Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Lee Spiller sends us this:

“There were 7 or 8 boats at a lovely private beach club out on Meredith Neck yesterday. Four boats made a fast trek halfway down the lake with the usual social stops in the lee of lovely islands. It was that go-fast go-far no worries kind of sailing. The lake is unusually monolithic this year. The shorelines are very stable. There was little transition from beach to lake; not even a bump. Few pressure ridges, very very few open spots, smooth thick ice. A paradise. We sailed in Meredith Bay until the wind died at sunset. 4 boats were left in the ice: local guys with a great sense of ice optimism as snow is in the forecast. I believe there will be much more sailing.”

Winni is as good as it gets right now.

In spite of the fact that some places in the world are becoming less great every day, this lake was fabulous today even in the light air. Full sunshine, temps in the high twenties and williwaws and zephyrs aplenty. We worked our way puff by puff as far from the pits as we dared, and then tiptoed back. Jory kept going, his heart set on that plate of very smooth ice at the north end, right where the rest of us were convinced was in a deep lee. He called a while later to say the wind up there was fabulous and that we should all try to get up there. Since the theme of the day was falling for sucker puffs, off we went.

It wasn’t long before we saw him pushing back down. Still convinced that the magic wind was still on, he agreed to go back, get his car, and tow all six of us to the top end of the lake. While we were getting the boats lined up and waiting for him a small puff erupted and a few of us were able to get the couple of miles to the north end. Jory came along anyway and pulled a few boats the rest of the way.

The wind wasn’t so great anymore, but the promised southerly migrated in and filled. Now we could sail, driving hard to windward down the backside of Hoyt Island. Oh to pull the sheet, clip it in and marvel at the pure joy of an iceboat doing its thing. Magnificent.

The planned orienteering event didn’t happen for lack of wind, but we have the checkpoints ready and a mapmaker standing by for the next opportunity. Dave Fortier joined us, and Paul came all the way from NYC. We’re looking at snow on and off for a week now, so we’ll be scouring all of New England now to make iceboating happen again.

I have been back from Michigan’s Lake Charlevoix for several days now. But I succumbed to my list of DN needs that I composed during my 18hr return drive from Petoskey, Michigan, I have not yet finished the list, but want to share what I can of the 2018 DN North American Championship. We had attempted in the days previous to find suitable ice for the event here in the Eastern region, as it was our turn to host the event. Due to the weather, and the timing of the weather were unable to do so.

Team Nova Scotia, Team Connecticut, and I hit the road for Petoskey, MI. The weather forecast for us here in the east was the same as for them, but as is the way, they would get the cold a day sooner. The first order of business for me when we arrived, was to register for the event, as I had neglected to preregister. When I attempted to register I discovered that I had forgotten when packing, to include my proof of liability insurance, so was not able to register. It was evening so I was unable to contact my insurance agent. Thinking that I could make contact in the morning by phone and somehow get adequate documentation electronically I thought, no problem.

So off we went to the launch site at 0730, when we arrived plowing was happening in the larger of the two parking/launch areas. The ice looked large and quite clear. The fleet set up fast and we all headed for the race area. The wind was light and much of my mile or two sail out was pushing. While pushing I was able to call my insurance agent and request a proof of insurance be emailed. Minutes after I lost mobile phone function, so was not able to race in the qualifier race that day. The qualifier is the first race for the Silver fleet and the top 12 finishers move up to the Gold fleet. The qualifier was the only race in that days light air, and as it was I was happy to have sailed back before all the racers had finished, the wind soon died.

Eventually l was able to get the electronic copy and show it to the race committee on the course the next morning. My agent went to the office at 0700 for me. I was able to receive at the hotel before going to the ice. DNS from the day before would be my throwout race if we were able to race five races, and we did.

The winds were shifty and speeds were variable, so for me it was a bit tough. The East did well in both the Gold and Silver fleets, Steve Madden winning the Silver. The results, many photos and videos are on the na.idniyra.org website.

The Rolling Stone Magazine Team was on the ice with many photographers/videographers, they were interviewing racers and even some of the fans that were out on the ice, There were drones in the air for most of the day. I cannot wait to see the Rolling Stone iceboat issue in February. I believe it will be online, and I would guess that would be the place to see all of the drone footage, some is on the na.idniyra.org website.

Gotta go now, hope to make the iceboat orienteering tomorrow on Great Pond

Dave, US4690

The first ever iceboat orienteering challenge will be held on Great Pond tomorrow. Maps will be provided, checkpoints established. Start in the pit area at 11:00. Awards to follow at the Sunrise Grill. Don’t know what orienteering is? Show up and find out: no experience necessary. Involves maps, treasure hunting and sailing skills. No GPS’s allowed!

There was an icefisherman on a snowmobile waiting on the launch ramp when we arrived. He had just come from the other end of the lake and was able to show us on his GPS map just where the trouble spots were. It took him all of ten seconds because there really aren’t any. The usual points and creek entrances, but even the notorious straight between the south end of Hoyt and the mainland was sailable for nearly its entire breadth. There were three healed cracks over near Oak Island
The wind was a steady twenty with gusts into the stratosphere, but the ice was so smooth you could go as fast as you dared. The lake is nicely oriented NW-SE so the wind was blowing right down the middle. We pinched our way to the very top, and then went deep, drifting along at about true wind speed for seven miles. Rounding up, you realize that it’s actually still blowing, and hard, so beat back to the top and repeat.
Ramblin Roger, Bryce, Jim Gagnon, Jory and your correspondent rounded out the fleet. The boats are on the ice and we are going back tomorrow. Forecast offers full sun and lighter winds.