Great Pond Done For Now
What a difference a day can make… Take a look, have a read, and always proceed with caution!
Great Pond Done
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Sailing On Great Pond Today 3-21-20!
Sounds like the Maine-iacs had a good day on Great Pond!
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Sailing Possibities This Weekend
Hello All- if you are interested in de-quarantining this weekend take a look at the CIBC site…
Three cheers to New England’s youngest hard-water sailors of 2019-2020!
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Every year brings change to all of us in the ice boating world. For me, I noticed that some of my happiest moments out on the ice this season came when I spotted new sailors. One thing that I noticed right off was that each and every one of them were smiling ear to ear. I well recall my first experiences on the ice under sail, lots of minor mechanical fails, a couple of bumps and bruises, and then of course the first feeling of rush…. wow! now how do I slow this thing down!! Ice sailing is always such a thrill. It does not matter what class you sail, whether you build your own boat, or have just purchased the oldest or newest boat in the fleet. It does not matter your skill level, beginner or sledgehammer racer…. it’s all about the smiles, the fun, being out and about in the fresh air, and of course the great company!
As the 2019-2020 season winds down its a great time to think about the new sailors of next year. Who can I share this game with? What kids can I invite into to the fold and how can we get them up and running for first ice of next season. I hope to see some new young faces out there and I pledge to finally get this loaner DN out on the plate for anybody to try when we cross paths…. I hope you will connect with me and bring some young folks out too!
I’d like to recognize Rosemary Pope (seen here with her father David) for being among the youngest pilots in New England this season! I know she had other family members on the ice too but she went whizzing by so fast I couldn’t get many details!
Also spotted out on the ice were the Atkins family with some notably young skippers – hopefully next year we can grab a photo or two?
On the deck of the pink boat is a well familiar face to many at this point – that’s Bella Langley! Her program has been supported by her father Brian who many know as an extraordinary builder of many fine ice boats. We hope you’ll see them both on the ice again next season and if you have questions about getting started they are wonderful connections to make!
For the sailor kids I missed in this post get ready for next season… and if you see my camera out for goodness sake slow down so I can take a snap or two and collect some details!
Here’s to the new sailors of 2020-2021
Jay Whitehair
Vice Commodore – New England Ice Yacht Association
BEN FRANKLIN’S ICEBOAT DRAWINGS!!!
Have to see these! Click and take a look- Shamelessly stolen from the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club website- Many thanks!
Ben Franklin’s Ice-Boat Drawings – iceboat.org
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BEN FRANKLIN GOES ICEBOATING
This is amazing. Deb Whitehorse has done it again- She has delved into the archives of God Knows Where and found out that Ben Franklin and John Adams had the iceboat bug. Well, Adams maybe not so much….
Click and read, this will blow your mind.
When Ben Franklin Ordered Iceboat Plans – iceboat.org
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Boat Lifting Horses
John Pepper writes in with a cool tech tip- if you have a boat that is on the heavy side to lift read the description and check out the photos-
Seems like the sailable ice is out of range for me, it was a good season.
Maybe this can be the first tech tip of the building season??
Here is something I used the last time out. My Skeeter plank is overbuilt, so lifting was a chore. This helps. It worked on the springboard too. Not sure the minimum number of blocks needed, but might be workable with double blocks vs the triples I employed. It needs to have lots of rope, and start essentially flat, this just barely cleared when sitting on the chocks. The cleat held it up and was easy to lock and unlock.
I may integrate the blocks, using the plywood legs as the block housing for a future and flatter version. It would look spiffy with maple sheaves set into a series of slots in the plywood. I can send sketches.
Regards,
John
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THE BAIKAL BEAST
Check out this little puff coming over the hill in Baikal….
https://www.iceboat.org/2020/03/17/may-the-wind-take-your-troubles-away/
BAIKAL UPDATE
Sounds like the annual expedition to Lake Baikal is a little less than ideal this year.
This makes sense if you think about it; after about ten near-perfect years in a row it seems like a less than optimum one was due. Sailors and iceboaters know not every day can be perfect!
That said, the gang seems to be making lemonade from the lemons they’ve been given. Unpredictable winds and less than perfect ice will not ruin the party!
That said it sounds like coronavirus may be cutting it short as some sailors are pulling the plug and heading for home before quarantines take effect, borders close and airlines start cancelling more flights.
Ugh. We live in interesting times indeed.
But here is the latest in Mike Bloom’s own words!
“Yesterday is why you travel to Baikal. When the winds called the Baikal Beast exceeded 17m/s [33 knots. Just have to point out that a New England sailor wouldn’t flinch.] and racing was cancelled.
I was invited to visit the Stupa on the big island out in the lake. So I put on my spikes for a 7 km walk in winds so strong it could blow us off our feet.
Dedric organized the day and we were joined by his wife Alexandra, Chris Berger and Marci and two other Dutch sailors both named Hans.
A Stupa is a religious structure containing the remains of Buddhist monks and is used as a place of meditation.
The shape of the stupa represents a Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne. But a local guide said the stupa may represent the five purified elements: land, water, air, fire, and sun.
We honored the Buddhist tradition of circumambulation which is an important ritual of walking three times around the Stupa. As a result, Stupas have a path around them.
We also left a small token at the alter. Surrounding the Stupa were many prayer flags. Being there was a moving and spiritual experience.
We then walked back to the ice and walked to the tip of the island to view a famous rock outcropping in the shape of a dragon.
From there we walked around edge of the island to seek shelter as the winds really picked up. We stopped in a beautiful spot with an amazing view of the lake. The rock outcroppings were covered with ice and Dideric and Marci surprisingly produced a bottle of Baikal vodka and glass shot glasses. We all briefly spoke about how fortunate we are to sail in Baikal and to be together with friends from around the world.
We drank a toast to Mark (Doctor) Christensen and then a separate toast to fun and friendship.
As we started the 7k/m trek home suddenly four dirt Buggy’s were heading straight for us. They were incredibly loud and appeared to be having way too much fun. Turns out they were sent by Jörg to find us.
After a couple of high speed 360’s they stopped and offered three of us a ride to see some ice caves, mountain goats and another large spiritual rock shrine. So without hesitation Hans, Hans and I jumped in. After all, what could go wrong traveling at freeway speeds on a sheet of ice in dirt buggy’s driven by a bunch of crazed iceboaters!
Some three hours later we were back on shore for the regatta’s international dinner. Each sailor brought food from their home country.
Jorge brought eel. Hamrak brought salami and herring. Jost brought bread and sausage. Marci made delicious American baked beans. The Swiss brought Cheese and chocolate while I have no idea who brought the rest.
After a very fun dinner the music started, as did the dancing. Young and old joined the festivities and international boundaries were no longer relevant.
Sailing continues today. The ice has gotten slightly better. Not sure about the wind though.
I made the difficult decision to join Berger and Marci and return home today. Air travel out of Irkutsk is getting difficult. European borders are being closed to foreigners. My airline reservations keep getting cancelled. Many others have already left.
My trip to Baikal was everything Ron Sherry, Jörg and Dideric promised it would be. The people, the culture, the geography is indescribable. It was truly a remarkable journey. One I will remember forever.
Think ice.
Mike Bloom
Chris Berger and Marci had this on the table five minutes after racing f was called off.
The trekkers…
Party in Siberia
Dragon head rocks
The Stupa
Bohn and Bloom
2020 NA Champs Photo Galleries
Gretchen Dorian was on hand out at the DN NA champs this year- Her work has been posted at last! If you are under quarantine and need to pass some time or if you are just a fan of really good ice boat photography take some time and have a long look!
Day 1
https://www.idniyra.org/2020/03/16/north-american-championship-photo-gallery-day-1/
Day 2
https://www.idniyra.org/2020/03/16/north-american-championship-photo-gallery-day-2/
Day 3
https://www.idniyra.org/2020/03/17/north-american-championship-photo-gallery-day-3/
Day 4
https://www.idniyra.org/2020/03/17/north-american-championship-photo-gallery-day-4/
Nick Of Time
Congrats to Ed Demerest on his new hot-rod style DN! He just picked it up late last week and was able to take a spin on Great Pond last Sunday.
He reports that it has a whole different ride and feel compared to his original DN and he can’t wait to get it on the race course next season- we will be helping him get it tuned up in the off season.
You may recognize the hull- it was sailed for a season by Peter Mcgowan before we lost him to a rare illness just about a year ago. Seeing the boat back on the course will be a great tribute!
It’ll be good to see Ed making his way up the results too!
Stay tuned…
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U-Haul Art
Saw some very tasteful art on the side of a U-Haul trailer in RI this morning….
BAIKAL- Wind Has Arrived!
Mike Bloom just sent an update- looks like a feast or famine situation there…. From not enough breeze yesterday to 10 meters per second today! That’s just shy of 20 kts to those of us on this side of the ocean. Anyway they are delayed for a little while until things calm down a bit.
Hang in there Mike! Good conditions will arrive soon…
MEANWHILE IN BAIKAL….
From Mike Bloom, having his patience tested in Baikal…. The sailing may be leaving a little to be desired so far but I’m sure the parties are making up for it!
Bottom line: no sailing today.
After being served lunch in the pits, the fleet was instructed to assemble a few miles down the lake on the other side of a huge rock island. Once there, a silver qualifier was attempted but black flagged due to an expired time limit on the 3rd Lap. Next it was the OptI fleet’s turn to be blacked flagged when nobody made it to the weather mark.
No gold fleet races were attempted. We can’t sail till the silver qualifier takes place.
Finally, at about 5 pm we were excused for the day. And yes, no sooner were we told to go home then the wind came up. Since the sun doesn’t set till nearly seven Chris Berger convinced Peter Hamrak, a Russian named Sergei and Mike Bloom to sail multiple hot laps back near the pits.
The ice on Baikal is less than ideal. I’d rate the ice a 6. The lake is full of snow drifts that are deep and hard. It takes some great steering and lot of luck to navigate the course. Hopefully, our evening session will serve us well tomorrow, when the wind is predicted to reappear.
It’s been another long day. Time for a shower and some shut eye.
Mike
RUNNER TRACKS MARCH ISSUE ONLINE
Check it out gang, another masterpiece from Deb Whitehorse- This issue features an article by Kingston’s own Peter Van Rossem!
March 2020 Runner Tracks Now Online – DN North America
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GREAT POND REPORT
Bill Bucholz shares his thoughts on Great Pond, which delivered the goods in a big way yesterday!
“Great Pond is one of the three fabulous lakes in Maine that iceboaters cherish. All three have their times and attractions. Damariscotta has it’s intimate charm, Pushaw it’s great north south orientation, but Great Pond is just, well, great. The majesty of big Hoyt Island dividing the lake into two halves, and then the two deep ends beyond Oak Island south of Hoyt. When the plate is as flawless as it was today you just rack up the miles with a smile frozen to your face. Deep downwind gybes going on forever. Long upwind tacks with an occasional self-indulgent peel off into a power gybe just because you can offers an amazing sense of freedom. And this with well matched boats side by side the whole way.
The great photo of the day was missed due to a frozen phone, but it was of Gee Whizz, W-5, the red boat against a blue sky in a long, tall hike which, from the view from my cockpit, put his windward runner above the horizon, miles away at the top of the lake. The air was crystal clear and the colors vivid. Time stood still.
Perhaps twenty boats showed up, including a clutch of hot DN’ers training around the marks. The NEIYA is hosting the DN Worlds in the eastern region next season so if you’re not in training to get the gold then please consider helping out with the operations end. Stand by for details over the course of the off season.
Not that this is the start of the off season yet. There is still scads of ice up north, so tank up on the ridiculously cheap gas and come quarantine on the ice! We’re all good: we already wear masks and gloves!’
ICE IN BELGRADE MAINE!!!
See below for photos and correction re location and launch!
Great Pond Belgrade Maine
Posted on March 14, 2020 by Jim Gagnon
Here are some photos taken this morning from the Great Pond launch site off RT 27, in Belgrade Maine.
As you can see in the second photo the condition of the ice which looked to be fairly consistent. Still lots of ice. See you tomorrow.
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Sail-able ice on Great Pond in Maine
This is just in from Bill B. in Maine. One of his scouts reported in and this is the summary "Great Pond looking good. Better surface than Pushaw last weekend. He is calling it a six. Four inches of ice over an inch of slush over still more ice. Overall thickness unknown. No pressures ridges observed through binoculars from shore. Launch is tight. We will sail it tomorrow."
I asked about any pictures and none were taken.
Great Pond is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States.
I know the forecast tonight is for very cold temps and the same for tomorrow night too. Wind looks good for both days.
Check Chickawaukie website for additional updates. https://iceboat.me/
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Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club | Maine ice boat enthusiasts and friends The race was postponed because of wind: too much of a good thing. Four Whizz with DN storm sails managed to keep boat and body in one piece enough to get a couple of test laps, reset the marks that were blown down and find a quiet lunch lee. iceboat.me |
More Baikal….
More from Mike Bloom in Baikal- Sounds like he is waking up a little bit…..
“First day.-
Nice breeze when I got up.
Having traveled through 13 times zone my body is so confused from jet lag I don’t know what time it is. So today, getting to ice very early was easy.
A few folks came down to empty the shipping containers so we could all set up.
The amount of gear in the containers was impressive. 35 hulls, masts, planks, sails and runners take up a ton of shoreline. Here’s a picture when we were about 1/2 way done.
The best part was watching the sailors get to the ice. It looked like Christmas morning as the sailors all picked out their gear.
Opening ceremony was at 11. Then wind died.
We’ll try again tomorrow.
Should be wind tomorrow!”
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BAIKAL Report
Minnesota DNer Mike Bloom checks in from the other side of the world in Baikal- He sounds a little worn out at the moment!
“All good here. Except I’m exhausted and sleep deprived. Jet lag is hitting me hard.
Arrived at Lake Baikal yesterday. All it took was an 8 hour flight to Amsterdam followed by a 4 hour flight to Moscow followed by an 8 Hour flight to Irkutsk followed by a 5 hour bus ride down a dirt road Lake Baikal.
Don’t want to say this place is in the middle of nowhere but the town is so small and so remote the locals haven’t even bothered to name it.
Lake Baikal it is literally half way around the world. There is a 12 hour time zone difference from Minnetonka to Baikal.
75 sailors are here. Upon arrival saw many familiar faces and meet many new ones. This place is so remote I’m not sure the locals have even heard of the coronavirus. Every Russian greets you with a big, full on, Russian Bear hug.
Today the fun begins. Must get boat out of shipping container. They containers were sere shipped via Semi from Germany via semi truck nearly a month ago. They arrived last week. They were brought down to the lake by Semi truck last night.
First order is to set up boat Opening ceremony at 11 then then it’s off to race course.
More later.
Mike Bloom”
Photo 1 is a DN on the roof of a car. With the plank on and the mast stepped. Something tells me this would be a bad idea anywhere but there!
Photo 2 The Road To Utopia
Photo 3 Looks like a lake ahead….
Photo 4 The Lake
Photo 5 A town on the way that Bloom claims is so small that no one has bothered to name it!
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What Are These?
Hello All- I found these tags in the NEIYA regatta kit along with the starting blocks and number chips. Anyone have an idea of what they are and what they are for? Please email me at t_thieler@yahoo.com if you have any insights… Thanks, T
Runner Polishing Secrets
There are endless theories and discussions about runners- How long, what kind of steel, how much flat, 90 or 100 bevel, what should lead in and exhaust look like, how thick, and on and on….
There are still more endless discussions on how to get the perfect shape on them. I start by sending them to Duhamel and letting him work his magic…. He once wrote an essay about a bumper-mounted sharpening jig that would tune your runners up on the drive to the ice. You’d drive on different surfaces to shine it up to perfection- It was a source of great amusement to all! Happy to say he has an even better method in place at the shop.
Then there is the question of how to get the perfect surface- and what IS the perfect surface? Sharp edge or dull? Shiny and smooth as you can get them or leave a satin finish? What to use? Diamond stones? Blue or brown? Is sandpaper better? Which grits? What kind? And what kind of fluid? I’ve used everything from the proper Boride stuff to blue windshield wiper fluid (I’m convinced it’s the same stuff, just re-labled) to soapy water to Windex, WD-40 and even coffee.
Everyone has their own secret sauce as it were, and here we see world-class Polish sailor Robert Graczyk revealing his special formula…. I reckon if you speak Polish you’ll get a lot out of this but even if you don’t you’ll learn something!
Click and learn….
https://www.facebook.com/bojery/videos/vb.128091410578775/457466190974627/?type=2&theater
Extreme Bendy Rigs….
We all love how bendy rigs work on an iceboat, and the photos we all love usually have the boat loaded up and the mast popped way out…. Such a cool look!
Take a look at this photo collection and see some serious mast torture going on…. As Jeff Kent says it looks like a few people “voided the warranty” that day!
Click and take a look….
Bend It Like…a DN Mast – DN North America
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James “T” Thieler
12 Channing St.
Newport, RI 02840
401 258 6230
t_thieler
Iceboating Podcast!
There is a boat shop in Bristol RI called East Passage Boatwrights http://www.epbws.com/ that restores classic yachts and builds new ones out of wood.
The owner/proprietor is an interesting guy named Carter Richardson- When not making old boats seaworthy and beautiful again he does a podcast that covers all things sailing and yachting….
I was flattered that he asked me to sit down and be interviewed about ice boating and as I hate to miss a chance to pimp the sport (or talk with a captive audience) I gladly agreed. It was a lot of fun and hopefully entertaining for the listener!
For those of you who haven’t heard me go on and on enough about iceboating yet have a listen here:
https://aroundthebuoy.com/ep-41-hard-water-sailing/ The iceboat talk begins at about four minutes in. And trust me, it’s riveting!
Be sure to check out the other episodes as well- all interesting and informative!
Happy listening! Think ICE
New England Ice Yacht Association 