At least a couple of us will hit the lowish grade ice (maybe smoothed somewhat by two days of sun and wind) on Dammy Monday in the face of modest forecast winds in case this is the end of season. Not having wind whistling in the rigging will be a pleasant change. Late AM at the Damariscotta Farm circle launching at the beach. Perhaps a sunny tolerably warm picnic on an island too. Don’t give up.
Due to high winds and cold temps the 100 mile race is called off for today. But we will be enjoying survival sailing with frequent warmup stops at the lodge.
For anyone coming to Green Lake, Ellsworth for Sunday, please note that Bob Lombardo has gotten permission to use the Jensen Beach Launch on the NW corner of the lake. This gives immediate access to the smoothest part of the lake.
Please study the map below since the lake is fairly large and convoluted.
more pictures:
This boulder-y area is marked “A” on the map:
Today, Saturday, was a great day NOT to be iceboating….winds howling around the eves…bird feeder empty of clients….temps glued to single digits….but tomorrow promises continued cold but less wind.
If anyone is not making the trip to Moosehead, they may want to join the JV iceboating team and join us on Green Lake, near Ellsworth. Bob Lombardo has been skating there and sends this photo:
It’s about an hour East of the Mid-coast. We’ll be using back roads after Buckport, as shown on the gazetteer, and then using the public launch ramp on the south side of the lake off Nicolin Road. Skating is also reported excellent.
You might think, reading Lloyd’s last report from Damariscotta, that we’re really scooping up the dregs of iceboating…..this is not so!….Bob MacEven and I had an absolute blast there yesterday, and after an hour of fairly ‘crash/bang’ iceboating, arrived at the calm, sunny, silent cove, called Deep Cove 6.5 miles south of the launch….what could be a better spot for lunch:
the trip home was even better, as the wind and sun had polished and slightly softened the surface. Keeping up with Bob was a challenge, not because I couldn’t sheet in and pass him; but because I lacked hutzpah. Ah, aging….
So don’t write this season off!
Stay safe, and remember: never step on the ice without the “four C’s”: cleats; claws; cell phone; and cap (that is, helmet)
Jory
Our “Magic Lake” is still intact right up to the beach at the Damariscotta Farm Loop. Three of us sailed it today, Friday Mar 3. Some of the magic is gone. The surface is a charitable 4-5, rough but tolerable for what may be end of season sailing. The NW wind was gusty and speeds were limited by the surface, patchy shell ice and granular thin styro foam (that seemed to sublime away by afternoon) and congealed 4 wheeler tracks. The forecast for continuing strong NW wind through Sunday and very cold Saturday is not inviting for a regatta or just fun sailing. Monday, before likely rain on Tuesday, might be the best day. The intrepid Friday sailors, Squibb, MacEwan, and Roberts are not planning to sail Saturday, maybe Sunday, (although still lots of wind), but more likely Monday, in desperation. Possibility of some rain Tuesday and warming might fix the surface, IF it gets cold again afterward. Grassy pond/reservoir, a frog pond right on Rte 17 in Union, looks good on drive by but there is no place to park anywhere near the ice.
