Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Iceboaters are a curious lot. We tend to be a bit embarrassed by the question of how fast iceboats go. We don’t want to brag, yet we know that the speed is fairly spectacular. Then again, we’re not really in it for the speed. Racers want to get around the course sailing high and fast upwind, and deep and fast downwind. Cruisers want to drag race the boat next to them, but soon get distracted by the allure of a distant point, secluded cove or short tacking narrows.
But every now and then along comes someone with the drive to push the limit. We had Richard Jenkins with Greenbird, which was very impressive but ultimately not successful. There are unlikely fables of gaff rigged stern steerers dragging their bulk through the air at over 100 mph. And now along comes Stefan Dalberg from Alberta with his unique vision.
ICEBOAT SPONSOR KIT Non-Print Ready (dragged).pdf
The whole story is here:
ICEBOAT SPONSOR KIT Non-Print Ready.pdf
As with all high tech endeavors, we can hope that some high tech crumbs trickle down to improve the lot of the common sailor.

Bill Bunting brought to our attention that this excellent video shot by Frank Henault on Damariscotta last winter was not easily accessed on the web site. It’s there now, and is just the thing to cure the blues on those long hot days of summer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?

The America’s Cup trials are under way in Bermuda. The competition is very tight, the broadcast graphics amazing, and it’s just like watching a match race of relatively slow iceboats. In spite of the tame thirty to forty mph speeds it is still thrilling, with whiplash inducing g-force rounding the windward mark and a drag race reach to the finish for the final leg. The boat design has become fairly uniform throughout the fleet, but the Kiwis have introduced what might be game changing innovation. The guys who crank the hydraulic pumps that power the winches on that boat are down low pedaling, instead of up high cranking with their arms. The aerodynamic benefit is obvious just by looking at the profile, and the extra power from the legs may prove to be significant. That said, they were beat by the Japanese yesterday…See it on NBCSN.

The Four Lakes Iceboat Club website has been made over to a wordpress format, just like ours. It now allows you to receive post to your e-mail inbox. This site is hands down the best: history, stuff for sale, breaking news and links to the entire iceboating world. Thanks Deb, for all you do, done with grace and style! www.iceboat.org

Here’s an interesting two person DN. Solid and well built. Needs cleaning and paint, but it comes complete with mast, runners and sail. Boat is in Camden, call 975-6980 for info.

Most of the dirt was washed off in the rain on the way home last week.

If you’d like to spend a little more, here’s a link to a sunfish rig looking for a Cheapskate. See the plans on this web site for details. https://maine.craigslist.org/boa/6127750424.html

In other building and repair season news, Steve Lamb has acquired a lovely old stern steerer called Cyclone. She’s gaff rigged and is fitted with a beautiful cast iron tiller.

James demonstrates the proper technique, and appears to be growing a beard. All he needs now is the fur coat.

Steve says that aside from some twist in the main beam, she’s ready to go. Let’s hope for ice on the Hudson this coming season!

At Iceboat Central we are building a front seat C Skeeter from a design by Pat Heppart for a skipper from New Jersey. Launching will be in Maine next season.

There will be a sliding canopy, of course. Mike Acebo is building one as well for George Neyssen. Could this small fleet be a harbinger of a renewed C Skeeter class on the East Coast? These two boats, along with Tom Nichols’, will see some spirited racing next season. Hopefully there will be an ISA on good ice somewhere east of Minnesota!

Scott Woodman researched the picture of the little snow shoes from the recent newsletter. They are vintage Swiss Army snow shoes. Maybe the Swiss Army does not iceboat after all, an apparent lapse in their otherwise admirable national defense system.

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There’s a warm wind blowing on Moosehead Lake today, from the south at twenty. The surface is looking better and better. The skies are overcast, all the better to prevent slush-out, but with the strong wind and slush runners iceboaters would be having a ball today.

The Birches Webcam | Moosehead Lake lodging | Maine | lodging | lakeside cabins | Maine vacation

Alas, the thrill is gone. Iceboaters have heard the Fat Lady and succumbed to her siren song. Work is getting done, gardens tilled. But what Maine iceboater doesn’t feel the nip in the air today, notice the swaying of the pines, and just wonder if maybe we should have gone after all. It was in the cards, this cold snap having been well forecast over a week ago. But one by one the intrepid hard core of the CIBC slipped sheepishly into spring.

So it’s quiet day on Moosehead Lake. The snowmobilers and ice fisherman have left, summer visitors yet to arrive. It could have been ours, but now it belongs only to the creeping warmth, and a certain singer who’s mournful message can be heard in the wind.