New England Ice Yacht Association Racing In Canada Update T Commodore Emeritus Feb 17 The latest from the gang up in Kingston: Good Afternoon All, Peter van Rossem just called me after inspecting the ice this morning at Hay Bay. The report is positive. The Kingston gang will definitely sail there this weekend. The issue is whether or not it is a regatta as we are very short notice on getting volunteers. Montreal had them lined up but none can come to Napanee for the weekend. Here is the Plan: We are putting out this call for volunteers. Maybe you are a racer and can bring a friend. Maybe you are just someone whop follows this page and wants to see a regatta in action. We need you to help find 3 volunteers to do the scoring and starting Starting = raising the start flag and dropping it Scoring = writting down sail numbers on a clip board as they pass the leeward mark and at the finish line (same location but we keep track of rounding position for each leg) The racers will be called upon to help set marks and move teh starting line if required. If we can find 3 volunteers by 2 pm we will call on the Canadian Championships if not it will be King of the Universe. Ice Report: Peter reported a minimum of 8 inches of black ice. The surface is level but not entirely smooth. Meaning that in the areas where there is texture to the ice there are depressions. He indicated thgat they are quite close together so that a 36” runner would touch in 7-10 places. He did not sail he ice so he is not certain how much rattling this will cause but rated teh ice as being from a 6- 8. If the surface texture leads to a lot of vibration a 6 and if the runners provide a smooth ride and 8. Please let us know if you want to volunteer or can bring a volunteer. Launch site is the boat ramp at Cuthill Lane south of Napanee. Please do not park on the ramp. Google Maps Like

While we iceboaters have been bitching about what a lousy winter it’s been, the ice in Maine has slowly been getting better and better. The lake today was still tight top to bottom, side to side. When the strong and steady southerly filled in it was fast sailing throughout. As the temperature crested freezing and the wind built, the quarter inch of snow that fell yesterday began to vanish before our goggled eyes. The white eventually turned to wet, with small waves on the deepening puddles. Mildly concerning.

Three Mini Skeeters and two Whizz line up for the obligatory cliff shot. From there it was off to the north end for a sauna rounding, our traditional windward mark, but today the leeward mark. Jory chose to stop there, go inside and enjoy his lunch. Probably a good call as it began to rain as we began the circuitous beat all the way to Barretts Cove at the extreme opposite end of the lake.

Rock Alley was tight shore to shore, just wide enough to short tack through. There’s a video of this passage in the video section of this web site.

Back in the Broads, Ben Fuller was putting STREAK through her paces:

The surface began to soften by 2:00, so with the wind still building the fleet retired.

If local lakes survive the warmth tomorrow, Friday and/or Saturday could be fine days for a sail. But don’t take my word for it, go out and see for yourself!

Strong warm winds out of the south tomorrow should be very entertaining. The plate received a quarter inch of snow this morning which might help protect the ice from the sun for as long as it lasts. The plate appears to be very intact based on yesterday’s touring. The FANGS are open and will eat a boat. Stay clear.
Chaney’s Narrows is passable by pushing along the left hand side. The water is obvious. Launch at Bog Bridge.

It appears that temperatures are running a few degrees warmer on the inland lakes. The old ocean is doing what it does alongshore, tempering the warming as spring approaches. The continental land mass always heats up faster than the coast. That’s not to say we won’t be back at Pushaw or get a shot at Great Pond or Moosehead, but what a short strange winter it’s been.

Just a note on the DN fuselages that competed today. There is some great history here.

First place was taken by the retired hull of multi world champ Karol Jablonksi. Second was a standard issue Ron Sherry hull.
Third place was won by a boat built by the Rolerson boys out on Islesboro, the original SPLINTER. Fourth, another Sherry.
Fifth, a hull built by long time Mass. racer Steve Madden.
And sixth, the very hull that Jan Gougeon built and raced for many years.

A great variety of vintages and verisimilitude.