There will be a couple of boats at Lake Farm tomorrow: Bob MacEwan, Mini Skeeter, and Joel Tompkins, Cheapskate. Hopefully there will be more considering how good the ice is.
The two Whizz guys will be attempting a decent of Toddy Pond from the boat ramp off Rt.1, shoving off at 10:00.
Looks like snow Friday, so tomorrow might be it for a while. Don’t let it go to waste!
The lake has improved measurably since our last sailing there. The pressure ridges have calmed down, the surface is a strong 7, and the quality of the plate is flawless. We had some of the fastest long reaches today in recent memory. There’s no excuse not to pull that sheet right to its breaking point. The Narrows is smoother than usual due to the lack of vehicle traffic; the small fleet made multiple trips down and back.
Quite frankly, one can’t ask for better conditions. Big winds tomorrow might discourage the key-ring-rigged, but a well found yacht will find nothing but joy.
And that’s all we know about that.
If there’s one thing that really upsets mariners, it the expression “safely out to sea”, referring to a storm track. Sure, they say, safe for you alongshore but what about us? We’re out to sea, too.
But for iceboaters in Maine, it’s a fine refrain.
No snow tomorrow. Looks like nice wind for a couple of days to boot. With that in mind, a couple of Whizz will be sailing out of Lake Farm tomorrow. All are welcome to join. Pushaw might have recovered as well. If anyone can have a look and report back we could all go there after a couple of days on Dammy.
This is shaping up to be a very good year. Don’t forget that the total eclipse passes right over Moosehead on April 8. More on that later, but pencil it in.
Just got word that Ryan’s skate sail found a home.
And, Michael Young still has a few Iceboat Racing board games left. Get one while they last at michaelyoungswh@gmail.com
Below, mushroom drain holes.
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Just a few odds and ends picked up on the water’s edge:
Lloyd Roberts wrote these wise words over thirty years ago. They still ring true today: get your eyes out of the boat and scan. Meet the eyes of any passing boat. Check for messages.
SKATE SAIL:
I have a skatewing available for free to a good home. Comes with two sails, 2.5m and 3.5m I think. Pickup in Hampden preferred but other arrangements considered!
Ryan Haskell. ryan@ryanhaskell.com
Down on Mt. Desert Micheal Young just launched his new pocket skeeter FRIENDSHIP:
It’s built of carbon and glass, and is set up to take a wheel bow chock for sailing at Loring. The name is a nod to all the great friends he’s made through ice boating. Amen to that!
Big blizzard Tuesday, Where’s it gonna dump on?
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club 