We’ve been a bit lazy with the ice reports recently. Saturday was a fine day at Damariscotta, with at least fifteen boats. Many were there for the first time this season. No surprise there. The two C Skeeters made it down the narrows easily and were hoping to follow the lovely grey ice all the way to the horizon, but lo and behold the serious pressure ridge. There might have been a place to cross, but with just a couple of old guys sailing big boats it felt more prudent to head back north and do laps with the DN’s. The wind continued to fill in and was still blowing as the sun went down. It was a day beyond expectations: we had hoped to be able to rig, sail over to the far corner where there’s a nice path to the Cafe and have lunch. Sail back to the pits and call it a day.
There were two Mini Skeeters, two Dn’s, two Cheapskates, and two C Skeeters all duking it out, playing cat and mouse, and running the course. The access was on borrowed time, so we got all the boats off just before dark.

Sunday promised a SE wind coming in around noon just along the coast so we set up on Megunticook right after lunch. The Western Way runs NW-SE and usually we’re beating up in a shifty NW and running back down. This time it was just the opposite. Navigating around the end of a ridge blocking the entrance we were immediately catapulted into a feast of deep, fast gybes. Yet another ridge had left us a small door to cross and down we continued. There north end didn’t wet out as well as the south, leaving a stiff styrofoam surface, so we beat back down and headed for the turnpike. More ridges and trenches to work around and we were over by the road, racing cars on the downwind run. You think you are winning, but what’s probably happening is the car is just slowing down to look.
As you might have gathered by now, the lake had changed a lot since our last sail. The ice was absolutely wonderful, but there was water to watch for. Toward the end of the day, smitten with euphoria, Jory found a deep trench (rather, the trench found him) and the rest of us, just happening to look his way at that very moment saw the big splash from far away.

Which brought to mind this wonderful photo from the 2012 season at Plymouth Pond entitled "Putting the BOAT back in Iceboat."

The Southern New England DN racers found nice ice at Scroon Lake, New York and had a couple of fine days scratch racing and socializing. Thanks to the Upstate Gang for scouting the lake!

The north end of Memphramagog had some joy as well, with boats and kite sailors out in force both days.

If anyone can find any joy in the forecast in the next week, please share it!

A sailing ice scout put his boat through the ice. Don’t know more than that. He’s ok. Good reports coming in from Magog, however.

If you have any interest in racing DN’s, please see previous post, load up the boat and split! Kingston is a lovely city, especially in winter.

For the touring set, we’ll be giving Dammy a shot tomorrow. Not sure yet what the surface will turn out to be, or not to be, which is a big question. But it will be cold, there will be a nice wind coming on at around noon, and then similar, but warmer, on Sunday. We sailed both days last weekend. Can we do it again? Come try.

Plan on meeting at Lake Farm at around ten. That was if we gat skunked we can all retreat to the Jefferson Cafe and have lunch!

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!