This is a big lake, centrally located, with three launch ramps. Why it hasn’t been on the CIBC radar for all these years is a mystery. There is a round part, roughy two miles across, and then a long skinny part six miles long. A lovely narrows with a picnic area connects the two.
W-10 and W-2 did the whole lake today, top to bottom and side to side. And then did it again just to be sure. With winds blowing twenty gusting to thirty it was quick work. There are four pressure ridges: sail over or around, and one at the very top near China village that we could not cross. So that previous claim is actually bogus: there remains a quarter mile to conquer. They said you can’t sail to China in an iceboat and they were right!
At this point the East Vassalboro launch is preferred, but with spring weather bearing down on us this week, time is limited.
Wind forecast tomorrow is marginal. There was another fleet sailing today from Lake Farm. There are eight boats on the ice looking forward to moderate winds and healed shell ice. The shell there was a bit of an issue today.
And speaking of big winds, the storm sails you see in the top photo are designed by Henry Bossett and built by Mark Beaton, at Beaton Sails, Mantaloking, NJ. There is no better sail for a DN rig and conditions like we had today. It has just enough power to see you through the light spots that one comes across on even the most blustery days, yet flat enough to reach top speed comfortably in winds like we had today.
How much does it cost? Today it was priceless!
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club 