Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

One of our happy southern sailors, commenting on the cornucopia of ice down there, was heard to say: “finally: good ice that’s NOT in Maine!”
He’s right, of course. First sailing on Watuppa in 18 years, first regatta at Ronkonkokoma Long Island in forever, stern steerers on the Hudson at Athens and Champagne ice on Champlain.

Whizz at Watuppa.

Around the mark.

But, out of the way near Skowhegan, Embdon Pond seems to have developed a rather nice surface.

Bruce Dow lives right on the pond and sent this photo. He’d like to sail his DN, but needs company. Monday looks like the best wind, so I will be there at the boat launch at 10:00. All are welcome to join and help Bruce sort his new boat. No telling what we’ll find. Call 975-6980 to co-ordinate.

Time was, Maine would get snowed out about this time of the season, get cold and stay cold. All the ice covered with snow. In southern New England the cold would build ice and all the favorite lakes would be good to go, often with a few desperate Mainers seeking sailable ice.

Well here we are again. Great ice throughout the south. Even poor old New Jersey will be sailing this weekend. Below is a synopsis. Pick a lake, any lake.

Webster Lake, above, is being sailed today, and looks very nice through the weekend. Nice breeze Sunday-Monday. Check with Bob Strzelewicz for details.

The Jersey guys take ice checking seriously. Their result, and I quote, “ the ice is so thick we don’t need to check it!”. This lovely plate is in Ocean Grove and will be the venue for an Icebird regatta this weekend. Jim Gervolino for details. Budd Lake has also been sailed already.

Watuppa in Fall River is another old favorite, sailing today by Steve Lamb and Co. They plan to head to Webster tomorrow.

Lastly, Long Pond Lakeville. Wonderful lake, and the site of many memorable gatherings. One of the high points is the Eagles Club, up along the west shore. Bar and restaurant reported to be open. Sail in-sail out. Check with Doug Sharp for further details. Boats are on the ice today.

In Maine it is snowing as we speak. Sebago is still open so there is a glimmer of hope there, although in the best of years it didn’t freeze until President’s Day.

Boats were on the ice all over New England yesterday. Quabog, Wentworth, Damariscotta and Pushaw. Most encountered great winds and varying degrees of snow, and all reported the snow getting stiffer as the day wore on.
After lunch at Dammy the snow got stiffer as the wind grew lighter; a couple of boats didn’t get the memo and had a nice push home. The Queen of the Lake for the day was Linc Davis’s Cheapskate. With 1/8” runners and tons of low end torque from the Sunfish sail, nothing slowed him down. The ice was good all the way to the Narrows. And the web cam is back up. Big tip of the helmet to Ryan Haskell for that!

At Pushaw, Micheal Young reports:

Dan Clapp, Dan Stillmam and myself sailed the lower western bay today with 2-3" of snow packing and drifting to 4" by days end. Plenty of WNW wind to make everyone go including John Schuster on his lockley 45. Plenty of miles put on and a grand time was had by all. Defiantly a different feeling lake than 5 days ago on shiny ice.

A change is gonna come. Weekend weather looks all over the place. People be ready!

Michael Young and Dan Clapp with be at Pushaw tomorrow. All are welcome to join them.

There might be a few boats setting up tomorrow at Lake Farm. Winds are a bit on the light side, especially considering the inch of snow on the ice. Speaking of snow on the ice, sail with great caution until the lake is properly scouted. A DN went through an invisible thin spot under a covering of snow this past weekend on Schroon Lake. Bob MacEwen observed a thin patch covered with wet-out snow, as yet unmarked.

Wednesday offers better wind, so that will be the better sailing day. Hopefully tomorrow’s sailors will scope it out for us so when the wind pipes up the next day we can feed ‘em their oats and let ‘em run!

l