Denis Guertin was featured on the CIBC website with this hot little news item. Check it out!

Ice Wins In July

Posted on July 11, 2016 by billbuchholz

The small village of Lampton is nestled along the southern end of Lac St. Francois in Quebec. Careful readers of these musings will remember this lake as the venue for the first annual CIBC Hundred Mile Race last March [Still kicking myself for missing it…] , and the summer home of winner of that race, Denis Guertin.

Apparently Lambton has a fine community spirit. This from Denis:

“A few weeks ago, I took part to a photo contest in Lambton.

Participants had to submit a picture taken in Lambton. The theme of the contest was: Showing someone doing his sport or hobby in Lambton.

So I decided to send a picture of Bill, Jim, Lee, Karin and me (behind the camera) all aligned with our iceboats, the day before the 100 miles race.

And guess what? I won the first prize… $100!

I guess I will have to pay you all a beer some time next season.”

Don’t worry about that beer, Denis. Your hospitality during those amazing days in March was already way over the top. Here’s to pulling it off again next year!

Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

We all know that the folks at Harken keep topping themselves by rolling out one amazing new product after another…

But did you know that one of their main engineers and visionaries behind a lot of those items is the one and only Steve Orlebeke, veteran DN campaigner and Skeeter newbie?

Well, he is. Check out this video- get the scoop on the latest Harken innovation from Steve and the gang!

How It’s Made: Harken V Block >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

James “T” Thieler
12 Channing St.
Newport, RI 02840

401 258 6230
t_thieler

Not sure where or when this was taken but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t last week! The boat is an Open Bic and it’s a damn shame they didn’t slap a few skates on the hull and rip it for a day!

Looks like a fun day though-

Whatever lake that is I hope it freezes up early this year-

Think ICE!

Happy Independence Day gang- be sure to take moment to appreciate all we have and all it took to get here…. And then enjoy the day!

This was lurking in the back of Classic Boat magazine a month or so ago- Thanks to David Hastings in Norwich for sending it out to the masses- Sounds like a great day!

James “T” Thieler12 Channing St.
Newport, RI. 02840

401 258 6230
t_thieler

Hey Folks- Now that the Solstice is behind us it’s time to start thinking of the next event to kill time until it gets cold again….

Fortunately Open Wheel Wednesday is coming up soon at Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, MA!

Steve Duhamel and Bill Converse have been attending this for years and having joined them a few times I can see why! It’s loud (seriously, bring some earplugs), fast, flashy, and there is great spectator access to the pits so you can check out the cars and the trailers. Yes, the trailers. These things are amazing.

Mark it on your calendar (Wednesday, June 29) and come join the fun! Hope to see a bunch of fellow ice-people there…

Probably a good percentage of us follow a few sailing websites, and there is a good chance that Scuttlebutt is one of them!

They printed a little item about the new DN website, with the link included in the article. Have a look and THINK ICE! T

Learn about the DN Iceboat >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

James “T” Thieler
12 Channing St.
Newport, RI 02840

401 258 6230
t_thieler

NEIYA photographer Bill Converse was in Newport a little while before the Bermuda Race and caught a few boats tuning up. Just a hint of the variety of craft that participated!

-The first boat is a Santa Cruz 70, a downwind flyer from a few years back. Very narrow beam compared to what in style these days.
-The second is a Maxi 72, so far only four in existence- all carbon, built to a box rule, very light weight, lots of righting moment, very fast, VERY expensive!
-The third is a Class 40, also a box rule boat, built for shorthanded or solo sailing. Bill believes she was built in Bristol RI called C&C Fiberglass. Speedy little thing… there are a bunch of these that compete in races up and down the east coast and back and forth to Europe.
-And finally we see the SALTY GOOSE, built by the legendary Bob Derecktor down at his yard in Mamaroneck, NY. One of a list of amazing boats he built, from cruisers to America’s Cup winning 12 Meters.

What does this have to do with iceboating? Not much, but couldn’t resist sharing the good photos.

Thanks Bill and keep them coming! Think ICE!!

The final NEIYA rep we know of has finished the Bermuda race! Jonathan Green and Russ Hancock brought JEROBOAM across the finish line after 4 days, 18 hours, 48 minutes and 25 seconds of sailing. This puts them over the line in 87th overall and 2nd in the doublehanded division. Well done! Hope they are enjoying all Bermuda has to offer!

Congrats to them and all the NEIYA members who did the race. Enjoy the party gang! Looking forward to hearing the stories this winter- or sooner if anyone wants to write a little piece for this site… (hint hint….)

Think Ice!

Looks like two of out three are done the Bermuda Race-

The light winds at the end had to be rough but LADY B and AUGUST WEST have finished.

The Lambs are done, having finished in 4 days, 11 hours and 30 minutes. This put them 7th in class and 33rd over the line. Not bad at all! Hope Steve did well in the galley-

NEIYA regatta chairman Oliver Moore and the gang on AUGUST WEST did very well to finish in 4 days, 8 hours and 22 minutes. This puts them 4th in class and 13th for line honors- very impressive for being one of the smaller boats in a 200 boat fleet!

And Jonathan Green on JEROBOAM has about fifty miles to go and is making about 5.5 kts toward the finish. At this rate he is looking at 95th for line honors but is holding onto 2nd in the doublehanded class. Not bad at all! I’ve done the doublehanded race from Bermuda back to Newport and I can tell you that it is a lot of work- there will be two tired sailors stepping off that boat!

Congrats to all- enjoy the parties and get out of jail before hard-water season!

Think Ice! T

With the summer solstice now behind us and the days getting shorter it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming iceboating season!

To celebrate this milestone the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association has launched a brand new web site, fully re-designed and up to date. Everything you need to know about the DN class is included and easy to find: How to get started, building and tuning tips, plans, regatta notices, classified ads, the DN Class Forum, contacts, lots of great photos and videos, and much more.

To learn more about the fastest sailing on the planet (And how to join the fun!) visit the new site at

Make this the year to start iceboating! Take a look at the site and start getting ready. Be sure to spread the word. Look forward to seeing some new faces in the class this season!