Armchair Iceboating

As many of us are waiting for the local ice to shape up, we whet our appetites with two dimensional teasers. For those of us with age, this may include VHS tapes or maybe even 8mm home movies, to start the adrenaline flowing. Today’s generation has a much broader selection for the video fix. A simple Google search will find you glimpses of every facet of Iceboating you can imagine. Racers can find videos of any class that’s out there. DIYers can find many how to vids of everything from home made rig such as, “cheapskates” to race quality DNs. Vintage fanatics can find posts from the ‘40s where stern stearers are racing cars on the ice. Foreign travel buffs will find lakes from the Midwest US to Lake Baikal in Russia. Scandinavian countries always seem to get early ice.

Instruction videos from the experts will cover everything from fine tuning runners and runner planks, to setting up for different wind and ice conditions. Some like Ron Sherry, have a whole series often giving away tricks of the best. ( Remember the helpful brotherhood post?) the foreign experts are there and, although I haven’t tried it yet, Google translate is supposed to be pretty good.

For the super tech savvy sailor, several action cameras mounted in strategic locations give a super perspective of the thrill of sailing on ice. AI and drones that follow you on their own give a solid view similar to an eagle flying behind or above you. (I assume that is the view of several of these birds I’ve seen on the ice.) The handheld phone is handy for those first time rides or of your buddies sailing by.

Even those of us who want to try our hand at video production can use our phones and presto, a YouTube video! (Check out DN Preflight by No Budget Productions, for your basic amateur show. Done by yours truly.)

I do have an issue that after watching one, or several, of these teasers that I need to putter with something having to do with my fleet. (Now up to 4 boats plus 2 of my wife’s.) it may be as simple as lubricating the blocks or sail track, or a new paint job. I have 2 sets of Greatful Dead dancing bear decals that need to go on my super DN. Snoopy needs to have a touch up paint job in my BDX. I just replaced my yoke on my storm sail boom.

As I sit in my recliner and the sun has dropped with the temperature, and I’m through with all the Hallmark Christmas movies, and I found my, “Endless Winter“ dvd for tonight’s viewing. I hope many of you can find something that appeals to you while you sit in the warmth of your living room sipping on a glass of good scotch, that will take you away to either happier times or future adventures.

Happy New Year to you all and may you find thick black ice and moderate winds for the season.