Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

As Jory said, we’ll be taking a chance on Damariscotta tomorrow. Reports indicate shallow styrofoam patches on fair ice. The wind forecast 10-15 should be plenty to drive through the crud with plates in the morning, and probably slush rummers later. It’s supposed to be sunny, so a fine day might be had. No wind called for on Sunday, but some rain next week and falling night time temps might complete the healing.

This is what Dave Lampton found this morning. The launch is still tight, and thanks to Scott for shoveling it after the last storm. We’ll be there by 8:30 to get the most from the wind and hard crud. Live a little! Take a chance! Come sailing!

Saturday’s weather report if looking very good for a morning, and perhaps all-day, sail “somewhere”.
So our spies are spying….our crystal-ball gazers are gazing….the gear is handy for a last (dare we say it?) hurrah.

Our Darmiscotta spy, Dave L., this morning reports no slush in sight. thin styrofoam over solid ice. good winds tomorrow…..27 degrees on the lake….. the usual weatherman con game….will we “show up and pray” as our operating instructions read? Clear you decks and stay tuned!

this pressure ridge came up quickly on darmiscotta last spring

Judy Nelson reports that our beloved Stu, having completed another round of back surgery, has had complications with his neck and knee and is now restlessly recovering in a Rehab Center. Stu is one of the great role-models in our iceboating community, and I know many of you can imagine the frustration of this active man as the days pass in relative immobility.

Please keep Stu in your prayers, and drop him a line if you get a chance. Stu Nelson; Laconia Rehab Center; 175 Blueberry Ln; Laconia, NH 03246

Dear Ice Buddies…..As we stand by in early March for this season’s last dramatic hurrah, or its sad fizzle, please note that our website’s new page “Ice Poetry” is slowly taking shape. It’s slow because of the abysmal technical ignorance of we who are doing it, particularly myself. It is nonetheless happening because of the patient tutorials of our wonderful webmaster, John Stanton.

Please add your own favorites, and your own compositions, in the comment section at the end.

Although I am keen to reclaim space in the garage, I can’t bear to hoist the boat on its pulleys to the gable. Here’s hoping for some sort of season-closer, which will assuage the restlessness of these past grim weeks……Think Ice…..Jory

Surprise, yet another dawn at 33 degrees at the house, are the thermometers stuck? Meanwhile down at the iceodrome the slush is slightly firmer granular but full of water and at least 3 inches deep. The white patches are harder and crunchier but still the axe head just dropped dull side down half disappears. A brisk NE breeze makes one wonder if slush runners might work but I think they would be up to their hub caps, slow going and hard on the framework of the boat.
Meanwhile NOAA radio is looking for another 33 degree week of squalid damp air before the possibility of cooler dry air NEXT Wednesday, perhaps the long awaited Canadian High.
Out in the real world edge rot has started both here and at public beach. This may be partly due to snow melt as the water level is up a few inches. It will be plank time by next Wednesday. BUT, we might sail.

Slushman