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 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 |
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
|
And than there was Maine…
It’s been a challenging season. Many of us have had the least ice days ever. There was no sailing that I know of in Connecticut and Rhode Island. I waited on Bantam, my home ice, to come through but despite no snow there was only enough cold for the scattered ice fisherman. No sailing this year. Plenty of clean ice was to be had on Sunapee and Lake Champlain’s Mallets Bay.
I will hold off on the season recap till it is finally done, done and done as it is not…
For those who have not been following the goings on in Maine, I suggest you check in on the fine reporting from the Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club. Where else would you learn that high heels make excellent ice creeping shoes?
In coastal Maine the snow came, the snow went and left some fine sailing this past week. Which brings us this weekend. Damariscotta Lake is open for sailing! Open for cruisers as well as the Maine State DN championship. Expect spring ice conditions so get set up and sail early.
Let the chips fly…
John
DN5023
Ice Web Guy
P.S. Be sure to check the NEIYA hotline (508) 481-1011, http://iceboat.me and http://neiya.org and even Facebook and Twitter #neiyaweb for weekend updates and details.
DN NA update #3 Green Bay
I wonder how many people in Newport woke up this morning and said to themselves “ok, time to drive to Wisconsin.” At least two anyway…. Chad and I left at 4AM and spent about 19hrs getting here. Nice. What else was I doing today? Here at the hotel in Green Bay, trip was ok- actually managed to get here without any flat tires, dead batteries or out-of-fuel experiences. Weather mostly cooperated as well.
Lots of boats on roofs and trailers in the parking lot- that bodes well!
Dog-tired, hittin’ the hay- Will visit HQ and set up tomorrow AM. Stay tuned!
Team RI out.
DN NA’s Update #2 Indiana….
Passing through that northern bit of Indiana. We are basically out of things to talk about. Send suggestions please!
Just saw a bald eagle. You could tell what it was because the feathers on it’s head were all combed over from the side.
Told you things were dull. All good on the proud highway- no drama yet! 4 hrs to go….
Team RI
DN NA #1 Drivin’….
There goes yet another deer carcass on the side of the road… We are headed west.
The gang out west must make some kind of sacrifice (I will suggest that ignorance is bliss) every year to keep us all schlepping out that way. All I know is they’ve found some good conditions for that tradition continues! So it’s kind of a hike but the good news is they are great hosts and we look forward to seeing and sailing with everyone. And having some pickled eggs with MIke Derusha. If you did one of these road trips you’d know what I was talking about. Just sayin’….
All well on the trek west- Rt 80 in Clearfield, PA
Team RI
DN NA’s Update From The Road
So… The call was just made to head for Green Bay- too bad we couldn’t sail locally but Green Bay was good to us a few years back so… Off we go. The RI contingent will be leaving at 4AM. It’ll be me (T. Thieler) and Chad Atkins in my Dodge Caravan. We will arrive in fine style in only 19hrs, 51minutes. Hopefully a squad of counselors and psychotherapists will be on hand for our arrival. Will send updates from the proud highway!
Think Ice
James “T” Thieler
NEIYA Regatta Chairman and Already Weary Traveller
DN US 5224
IDNIYRA North American Championship Regatta news
The final call for the IDNIYRA North American Championship Regatta has been officially postponed due to impending weather forecast. The final call will be made on Friday evening, February 24. I will update the hotline as soon as I have the information – 1-508-481-1011, box #4. (If you press 4 twice, it will go directly to the message.) I will also update this web site.
Best regards,
Eben Whitcomb, 4775
Eastern Region Commodore
860-304-6319
2012 DN Eastern Regional Media
We have lots of pictures from last weekend from last weeks DN Eastern Regionals is in from Outer Mallents Bay Colchester, VT Saturday and Sunday February 18-19. Pretty sure everyone is featured at least once.
Thanks to Bill Converse for his dedicated photo taking. All pictures were taken during the first race on Saturday February 18th.
Thanks to Patrick Zachary for the Race 5 video from the windward mark
If anyone has any pictures from the weekend please share them.
John
2012 DN Eastern Regional Results
If you skipped the Eastern Regional Champs you skipped the wrong regatta! We enjoyed great ice, wind, and people on outer Mallet’s Bay in Colchester, VT. There was a good turnout thanks to the gang from New Jersey and our Canadian friends to the north, plus the usual suspects from the rest of New England.The venue was scoped out by our faithful spotters in VT- Paul Gervais, Bob Schumacher, and Don Brush among others- These guys have been tireless all season and we thank them for it! We also appreciate the local yacht club for letting us launch from their beach. And also a big thanks to Paige and John for keeping score and Eben Whitcomb for organizing the whole thing.
The racing was great- Saturday saw the breeze fill in late but just in time to squeeze in one race. Bob Schumacher took that one and we headed in. Sunday saw the breeze up early and we did six- count ’em, six races in moderate to light breeze. On a long course, no less… Flat sails and thin inserts were the tools of the trade that seemed to work best.
All in all a great, full day of racing DNs! Best sailing there is… Keep your fingers crossed for such conditions for the NA’s….
2011-2012 NEIYA Regatta Chairman
Easterns ON for Mallets Bay Colchester, VT 11 am start
The Eastern Region DN Championship is on for this weekend, February 18 and 19, in Outer Mallet’s Bay in Colchester, VT. Start time is 11am. The race is open to DN Sailors who are IDNIYRA members, and have valid proof of insurance. Sailors must have a thorough knowledge of the racing rules of the NIA and IDNIYRA. The entry fee is $10. Launching is at Mallet’s Bay Boat Club on Route 127 (which is Lake Shore Drive) across from the hardware store. Check New England hotline and website for updates – 508-481-1011
Best,
Eben
Note, weather forecast is positive and all of last weekends snow has melted leaving a nice surface. In fact stay up for the whole week and you will be here for the NA’s
2012 New England’s Pictures
Thanks to Bill Converse for the great action shots from this years New England DN Championship!
Over the years Bill has spent countless, often thankless, hours on the ice chronicling and officiating races and ice sailing throughout New England and the country. When you see Bill , thank him for his pictures, time and efforts.
Enjoy the pictures and please provide feedback via comments. link below.
John
Video Coverage from the 2012 New England’s
Thanks to Peter DiPrinzio for shooting the well produced video coverage of this years New England’s. One has to wonder if the on-board video equipment contributed to parasitic drag. Enough talk, look below for today’s show.
2012 New England DN Iceboating Championships from Peter DiPrinzio on Vimeo.
2012 New England’s Official Results
If you missed the 2012 New England Champs you missed a good one!
Paul Gervais once again found us all a great sheet of ice on outer Mallet’s Bay and Mother Nature was kind enough to provide light to medium breeze. There was a bit of light snow in the ice but insert runners and full sails were the combo.
Eric Anderson, in addition to his many duties as commodore, did some work on his boat and got her going well enough to take third. Chad Atkins was moving well in the light stuff to take second and Greg Cornelius had enough of an edge to take first. Racing was close with many lead changes and close finishes all day long.
Bob Crinion and Art Samson made it down from Nova Scotia, Dave Fortier tested the water (no harm to boat or skipper- thanks to Chad for providing the main-sheet to pull him and his boat out), and we had Peter DiPrinzo and his girlfriend Stephanie on hand shooting video, pics, and writing an article about the regatta- Better yet, they kept score! Many thanks to them for that and we look forward to seeing the pics and finished article.
Many laughs at dinner at some pizza place I can’t recall the name of- Safe to say a good time was had by all! Thanks to everyone who made it possible.
Stay tuned for the next regatta….
James “T” Thieler
NEIYA Race Chairman
2012 NEW ENGLAND DN CHAMPIONSHIP NOTICE OF RACE
NEIYA Regatta Chairman
401-258-6230
t_thieler@yahoo.com
And the Winner Is…
Official final results for the 2012 Don “Doc” Fellow Regatta
The 2012 Don “Doc” Fellows Regatta was sailed Sunday, January 8 on Missisquoi Bay on Lake Champlain, just south of the Canadian border.
Saturday was a wash due to light winds, drizzle, and a very unfriendly game warden who threw us out of the parking lot at the launch site. We plan on complaining to the mayor, governor, and maybe even the President. He was by all accounts a real gem.
The issue was resolved within an hour as Paul Gervias, who must be the most connected-guy in Vermont found us a launch site on the other side of the bridge- thanks and well done Paul! Dinner was in St. Albans at the Federal One restaurant- great to get the gang together and get caught up over some good food.
Sunday was the day- medium breeze with some good puffs and snow-covered ice, plus a bit of snow coming down made the day interesting for everybody and provided some great racing. Snow plates and medium-draft sails seemed to be the weaponry of choice.
Eric Anderson was going well enough with his hot-out-of-the-autoclave CSI rig to take 4th, Steve Madden put in a solid 3rd with decade-old mast and sails, Chad Atkins had a consistent day with his new CSI rig and almost new boat to take second, and “T” Thieler had a few things go his way to take 1st. Complete results are on the way- stay tuned….
Thanks to all who helped get this one in the books- Eric Anderson, Paul Gervais, Bob Schumacher, Kate Morrone (volunteered to score Saturday), Andy Sajor (scored Sunday), and everyone who set and moved marks. And, of course, everyone who showed up and raced!
New England Champs on the schedule for January 14 and 15- clear you calendars and prep your boats! See ya’ll there-
Think Ice!
James “T” Thieler
NEIYA Regatta Chairman
2012 Don “Doc” Fellows Regatta
The 2012 Don “Doc” Fellows Regatta was sailed Sunday, January 8 on Missisquoi Bay on Lake Champlain, just south of the Canadian border.
Saturday was a wash due to light winds, drizzle, and a very unfriendly game warden who threw us out of the parking lot at the launch site. We plan on complaining to the mayor, governor, and maybe even the President. He was by all accounts a real gem.
The issue was resolved within an hour as Paul Gervias, who must be the most connected-guy in Vermont found us a launch site on the other side of the bridge- thanks and well done Paul! Dinner was in St. Albans at the Federal One restaurant- great to get the gang together and get caught up over some good food.
Sunday was the day- medium breeze with some good puffs and snow-covered ice, plus a bit of snow coming down made the day interesting for everybody and provided some great racing. Snow plates and medium-draft sails seemed to be the weaponry of choice.
Eric Anderson was going well enough with his hot-out-of-the-autoclave CSI rig to take 4th, Steve Madden put in a solid 3rd with decade-old mast and sails, Chad Atkins had a consistent day with his new CSI rig and almost new boat to take second, and “T” Thieler had a few things go his way to take 1st. Complete results are on the way- stay tuned….
Thanks to all who helped get this one in the books- Eric Anderson, Paul Gervais, Bob Schumacher, Kate Morrone (volunteered to score Saturday), Andy Sajor (scored Sunday), and everyone who set and moved marks. And, of course, everyone who showed up and raced!
New England Champs on the schedule for January 14 and 15- clear you calendars and prep your boats! See ya’ll there-
Think Ice!
James “T” Thieler
NEIYA Regatta Chairman
The Don “Doc” Fellows Regatta is ON for this weekend
Location Swanton VT Date: January 7- 8 2012
Take RT 89 to Swanton VT Exit 21 Follow signs to RT 78W. Stay on 78 untill you see the bridge on Lake Champlain. The launch is immediately before the bridge on the right side at a state fishing access
Registration opens at 10 Am at the Launch site
Start Time: 11 AM if conditions warrant.
A minimum of 3 races must be completed to be an official regatta. If 5 races are completed, competitors can discard their worst score. There is no Maximum number of races.
Last race will start no later than 30 min before sundown. (4:30 PM Eastern Standard time).
This is a NEIYA event and all competitors must be NEIYA members. (Membership forms available on site, dues = 20$) No Dues, no racing. Period.
Parking brakes required.
Competitors must have liability insurance coverage of 300,000$ (usually a homeowners or renters policy), and sign a waiver prior to racing.
**** Note: The conditions for this event are likely to be good. Currently there is a sailable area 1 X 2.75 miles hard black ice with 0.75” snow on top. Forecast for Sat is a high of 40° F with winds south at 10
Commodore NEIYA
The Don “Doc” Fellows Regatta is this weekend
Location TBA Date: January 7- 8 2012
We are looking at a few sites. It has been warm so our options are limited and likely all North of MA. Right now, Lake Champlain, north of Burlington is the best bet. Next update will be Thursday at 7 pM
Registration opens at 10 Am at the Launch site
Start Time: 11 AM if conditions warrant.
A minimum of 3 races must be completed to be an official regatta. If 5 races are completed, competitors can discard their worst score. There is no Maximum number of races.
Last race will start no later than 30 min before sundown. (4:30 PM Eastern Standard time).
This is a NEIYA event and all competitors must be NEIYA members. (Membership forms available on site, dues = 20$) No Dues, no racing. Period.
Parking brakes required.
Competitors must have liability insurance coverage of 300,000$ (usually a homeowners or renters policy), and sign a waiver prior to racing.
**** Note: The conditions for this event are likely to be challenging, but frankly it is the best we have to offer
Commodore NEIYA
Results, DN Eastern Regional Championship
New Venue For Eastern DN Championship
ALERT VENUE CHANGE
The launch site for the Eastern DN Championship has been changed.
The directions to the new site are: Take Exit 23 off of I-93 Take Route 104 to Meredith, NH Take Route 25 to Center Harbor Turn left at the second light onto Dean Road (heading toward Sandwich) Travel approximately 2 miles, and take left on High Haith Road, which leads to the launch on Squam Lake.
Best regards,
Eben Whitcomb
Eastern Region Commodore
860-304-6319 (cell)
New England Ice Yacht Association 