Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Forecast 15-20 SW & “breezy” on NOAA, 14 at Rockland Airport, temps high 40’s, could be slushy. No wind Sunday.

Lloyd

Lee sends this report from Winnepesaukee; we had just about the same sort of day on Megunticook. Boats are still on the ice at Baily’s Cove, but check the weather and make your own call for tomorrow.

“We had a fun low key day sailing from Leavitts Beach today. 6 iceboats. The ice a pebbly 4 1/2″ uniform extensive plate. A group of skaters came over from the Upper Valley and skated out to Six Mile Island cruising many interesting shores and islands along the way and came back afterwards giddy from their adventure. A few fisherman getting bobhouses ready to tow out. Iceboaters and kitewingers had variable winds up and down. Some good rides, some lolling about on the ice like basking seals. It was a delightful social fun Saturday on the lake. Lee Spiller”

Pencil in Tuesday for a return to the big ice of Moosehead Lake. Monday and Wednesday both have nothing to offer but if the forecast holds true we’ll have wind, sun and loads of fun. We’ll know for sure by Monday, but consider changing, canceling and obfuscating commitments for Tuesday.

From Lee Spiller an hour ago:

I skated 5 hours today from Leavitts Beach and from Melvin Village on Winni today. No snow today to speak of as of dark. Extensive pebbly 4″+ ice from Leavitts Beach. A few pressure ridges, a few holes out out past 3 Mile, but miles of similar ice observed past that..didn’t go beyond 3 Mile.
Melvin Bay has many miles in every direction of good ice…varies from ice strong enough for trucks to the newer 4″ stuff. Cold enough; its booming at sunset. Ice enthusiasts would not be disappointed.
Remember, there is always thin ice somewhere.
Lee Spiller

Frank, Denis and Bobby Able got the last of the big wind/big ice combo, at least for a while. Light snow, light wind coming for a while. But here’s what they had to say about it:

“We sailed Moosehead today again. We sailed all day long with Bobby. We had a great time together. And we accomplished our mission very well by sailing our Whizzes faster than the J-14. You should be proud of us !!

We started with our Whizz sail and wing mast, but the wind was really too strong for this rigging. We went back to the pits at 11:30 and all 3 of us changed for Storm sails. That was the way to go today. Wind was very strong, and gusty. But we sailed that big plate non-stop until 3:00. Frank’s top speed today was 73 mph, and I reached 66 mph. With storm sails !!

Ice is becoming a bit rougher. Some snow patches that melted and froze again has made the ice less smooth than last weekend, but still very sailable. Bobby was very impressed by such a large plate to sail. He says he has never sailed on a big lake like this before.

We’ll see what kind of snowfall we get in the next 2 days. Not much expected. We may go back there next weekend.”

Don’t forget: one of these amazing boats, W-5 is available at a great price. Don’t let it get away to the Midwest!

Meanwhile, we scouted Meginticook today and rarely has there been such a nice plate of re-freeze. A single Whizz sailed a fast short track course on the west side of the broads on a consistent 8″ of ice. There’s a minor, but active, pressure ridge running from the Steps to the Flagpole, bisecting the broads. Western Way was not scouted. Lloyd will be hosting a Cheapskate tuning clinic Saturday, and others will try to scout and sail the entire lake. Tomorrow’s snow shouldn’t amount to much.

Whether you’re ready to upgrade or downgrade, here are a couple of boats that could take you either way.

WHIZZ 5, Gee Whizz, is for sale due to a change in the owner’s lifestyle. Built by Steve Lamb and Bill Buchholz, new Bosett North sail, storm sail, cockpit cover, enclosed trailer, tools. Foot and wheel steering. Like new and ready to go. Pillow block chocks, hollow spruce mast. Fast and comfortable. $5500.oo. Frank: 207-832-8231 Waldoboro, ME

Then we have a great entry level DN. Composite mast, plate runners, roof rack carrier for all the parts. Sail has the foot trimmed for sit-up sailing position. Side car included. $1200.oo.Call Fred: 207-342-5570. Searsmont, ME