Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

We were holding out hopes for one final sail on Lake Umbagog this weekend but the slush never froze and the wind didn’t blow. We needed some small sign that the season might be over, but Mother Nature was taking no chances and drove home well her message.

Our fine fat lady has been waiting in the wings for a while now, so it’s time to give her a warm welcome:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AzTff3mBJs

Thanks to Denis Guertin for putting this together.

Don’t forget our spring meeting and pot luck at Damariscotta Lake Farm, Sunday April 10.

So you had a good time up in Quebec I see. Karl and I got word about Umbagog and headed over, so nice to drive away from the snow and see bare ground again. We skated the entire west shore in order to stay out of the gusty winds that were 20-30. Ice was airy but mostly smooth and we were out there for well over 3hrs. We skated right up to the river inlet-outlet. Here are some photos and like Yogi says “it aint over till its over”.
Bob

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A fat lady sits sulking in her dressing room, loosing patience with these iceboaters who should be tending their crocuses, not chasing ice on high mountain lakes. But we do what we must. The lovely town of Magog has the Magog Sailing Club located just minutes from downtown. The clubhouse was warmed up and opened for us by Jean, who also joined us both days for some long fast sailing. Thanks again to Jacques Charbonneau for scouting the ice for us and taking us out to a great little brew pub for dinner. And Frank, did we really need that fourth pitcher?

The wind was WNW at 12-15, which gave us a long reach up and down the lake. Frank and Denis in full rigged Whizz dominated the drag races, clocking 66mph and logging 75 miles between lunch and cocktail hour.

There is a pressure ridge just behind Kate Moronne which we couldn’t cross. Actually, we were collectively battle weary after a long season of sketchy ice and as a group decided that the available plate was just fine. Even though there was that perfect little island in the distance up to which the ice had been reported to be safe, we released a collective sigh and went back drag racing the five miles from the ridge to the pits.

We couldn’t wait for Frank to finish setting up, but here’s Denis, Michael from Magog, Ramblin Roger, Cool Tool, Jean, Kate Moronne and a kite sailor. Andy Hudson, from West Point NY was still on the road and arrived later. We all sailed until nearly 6:00, and the sun still hadn’t set.
This morning the wind was cold and strong, but the sun was full on. Storm sails all around, and with the addition of another couple of locals we ripped it up until about 1:00 when the long road home beckoned. At last report, Roger was still there.
He might hang around for the rest of the week as we’re keeping a close eye on Lake Umabagog. It’s been well covered by kite and wing sailors who say that in spite of the typical hazzards to be expected this time of year the lake is in great shape. Generally eighteen inches with no sign of pencils. Nasty weather until Friday, beautiful day on Saturday. Anyone up for an easter expedition?

Launch at Umbagog on Rt. 26, near Newry, ME. This is just the small southern bay.

Paradise Point Cottages :: Rates Just in case. The Corpulent Voice is still on mute.

Roger found a few bottomless slush pits hidden under the occasional snow patch in Derby Bay yesterday. That, combined with a better surface and more thickness at the north end, leads us to the town of Magog for sailing Monday and Tuesday.
Roger, Kate Morrone, Denis and myself hope that others may show up to sail, and help keep that sizable soprano sequestered still. Check in if you can make it. 207-975-6980

Launch at the sailing club: Club de Voile Memphrémagog, 155 Chemin de la Plage des Cantons, Magog, QC J1X 4W3. It’s just west of town near Lady of the Lake restaurant, which has excellent food and a great view of the lake. Cocktails at 5:30, dinner to follow.

Thwarted by snow here in Maine, Ramblin Roger pick up the scent and headed west to Vermont. It led him to Derby Bay, on the east side of Lake Memphramagog, just south of the border. He was gearing up for a scouting hike thirty minutes ago and will call in when he knows for sure what’s out there. His access was easy walk-on. From his preliminary description it sounds like it’s the same conditions as the north end of the lake at Magog, reported by Jacques Charbonneu:

“I measured 9+ inches near shore. Probably more off shore, but my battery died after 10 inches …

Finely textured ice, no bumps, no snow, except some patches of less than half an inch hard frozen snow. Ice surface is very hard. The fishermen’s holes (6 inches diameter) have healed and the ice in the holes froze to more than 6 inches.

Temperature in the shade is minus 8 C, sunny and almost no clouds. Will this soften the ice surface?

I made calls to inquire further : ice was sailed yesterday and should be safe 200 meters offshore in the Bay of Magog.

Stay away from shore, Magog and Cherry rivers, as well as Castlebrook and Sherbrooke aqueduct water intake.

ONE LARGE RECTANGULAR FISHERMEN’S HOLE NEAR Club de Voile : ASK LOCAL PEOPLE FOR EXACT LOCATION AND OTHER POSSIBLE HAZARDS.

Planks should be provided to go from shore to safe ice at :

Club de voile Memphrémagog

Adresse : 155, Chemin de la Plage des Cantons, Magog, QC J1X 4W3

According to Windguru, conditions should be good (except no wind Sunday), until the snow falls next Wednesday.”

Thanks for that report, Jacques.