Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

We have some thin skim developing around Camden with more cold on the way, ahead of a warming trend next week. But Denis has the real thing just across the border.

Lake Abenakis is all frozen!!!
I measured 4″ near the shore, 3″ a bit further and 2″ at another spot.
We received about 2″ of snow this afternoon, after I scouted the lake.
Weather forecast for Ste-Aurelie is as follows:

http://www.accuweather.com/fr/ca/sainte-aurelie/g0m/daily-weather-forecast/2293969?day=3

Ice thickness should increase tonight and tomorrow.
Will it be enough for the weekend??

Much warmer temps on Sunday and Monday, with chances of rain (zamboni!?!).
And back to colder temps during next week?

To be continued…….

Denis

photo 1

photo 2

Envoyé de mon iPhone

First, a quick note to mention that Toleman Pond was frozen around the edges late this afternoon. How much ice was there in the morning we’ll never know but the lakes are tuning themselves up!

Paul Zucco was so taken by this exceptional example of twentieth century illustration that he searched on ebay for a copy of the magazine, found one, and informs me that the year is 1937. Skeeters were a new breed at that time, so this must have been a very cutting edge publication.

There has been quite a lot of local chat about the Cheapskate and her lateen rig. Here is a long, scholarly, but interesting discussion of the history of iceboating in Toronto. They adopted the Lateen rig early and never “evolved” to the gaff sloop rig so typical of the Hudson River fleet. In spite of the fact that he lateen rigged Vixen was a great success, local builders kept on doing what they had always done, and it took the development of the bow steerer and a Depression to end the reign of the mighty stern steerers. Thanks to Lee Spiller for sending it in. Don’t be intimidated by its length. Take a deep breath and just start. You won’t put it down:

http://journals.hil.unb.ca/index.php/MCR/article/view/17508/22480

Just like the headline says, Doug Raymond’s friend Brianna Partridge, below, heard the call and has signed up as a new CIBC member. Welcome Brianna! It look like Doug’s boat, and we love the sail.

Back to the future, we have word from Quebec that the Polar Vortex is sniffing around their door. Denis Guertin will soon begin to check his small local lakes and report to us here. He sends along this little vignette from last season to help get the juices flowing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14v5BLT5OMI&list=UUkuJRknBSZNiQ_owzIdehzg

Stu’s wife Judy sent this invitation to all of us at the CIBC. All who can make should please go. Stu’s hospitality was epic. Lloyd and I stayed with the Nelsons during the once-in-decade conditions on Winnie in 2010. For a week, Stu fed us, entertained us with iceboating stories and photos, and then led us through the islands on a fantastic tour of the northwest corner of the lake. I first met Stu at the Narrows on Damariscotta Lake. It was my first year with a new boat and he came right up and exclaimed what a beauty she was. There is no greater compliment than to praise a man’s boat (with the exception of his wife, of course…).
The greatest memorial we can erect in Stu’s honor is to emulate his enthusiasm, humility, kindness, and his wicked good ice scouting nose. Lloyd’s note to Judy is below:

Stu died on Sun. at 7:30 pm. We are having a Memorial Service Fri. at 11 AM at the Congregational Church in Laconia. Please send this our to all his great friends in Chickawaukee. The best to you and your family Love, Judy

Judy and Stu; I was told and I called you some time ago and can’t improve on wishing you both God’s blessing and the strength to get through the ordeal. We will all miss him, he has been part of my memories of iceboating for decades and will remain firmly lodged there.

Love to you both, Lloyd

Thanks for sending this in, Don:

Stu Nelson, 88, died last night in Laconia, NH. He was one of the most energetic and knowledgeable of our skippers. He knew how to set up a nearly perfect boat and handle it by feel. His knowledge of the history of our group will be missed and I hope I remember half of what he told me over the years. Some of my best days iceboating were spent with Stu….the days that were gifts that keep on giving.

As you may know he was sailing coach at MIT for many years and has a collegiate regatta named for him (it was run 2 weeks ago). There will be a service in a few weeks. I will pass on details as I get them.

I told Stu many times, he will always have a seat in my iceboat.

Fair winds my friend,

Don Kretchmer

Gambit, Freeskate

Steadying Influence? Jory Squibb? Excuse our bit of pre-ice psychosis but Mr Ice Ecstasy could hardly be mistaken for a steadying influence. He was just yesterday begging me to loan him my spare SkimBat regardless of the fact that he begged me earlier this fall to get that thing out of his sight because he knows he won’t be able to control himself come first ice. He’s still nursing injuries from crashing on Sebago last year. Any co-dependent drunks out there? Does this sound familiar? My steadying influence dictates that we will not be seeing Mr Squibb sailing a SkimBat this season.

Soon we will have real ice reports at this site, but for now we’ll have to be amused by our collective pre-season ice-psychosis.