Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Jory and I circumnavigated Chicky, lovely ice as apparently everywhere, about 3 inches with 1 1/2 on recently closed holes, but not all holes closed yet. Most of what seemed open water at the South end day before yesterday must have been mirage as it disappeared in afternoon. It will take another cold snap, none in sight now.

Megunticook, where we paused to check on the way to Dammy, was breathtaking, so we stayed for gentle sailing on glass 3 inches thick. The northern reaches and bays were not explored due to light air. We hope it survives Thursday’s ” showers” of snow and rain for colder weather next week sometime. Lloyd

Tip of the helmet to Kevin Grindle for an excellent name for as good as it gets. Wind forecast was dubious, although Bunting was convinced it would be “windy”. In spite of that, twelve boats showed up and raced up and down the North Broads as soon as the wind came up. The WSW wind is not the usual for this lake, so it allowed close reaching down and deep reaching back up. Non-stop drag racing until the wind was switched off at about three o’clock.

There is a small pressure ridge just offshore from the pits running north-south, but it is easily sailable. Ice is four inches everywhere we checked. That ridge swings to the east at the south end and was not crossed.

The ice is just as nice as it looks, but snow is due tomorrow. We’re hoping for rain on the coast as Chickie and Megunticook are ready to sail now, right after that jolly guy bearing gifts finishes his rounds. Lloyd and Jory sailed Megunticook after skating Chickie and report ice almost as nice as this. Thanks to Fortier, Raymond, Guertin, Rindlaub, MacEwen, Bunting, Gagnon skating (he’s fine after his crash yesterday), his pal Jimi, John, all the others I’m forgetting for taking a chance on the forecast and showing up! Stand by for next time.

After a long scouting skate and still now wind, Jim Gagnon showed up rigged his boat, pushed out and up came the wind. It wasn’t even subtle at first: someone just flipped the switch. We headed north, trying to stay deep in the light air. There was just enough to get wound up, but we all took turns stalling out. The Cheapskates were right up there contending for gold.

We made it just to the north of Horseshoe Island. There was an unspoken Chicken-game going on: who would be the first to turn back? The wind did not inspire confidence.

The plate was generally fine, especially further north. There were some places like this, however, and Jim managed to find one on the home stretch, dropped a runner in and ripped off the plank. There was still enough breeze to tow him home.

We’ve decided to sail Damariscotta tomorrow before we loose it on Thursday. We might be loosing our cherished access, too. The “clubhouse” is for sale. Any thoughts on forming an investor’s group to buy it?

Bob Strzelewicz sends this:

Quaboag pond Dec. 16, 2016 4.5 inches of ice

6 sailors sailed our asses off !!! Sailed again Monday, 5 inches of ice, light winds, smooth ice

Looks like Bob’s new boat, Roger Livingston, Billy Bluefeather, and James and Steve Lamb. Way to go!

If you’re coming to Maine, here’s a map for today’s launch: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MvGt5A7XnZrtp8woxFIdF233sn8&usp=sharing

Thanks to Lloyd for checking Chickie. Sad to hear she’s not ready yet; it’s been quite a while since we’ve enjoyed baked beans on the beach and burned our lips on boiling hot chocolate. But Damariscotta Lake is nearly there. Surface grade 9.9, thickness 2″ of hard grey ice twenty feet from shore, no open water in sight. Will be fine tomorrow or the next day.

Ramp needs plowing and sanding, but we’ll take care of that. It’s your CIBC dues at work.

But, one of the great un-sailed lakes of Maine is offering us 2.5″ (today) of a similar surface: Lake Cobbosseeconte, just SW of Augusta. Should be an easy three by morning. Predicted SW breeze will be light, but blow straight up the lake.

Launch at public boat ramp off Rt. 135 at E. Monmouth in the SW corner of the lake. Extent of scouting has been unconfirmed, so this will need careful inspection before reckless abandon.