For iceboaters, planning never stops. Off-season, we build, acquire, and refine equipment. As ice forms, we tune rigs, align chocks, and keep a go-bag ready to travel at a moment’s notice.

Non-iceboaters have asked why there is a boom and sail in my dining room and boxes of runners in my hallway holds a boom and runners. The answer is simple: to be ready and well, the light is best in the dining room.

That readiness was on display last weekend at Lake Sunapee. A seasoned crew, were ready to inspect the unsailed surface. It had only been visually inspected—no skates, no sails—but their instincts said go. They were right. The ice held, and the sailing was on.

Hats off to these intrepid sailors, who embody iceboating’s core: calculated risk, trust in preparation, and the relentless pursuit of the perfect ride. Below are their experience from Sunday and Monday