DN WORLDS REPORT #3
Greetings Sports Fans-We packed a lot into a few hours today- up early stoning
the runners du jour, breakfast from Burger King across the street,
down to the launch site, rig up, opening ceremony and flag raising, Silver Qualifier
race (top 12 boats qualified up into the Gold fleet) was held and resulted in
2 fender-benders, then Gold race #1. All in 8-12 kts breeze on fast ice.
But that ain’t the whole story. As predicted, the dreaded wintry mix reared
it’s ugly head. Rain, snow, freezing rain, sleet, we saw it all…. Soaked clothes,
cockpits full of icy water, and worst of all ice on goggles and sail windows.
A scary situation…. Now it’s pea-soup fog outside. Of course us New Englanders
are used to this kind of thing!
So visibility was a big issue- There were a few near misses in the Gold race-
I know I eased the sheet to peek under the boom several times to check for traffic.
Safety first. I rounded the top mark on the third lap about 25 feet to windward
because all I could see through the window was an orange-ish mass and I didn’t
want to peg it! Stayed a little high and hot to clear any port-tackers still
coming upwind and managed to find the marks without getting in trouble.
Racing at speed almost by the Braille System wasn’t the safest option so the
committee wisely sent us home. By then it was snowing hard and we were going
to be lucky to find the launch area…. Boats COVERED in ice at this point (see
photos). Pretty interesting day, that’s for sure!
De-rigged quickly and hoofed it back to the hotel- looks like a laundry-bomb
went off here- clothes and drying everywhere- Oliver has his boat on the floor
drying out as well. If we get our damage deposit back it’ll be a miracle.
Here is a clip Jim McDonough made of some of the players in this drama- it
was filmed yesterday while the sun was out…
Locals are at 1:20 T, 1:30 Chad, 2:59 Eben, 3:29 Oliver http://iceboating.net/node/3799
Official results Day 1 Results and other information available on the IDNIYRA site https://ice.idniyra.org/
Meanwhile across The Pond solo sailor Francois Gabart finished the Vendee Globe
race (solo non-stop around the world in 60 foot monohulls) in 78 days, 2 hrs
and 15 minutes. Not bad!
Stay tuned, Lord only knows what tomorrow will bring and even He ain’t sure….
Think Ice!
James “T” DN US 5224
12 Channing St.
Newport, RI 02840
401-258-6230
t_thieler@yahoo.com
DN WORLDS REPORT #2
| Good day of practice yesterday here in Lake City- Many boats, nationalities and accents to be seen and heard on the ice….
The New England contingient seemed to do OK in the informal scratch races which went on all day in 10-15kts breeze and black ice with snow drifts here and there. They aren’t too deep but sticky enough to warrent some aggressive steering to avoid them. Makes it interesting! Registration complete last night, apparently there were some festivities aftward but your author missed them as he was napping in an easy chair while watching The Weather Channel. Christ, and I’m only 44! Racing starts today in the face of a cruddy forecast- 7-10 kts breeze, and snow/sleet/rain on the way. Yes, the dreaded “wintry mix”…. Stay tuned folks! Team RI is out the door! Think Ice! James “T” Thieler DN US 5224 401-258-6230 |
DN WORLDS REPORT #1
|
This weekend 1/26-27
Eric, T, Chad, Eben, Oliver and past champion Jeff Kent are currently making their way to the Worlds and NAs at LAKE PEPIN, Lake City, MN. Safe travels. Wishing all of you clear air and speed off the line and around the marks.
We can again look forward to daily updates from our VC. The one and only travels with “T”. He is sure to entertain us with tales from the highways, byways, honky tonks and hard ice.
Meanwhile, the rest of us need to take advantage of the cold snap and find some ice to sail. The folks in Maine have been sailing all week. Check out Iceboat.me for what Bill and Jory have been up to.
Ring in on where you’re going or considering going. What’s left to check? Any salt ice setting up? Leave a comment. We want to hear what you have found and where you intend to sail.
Remember: never sail alone. It’s not safe and more fun with others.
John Stanton
DN5023
NEIYA Web Ice Comm.
Pictures From Last Year
The Arctic blast is upon us, thickening what we have and setting up new ice all over New England.
Some have eyes westward on the DN worlds, some eyeballing new ice and others hoping the crusty junk smooths out for the weekend.
Till the call is made we have pictures by Bill Converse from last season. Check them out NEIYA 2012 pictures. Thanks for all your photographic efforts Bill.
John Stanton
DN5023
NEIYA Web Ice Comm.
Snowed Out
Reports from our intrepid scouts to the north are of snow. We wont be having the New Englands this week. Looks likes a good time to start stoning runners for the worlds next week.
Oliver Moore
2013 New Englands Postponed
As of Wednesday night there is no suitable ice for a regatta in the New England area. As such the New Englands will be postponed. We will however attempt to find ice to race on Sunday the 20th. Ice scouts are checking potential sights and if we find something we will post here and on the hotline Saturday afternoon/evening.
So stay posted.
Think ice!
Oliver Moore
NEIYA on styleboston TV
Watch the sytyleboston video click http://styleboston.tv/7117/scene-spotter-ice-yachting/
The styleboston Squam video from January 5-6th is now online. If you missed the broadcast here’s your chance to watch this great video.
Commodore Anderson’s interview provides excellent commentary and the scenery is intense. Try and spot your boat if you were out there or even if you were not. Somehow it looks calmer then it was that Saturday. Than again i’m watching comfortably from my couch with zero chance of a spin out.
Thanks to Liz Fallon and the styleboston crew for their fine work. You are always welcome on the ice with us.
.
John Stanton
DN5023
NEIYA Web Ice Com.
//
Don “Doc” Fellows on styleboston TV This Weekend
![jan12_r1_c1[1]](https://neiya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan12_r1_c111.jpg?w=300&h=126)
As reported earlier this week, a film crew from styleboston Television filmed the NEIYA crew trying to race Saturday and the race on Sunday.
With the current weather closing in, this may be the best ice entertainment available all weekend. Tune in, set your DVR or for the the old school amongst us your VHS or even older school Betamax or Cuneiform tablets.
Who knows, there may be a future television/film star in our very club. See if you can guess who that might be.
The episode will be available online next week at styleboston.tv
Special thanks to Liz Fallon Associate Producer StyleBoston for putting this all together and making sure it happens.
See you on the ice.
John Stanton
DN5023
NEIYA Web Ice Communications
Eastern Region DN Champs Postponed
| The Eastern Region Championship scheduled for this weekend 1/12 and 1/13 will be postponed. This event will be rescheduled in February after the WC and NAC. Check NEIYA website www.theneiya.org and hotline (508) 377-6100 for updates.
Eben Whitcomb |
And the 2013 Don “Doc” Fellows Winner is…
Congratulations to Greg Cornelius on his victory in this year’s Don “Doc” Fellows regatta.
Note this is Greg’s third Don “Doc” win!
Race day detail and conditions previously reported by VC Mr. “T”
We were very lucky to have this years regatta filmed by Boston TV station. Check out our own newest TV stars. The feature should air January 12 and 13. Boston Channel 4 WBZ at 11:35 p.m. and Sunday on WSBK Channel my38 at 10:00 a.m. Video will be on http://www.styleboston.tv about a week after the air date.
Check out the great pictures taken by Willy Clark.
Side note If anyone has info on historic Doc Fellow info please let me know. Especially early regatta pictures and race results and other relevant info for the archives. Now’s the time to digitally scan and put online all that paper you have been saving. Please reach out to me John Stanton at Historic Info
DOC FELLOWS REPORT
| The short story on the Doc Fellows this year is that we got the regatta in last Sunday. The long version starts Friday morning….
Chad Atkins and your author left RI for Squam Lake NH to follow up a very favorable ice report from Randy Rice. We weren’t able to confirm his diagnosis because it was too windy to get out of the van. Seriously. Snow-dirt-devils blowing off the lake…. Limbs falling off trees in the parking lot… It was full-on! Decided it was a perfect afternoon to establish a beach-head at the hotel and work on runners. A bit of a no-brain-er actually! The next morning the breeze hadn’t moderated much- just enough to make you think that maybe sailing was do-able…. a few boats rigged up and tried it with some success…. a few weren’t so fortunate- there were a few run-aways, I think at least one boat sailed up and off of it’s parking brake- OK, have to editorialize here a little: While parking brakes on the rear of the steering runners may look pretty slick boats can and will sail over and off of them- furthermore they can pop up and hang on the bobstay, also not good as this will happen when it is windy and rough and you’re going fast. Not the best time to lose the ability to steer. All of my brakes are mounted on the front of my steering runners for these reasons. In addition, if you ever have to drag your boat to a race site (or home from one) you can tie a line to the brake and loop it around your waist and tow your boat very easily. Can’t do this if the brake is in the back. Just sayin’. Food for thought. Where was I? Oh yes, big breeze and some rough ice on the way to the smooth stuff further out made for some carnage. In the midst of all this our own Eric Anderson was entertaining a film crew from I’m not sure where (stand by for the link when the piece airs) and Harry White took delivery of his new-to-him boat and Scott Earnest showed up with a WI built boat from Dan Hearn’s shop- very nice! Andy Pimental and Roger Livingston were also spotted on the lake- good to see those guys and everyone else! Later in the day scrub racing went on out on the (very) good ice out on the open part of the lake. Wild racing due to VIOLENT gusts and fast ice…. More carnage…. Scott was fortunate that Chad brings a lot of spares out on the ice…. Back to the hotel where at least 20 iceboaters gathered for dinner and the usual festivities broke out, augmented by the TV crew and Fortier’s niece. Judging by a few slow starters and a few notable no-shows Sunday morning the TV crew was shown a good time. Or vice versa. Enough said…. Fill in your own blanks! Glad our Regatta Chairman is OK after he found an icy patch of road and ping-ponged between two guardrails on the way in Sunday morning. He and the dog are fine but the car is done…. Time to buy a van, dude! Not much breeze Sunday but just enough to get 4 races in. Close racing saw Steve Madden in third, Chad Atkins in second and Greg Cornelius one point ahead in first. Well done Greg- he seems to have an extra gear in the light stuff. He may not be able to tell a joke but he sure can sail a DN! Had to load up and get out in a hurry due to a family-wide influenza outbreak at Chad’s house that he had to attend to. Thanks to Randy Rice for finding the ice and to everyone who showed up to race! All in all a good time had by all. Eastern Regional Champs scheduled for this weekend- stay tuned…. James “T” Thieler 401-258-6230 |
DOC FELLOWS LODGING
Regatta headquarters has been established at the Inns At Mill Falls, 312 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, NH 03253 Nice place!
Call 1 800 622 6455 and ask for Debbie- Admit that you are here for the iceboat race and the rate is $109- call soon and get a room!
DOC FELLOWS N.O.R. and directions
| The 2013 Doc Fellows regatta is called ON for the weekend of January 5 and 6.The regatta will be sailed on Squam lake in Sandwich New Hampshire with access from the Sandwich public beach, address of 533 Squam Lake Road, Center Sandwich, NH. Skippers meeting will be 0930 Saturday morning at the launch sight with racing starting at 1030. Up to seven races will be held on Saturday. We will have either another regatta or at the very least scratch racing on Sunday. The forecast looks ideal. See you all there. Oliver Moore, Regatta Chairman |
DOC FELLOWS “ON” FOR SATURDAY
| The Doc Fellows Regatta has been called “on” for this Saturday, January 5 at Squam Lake, NH.
Launch site to be determined but the skippers meeting will be at 0930 Saturday morning. Directions will be posted here. We are looking for a scorer so if you’d like to volunteer and learn by observing contact me at 401 258 6230. Proof of insurance required- Looking forward to seeing everyone there. James “T” Thieler DN US 5224 401-258-6230 |
DN CENTRALS REPORT #3
| And now for the thrilling conclusion to the first big DN road trip of the year:Oliver and Eric and I stuck around after the regatta and sailed Houghton Lake on Monday along with a group of local DN-ers. I guess we had between 8-10 boats total.We also had clearer ice and big breeze! We sailed about 6 two-lap scratch races which were good for rig experimentation, thrills and chills and a few moments of sheer terror. I had one top-mark rounding that had me pressed a lot more solidly than usual into the cockpit- how the hell do you explain that feeling to a soft-water sailor?
It was awesome. At about 2PM we all decided that it was time to quit while we were ahead and hit the highway. The three of us stopped at a nice local place made with faux-log exterior and a stuffed elk head next to a stuffed sailfish on the wall. On the menu was a 1/2 pound hamburger patty, served plain on a plate. Gotta love it! I opted for the burger instead. Paid the tab and down the road we went- at around 11:30 we stopped for gas in what I think was Phillipsburg, PA. The guy (Mike) working the night shift at the truck stop sent us to Aunt Mary’s Place for a midnight New Year’s celebration. You can always tell a bar is a classy place when the dumpster is right next to the front door and the window AC unit is right over the dumpster. And it is surrounded by a re-bar cage. And when you get closer to the front door you see a sign that proudly proclaims ‘WE STILL PERMIT SMOKING INSIDE”. How were we not going to go in? See the photos…. One quick beer while watching the ball fall on the TV and soaking up the local color and we got the hell out of there. Spent the night back in the van rolling east. And positively reeking of tobacco. Great way to ring in the New Year! Daylight saw us safe and sound back in RI. And feeling and looking maybe a little worse for wear (see photo) but completely jazzed over a great four days of sailing! Worth it? You bet! Stay tuned, the Doc Fellows is scheduled for this weekend…. Think Ice! James “T” Thieler 401-258-6230 |
DN CENTRALS REPORT #2
| Now yesterday was a good day of sailing-Forecast called for a bit more breeze, from the west rather than north. The powers that be called it correctly and out we went in the breeze and the flurries-
Three races sailed in each fleet- ice was covered with a dusting of snow and the drifts were slight but worth steering around if you didn’t have to wiggle the tiller too much- once fully warped-up you could just ignore them and keep the boat blasting along in a straight line. When other boats went through them very cool-looking dust clouds went up behind- fascinating to see the pattern of disturbed air behind each boats mainsail and also where that disturbed air was pointed…. Eric Anderson is using a back-up plank that is way too stiff and he struggled mightily with it all day- Yours truly eased sidestays a little, cranked the headstay on a little, and dropped the halyard a little, and with boom in lap had a good afternoon with a 10, 3, 1. Holy hell was that exciting! Oliver Moore had an excellent day with a 4,5,3 and was in the lead in the final race for a minute or two…. Oliver has a resume’ full of A and C-class catamaran sailing and is off to a good start in the DN class thanks to getting set up with proven gear and proven tuning settings. He owes a huge debt of gratitude to Chad Atkins for getting him started on the right foot. And to me and the rest of the NE gang for all the tips and pointers! Really Oliver, you’re welcome. Don’t mention it. Feel free to pick up the tab for dinner sometime…. So we end the weekend with 7 races in the books- Great sailing, great people, great class. As always, some awesome mental snapshots and more lessons learned….. Somewhere on the site is a link to the full results. Added by web editor http://iceboatracing.com/2012centrals.pdf We missed the award ceremony at the hotel restaurant (Eric and Oliver were out sailiing and testing gear and I was out cold in the hotel room) but the tail end of it was fun enough! Still in MI, going to do some scratch racing today as long as we’re here and hit the road this afternoon. Thanks as always to the MI and OH gang for running a great regatta! Stand by for more regattas, more adventures and more reporting- Think Ice! T. Thieler DN US 5224 James “T” Thieler 401-258-6230 |
DN CENTRALS REPORT #1
|
Jan Gougeon
| By now you have probably heard of the untimely passing of Jan Gougeon. This news has rocked the enitre sailing world and the DN world in particular.
Seems as if every person who has ever held a tiller has a story about Jan and I’m no execption. I met him (of course) through racing DN iceboats. Every class should have a guy like this- always ready to help out a new sailor and amazingly forthcoming with tips and advice for novice and veteran sailors alike. You could ignore these at your peril- the guy won more regattas than most of us have ever entered. Eben Whitcomb hitched a ride with him from the hotel to the launch site one morning and when he got out of the van he said “I just learned more about sailing DN’s in fifteen minutes in the car with Jan than I’ve learned from fifteen years of sailing the damn things!” That sums it up pretty well- I learned a dozen things every time I ever spoke with the man. And if he wasn’t doling out go-fast tips he was telling a great story about any number of amazing adventures in sailing, travel, boatbuilding, you name it- always fascinating and delivered with a wit and enthusiasm that always lit up the room. Spent a good hour shooting the breeze with him on the ice at the DN North American champs last winter in Green Bay. As always, I learned a lot and went away thinking to myself “Man, that guy is one of the coolest people I’ve ever met…” Fair winds and black ice Jan. We can’t thank you enough. James “T” Thieler |
2012 Tune Up Recap
This year’s sixth annual NEIYA Tune Up was another huge success. Thanks once again to Steve Lamb and his wife for opening up the shop and feeding the hungry hordes of ice boaters.
Runners were aligned to perfection. Current and past commodores Anderson and Whitcomb did yeoman’s work with the big belt sander turning tired dull runners into ice cleaving blades.
Photo credits Jeff Soderholm
Stories were swapped with ease without having to shout through helmets and face masks. New members young and old were welcomed into the fold. James, thanks for recruiting the next generation of NEIYA sailors.
Everyone is looking forward to a great season of ice and coming back for a seventh time next year.
There may have been runners that did not get sharpened due to lack of time or members not being there. Please leave a comment below if you need help with dull blades or can help someone sharpen theirs.
See you on the ice!
John
P.S. While we were preparing for, talking about and dreaming of ice, members of the Chickawaulkee Ice Boat Club of Maine were living it on Plymouth Pond.
P.P.S. If you have not paid your 2013 dues now is the time. Do it online. NEIYA 2013 Dues.
2012 Annual Tune-up Clinic Canton, MA
Saturday, December 1st
11:00 to 3:00pm
Arthur C. Lamb Co
85 Jackson St., Canton, MA
Sparks are going to fly in preparation for another season.
The Tune-up Clinic is an annual NEIYA before-the-ice-comes event.
If you have any interest in the sport of ice boating, this is a great place to learn about it. Informal discussions on alignment, safety, runner sharpening, racing, cruising, whatever, will be going on. We will have coffee, doughnuts, hot dogs, chips etc. Bring something if you would like but not necessary we always have plenty.
This is your best opportunity to talk to other ice boaters where its warm and without helmets, face masks and glove on to get in the way.
Open to members and non members, bring a friend that might be interested in ice boating.
If you have a jig for alignment or sharpening please bring it, good to see different methods.
There will also be an Indoor swap meet, bring gear for sale. Steve Duhamel ofNorth Wind Ice boat will be there with lot’s of new and used stuff.
Directions:
Take Rte.95 to exit 11A (Neponset St., Canton)
Follow up to light, take left onto Chapman St.
Travel less than 1/4 mile to top of hill look for signs (To Jackson St) Turn right and right again 180 degrees onto Jackson St., “Do not go over railroad bridge”
Lamb Co. will be on your left ( Beige block building)
Lost call 781 389 4681 or 781 828 9797
Note: GPS will tell you to go the 2nd light and turn left onto Jackson St., this is a NO left turn
Make left at light onto Chapman St. go 1/4 mile the top of hill. Red brick building on left, make 180 deg. turn onto Jackson St.
If you go over railroad bridge you have gone to far on Chapman St.
Lamb Co is tan block building on left
P.S.
This is a hands-on event so roll up your sleeves, we’re hear to help.
Images from last year’s Tune-
2012 Annual Meeting Recap – Swap
The annual Swap meet was a huge success with a new venue and an earlier opening. Leaving lots of time to kick runners, buy stuff and catch up with old friends.
The Swap featured the latest boats and gear from Jeff Kent and Steve Duhamel as well as some great cast offs from T, Chad Atkins and others.
Boats ranged from race ready, to recreational in sail away condition and my show favorite a well used over built green heavy weight DN ready for the winds from Sandy.
Photo credits Jeff Soderholm
Check back soon for pictures and recap of the Lunch and Meeting portion of The Annual.
John Stanton
DN5023
Web Ice Master
P.S. Sorry for the delay. Seems that our other annual event is weather after the meeting. At least all I saw this year was out of state power company trucks coming east on the Mass Pike and 84.
NEIYA Preseason Check List
*** Register for the Annual Meeting and Swap meet and 2013 season Membership NOW ***
As everyone knows it’s that time of year again. We are in week seven of the NFL schedule. The days are getting shorter. Had our first frost. Many of us are wondering what to do with that pile of green tomatoes. You have removed the golf clubs, fishing gear and summer sailing gear from your trunk. This means, only one thing, its time for our winter passion, ice boating.
Over the years I have forgotten many things on the way to the ice. Probably the most amusing was showing up at Watuppa Pond ready for the Bean Pot only to discover that I had forgotten my coat. Thanks to a spare Eben had in his car I was able to get on the ice. Since than, I have been a compulsive check list keeper. It has helped my foggy pre-dawn brain get all the gear to the ice. Yes, I still forget stuff but nothing that keeps me off the ice.
Below is my preseason check list. Item number four is done! Items one, two and three will be done this Saturday.
I would like everyone to encourage everyone to sign up on-line for the upcoming season (Item numbers four or five) today. NEIYA online signup. We would prefer you register online for the upcoming season. Once you fill out the form there is an option to pay online with a credit card or PayPal, if you have an account, as well as instructions for mailing payment.
Checklist for 2012 – 2013 Ice Boat Preseason
1) Set up the boat(s) in back yard or driveway.
2) Sort through items old gear for unneeded/unwanted items. They might be old to you but perfect for someone starting out, upgrading or with more space to to store stuff. Post items for sale at swap meet or pickup on NEIYA.org. Items that will be at the swap meet are being given home page (right side) precedence.
3) Figure out what you need for upcoming season. Maintenance, repair and new equipment needs etc. Check NEIYA Classifieds for available stuff. Remember, Swap meet items are on the right side of the NEIYA.org homepage.
4) Sign up for NEIYA Meeting and swap meet on Saturday October 27th. Pay for lunch and dues online Now!
5) If you can’t make the Meeting sign up for 2013 NEIYA membership online NOW.
6) Attend Steve Lamb’s preseason Tune up for hands on sharpening, tuning and ice boat story telling. Date to be announced by the annual meeting.
Looking forward to a great 2012-13 season. See you all at the meeting, Tune up or on the ice
Think Ice!
John Stanton
Ice Web Communications
DN5023
P.S. Let’s hope we don’t have another October blizzard. Last year’s drive home (West bound Mass Pike).
P.P.S. Please leave any questions or comments below.
Online Membership and Meeting/Lunch Registration is Open
We now have secure online registration and payment for membership and the meeting’s lunch. Please register ASAP as we need an accurate head count. REGISTER NOW. For questions or help with online registration please contact John Stanton.
Annual Meeting Agenda
Saturday October 27th
Knights of Columbus Hall, 17 Willow Street, Westborough, MA 01581
Directions
9am to 11:30am–Swap Meet in the K of C parking lot. Bring your ice boating equipment, parts, boats and related items to sell. Come prepared to buy. In the past we have seen boats, hulls, spars, sails, parts, rigging, runners, clothing, trailers, tools and most other items you can imagine. Check in at the registration table to get a name tag. Find old friends and swap some stories.
If you have anything to sell please list it in the classified section communicate with interested parties and bring it to the Swap Meet. Listings are free for NEIYA members in good standing.
11:30am–Buffet lunch in the K of C hall, followed by the annual meeting. The hearty spread will appeal to all.
Note that lunch and dues must be paid in advance of the meeting so we know how many people to prepare for. Payment MUST be made online at REGISTER NOW with a credit card by 5pm on Sunday October 21. We will accommodate last-minute registrations and lunch payments at the swap meet.
Looking forward to seeing everybody again and prepare for the upcoming season.
Think Ice!
P.S. What are you waiting for REGISTER NOW
New England Ice Yacht Association 