Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Peter MacLaine enjoys a sunset cruise on Cove Head Bay yesterday with his daughter on board the Yankee:

https://youtube.com/shorts/VfUL7s4DgN0?feature=share

On the north shore of Prince Edward Island, at Cove Head Bay, iceboats have been sailing on and off over the past few days. If you look closely at the photo you’ll see some patches of ice between the snow. With the winds they get, coming straight down from the Labrador over the Straights Of Belle Isle, blowing through that snow shouldn’t be a problem.

They’ve been building a nice fleet of boats over the past few years, mainly Nites and DN’s. There is one Yankee in the fleet, new this season.

They were expecting light snow last night, and then a gale of wind today to either blow it off or pack it down.

How it looked yesterday. Commodore Peter Maclaine will give an update soon. It appears the snow last night might have slipped away to the south. Lots of snow headed their way next week so this might be a good opportunity.

We’re getting another big dump in Maine tomorrow which will set back out wet-out a bit, but don’t give up yet!

There was an optimistic pause in the snow yesterday at which point Pushaw had received less than an inch, while surrounding areas got between five and seven inches.

But then phase two came pounding in overnight and finished the job. Good news is that this lake probably got less snow than most, so could be the first one to recover. At the other end of the possibility spectrum, Jordan bay is still impending this morning. Deep cold coming the next few days might just lock it up. Keep an eye on the web cam, and maybe some of you local guys could go have a look at some point.

One of the great benefits of marginal ice all winter is the lack of snowmobiles, ATV’s and trucks on the ice. There have been no ruts all winter. The Narrows of Damariscotta Lake are notoriously stove up this time of year. Have a look the them now, in this video put together by Denis Guertin. Actually, look at all the wonderful ice, but be careful not to drool in your keyboard. Hopefully you’ll watch this on the big screen, not a phone:

But if we were, today on Dammy would qualify as one of the best, one to put in your pocket and hold as a keepsake for the long off season. Perfect #10 ice, sunshine, good company, beautiful lake. The wind was west, so we can’t blame it for being less than perfect, but it blew hard and it blew all day. The sailing was full speed all the time, go wherever the wind sent you. Minor imperfections alongshore; just the usual.

The course d’jour was from the top end at the state park, all the way to the end of the narrows where a ridge blocked access to the south end. A few tight island rounding were thrown in for good measure in both directions. About an eight mile round trip. Do it often enough and you begin to feel transcendent.

Always time for a rest at a friendly shore.
That’s Bob MacEwen, Chris Malliet, Jos VanDyke and your reporter. The three Cheapskates didn’t make it down this far but had a great time frolicking in the broads: Linc Davis, Bryce Geele and Andrew Davis.

Tight sailing in and around the islands.

Jos had this to say:
"Best day of the season; nearly perfect ice, cleatr sky, good breeze with strong gusts, trying to keep up in my old dn warhorse (wooden mast, old sail), keeping up with 2 mini skeeters and Bill’s Whiz. Tried to find my limits and was frequent on two runners. Scarey and adrenaline pumping.
Long, fast stretches and fast approaching horizons. Had to sit up to be able to see what’s coming and to stretch my painful neck. Thank you Bill and Chickawaukee club for this new, exiting thrill in my later stage of life."

Top it all off with a fine lunch in the sunny window of the cafe and you almost are grateful for the impending white doom scheduled to beset us tomorrow. Today will seem so long ago and far away as we dig out.

Long term forecasts look great: don’t give up!

These stands were found today laying on the beached floating dock. If they are yours, please let me know. They are in my car.

It’s funny how these potential sailing days just keep sneaking up on us, needling their way through the most bleak of forecasts. Looks like a great breeze out of the west tomorrow, with temps right about freezing. Checking the ice today found a nice hard surface, air temp 30. Looks to have improved from last Saturday. Thickness holding at 7”.

There’s a slight chance of snow overnight. Anyone game? Launch will be as before, with planks, although much of the loose plate has frozen back together.

Best wind in the morning. Meet at 9:00? Let me know. Thanks.