Good evening iceboaters. Appoligies for the late post on conditions. I am just finished loading up the car and in just a few short hours will be on the road to Lake Winnipesaukee launching from Ellacoya State Park in Guilford, NH. As you already know the IDNIYRA Eastern Championships will be held. As T stated earlier today the even is open to DNs of any vintage and there will be prizes for vintage crafts. Come on out and join in.
Regardless of whether you are racing or cruising the is is smooth plenty thick and pretty big. This doent mean there are not hazards check with locals or those that have been out earlier and sail heads up till you personally know what you are sailing on.
Ace ice spotter Bob S. reports in on Quabaog and Lake Chaubunagungamaug aka Webster Lake.
Wind was light so we setup and checked the ice in front of Waterfront Marys on Webster Lake (103 Birch Island Rd, Webster, MA). Note mindful not to block access to the lake. Unload or load your car than park accross the street.
You can cover more area in a ice boat than walking,the only hassard was a large opening on the end of union point, the right shore in front of Marys
it extends almost two hundred yards. We sailed as far as Point Breeze, the surface was snow covered in some spots and bare in other places with drifts similar to Quaboag.
We never got to North pond or South pond but they look like the rest of the lake. The narrows are still frozen over,with more wind tomorrow we may be able to the other parts of the lake.
Three boats are set up at Marys ready to sail in the morning, people stopped by and said they would be fishing in the morning.
I guess most of New England has the same conditions .
Bob S
Webster Lake 1/17/25 – Mike AceboWebster Lake 1/17/25 – Mike AceboWebster Lake 1/17/25 – Mike Acebo
Other happenings
Long Pond, Freetown, MA (211 Middleboro Rd E.) A group of experienced sailors will return to Long Pond to reassess its potential. Initial scouting reports revealed 3-5 inches of ice in most areas, with smaller, recently healed holes measuring 2.5-4 inches. Updates on tomorrow’s findings will follow.
Lake Sunapee, NH Sailors plan to take to Sunapee tomorrow. Mark has reported fresh, black ice in the broads that formed after Saturday’s snowfall, creating a potential playground for ice boating enthusiasts.
Watuppa Pond, Fall River, MA Watuppa Pond will sailed tomorrow by a few locals.
Quaboag Pond, Brookfield, MA Quaboag should be sailable this tomorrow usual suspects have opted to go back to Webster
As we all know, and I know just about all of us are active weather forecast readers, there is some weather coming in. Get out while you can and remember this pending system may change what was good ice and rescouting may be required.
New England Ice Yacht Association 