of a cruising event.

The pressure ridge kept getting higher and higher as the day went on. The more ambitious of the fleet didn’t seem to mind.

First one end,

And then the other.

Back in the pits:

Boats are still on the ice. One more day before a big change in the weather. Ice still 13″. March came in like a benevolent lion, let’s hope he keeps roaring all month!

Skippers meeting at 9:30, first start at 9:50. Starts will be staggered, ninety seconds apart. The starting order will be selected at random. You’ll have a map. There are eight check points indicated. You need to sail to each one, in any order you choose, based on wind, strategy, whatever. There is a flag on the ice near the shore where each checkpoint is located.

Be sure to set your parking brake each time and watch for thin ice at the edge!

The checkpoint is a plastic bag hanging on a branch. In the bag are strips of colored paper. Take just one, put it deep in a pocket where it won’t fly out. Try not to dis-lodge the bag from the branch or it might blow away. When you have all eight papers sail back to the start as fast as possible. Your finish time will determine your position. Time will be added for each missed checkpoint.

Have Fun!

The NEIYA Doc Fellows DN Regatta will be tomorrow on Damariscotta Lake. Launch from Damariscotta Lake Farm beach. Beware of sandy pits.

Please don’t block the road, the ground should be frozen hard enough to park on.

The lake is good to go. Thirteen inches of ice with a grade 6 surface. The deep ruts from last time have not vanished, but they have been knocked way back, especially in the narrows. The pressure ridge at the top end of South Broads has receded and the place we crossed last time looks very smooth. Launch is tight to the shore.

Narrows looking north.

Looking toward Kieve. Old pressure ridge barely visible.

North Broads from Lake Farm Beach.

North Broads looking north.

The CIBC Inaugural Iceboat Orienteering event will start Sunday 10:00 sharp. Skippers meeting at 9:30, Vannah Rd.