Hey Folks- A group of about six boats sailed the race site today- A few bumps, a few drifts here and there but no problem getting wicked up to full speed!

We found a better launch site, see IDNIYRA site for details on that and everything else.

Registration Wednesday night at regatta HQ and first race Thursday AM.

Shake a leg and head up the road and join the fun!

Stay tuned….

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

401 258 6230
t_thieler

Having done a tour through our northern neighbor cold calling Canadian potential ice we are homing in on Plattsburgh. The weather gods sure have been giving it to us.

Image credit  John Dennis and Jim Mcdonagh

Ok sports fans- Montreal was snowed out but some good sites have been sailed in and near Plattsburgh, NY. The call has been made to head that way and get this regatta done!

Registration still open- If you have a DN get your tail in gear and come do the regatta! This is a great chance to be involved in a unique one…. And to celebrate the 60th birthday of this event!

More details as they emerge but for now see the IDNIYRA website for details.

And thanks to Bob Schumacher, Don Brush, Louise Racine, Rich Crucet and whoever else drove ahead and scouted ice on Champlain- Thanks for hanging in there and putting in the time and the miles!

Stay tuned…

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

401 258 6230
t_thieler

Stand by on the NA’s folks- Looks like Montreal has been snowed out overnight- see IDNIYRA site for details….

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

401 258 6230
t_thieler

Ok folks- The DN NA’s have been moved to Montreal, Canada. Details will be on the IDNIYRA website- It’s not too late to register so get cracking!

If you’ve been wondering what it’s like to attend a big event this is your chance- Trust me you won’t regret it- There will be Gold and Silver and possibly a Bronze fleet so there will be good sailing no matter what your skill level or how fancy your boat is so dust off the DN, call in sick and head for the border!

The fleet is excited to be heading to the backyard of the NEIYA so let’s build on that and show them all a good time! Hope to see a lot I familiar faces there-

I imagine volunteers will be needed also so if you want to lend a hand to the proceedings give me a call at 401 258 6230.

Gotta go pack up and head east. Stay tuned and see y’all soon!

T

This sport will teach you some patience…. Still in Peru IL across from the Super Wal-Mart…. Deep snow here…. Cold temps there…. And so we wait. Some are stoning runners. Others are writing letters to loves ones back home. Speculation rampant about the best course of action.

And the boredom. Always the boredom. As you can see in the photo below Oliver is coping as best as he can. Thank God the Patriots are playing later.

Stay tuned.

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

401 258 6230
t_thieler

With the cold comes snow.  Reports of recent ice at or may not survive the falling snow and the hold pattern will begin anew.

Bill Buchholz is checking more northerly venues and has his eye on Megunticook.

Ice boating is a constant and that constant is change. But if you never leave the driveway you will never sail. Cheers for those who venture into bad weather for a chance to sail. Having spent the day in the rain, fog and no wind last Saturday it is something I understand.

With patience,

John Stanton
NEIYA Secretary

Greetings,

The NEIYA has sent a healthy contingent out west for the DN North American’s but fear not there is some ice here in New England.  Just how many spare trailer tires should one bring for a 1,000 mile trip?   Bring home some silver boys.

Conditions as we all know have been tough with more of a January thaw than usual but it looks like we are in the ice making business once again.

At this time I know of two sites that while they need to be explored a little tomorrow look to be good for the rest of the long weekend.

• Ron Buzzell and company will be sailing Lake Sunapee tomorrow launching from the state beach in Newbury NH

• Dave Fortier and the CIBC folks will be sailing Jordan bay on Sebago tomorrow and over the weekend.  He reports the surface needs some additional cold weather and that the best days are likely to be Sunday and Monday.  Launching is from the boat ramp in Raymond Maine.  Check http://iceboat.me for updates.

The ice hotline (508) 377-6100 will be updated tomorrow evening once both plates are sailed and reports have filtered  back.

Be patient colder weather is coming.  Sail heads up and sail fast.  Its a whole new game and any ice that had been sailed before need to be thoroughly inspected.

John Stanton
NEIYA Secretary

This is

The Team RI Delivery Truck has arrived. This is the view out of the hotel room window of downtown metropolitan Peru…. I imagine it looks a bit different from the Peru south of here.

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

401 258 6230
t_thieler

This would be the mortal remains of the second trailer tire we popped. Good news is we had spares as we may have overloaded the trailer a little….

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

401 258 6230
t_thieler

Here is an action photo of Chad tuning up his slush runners while off watch in the back of the van- 60 miles from the hotel!

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

401 258 6230
t_thieler

The call was made to Dennis all to Peru, IL for the NA’s so we hit the road at about ten….

Now about 0530 and we’ve made good time in spite of some traffic on I-95 and a flat tire on the trailer. Fixed it fast enough to impress a NASCAR pit crew.

Chad’s turn to drive, Oliver gets the passenger seat and it’s my turn to stretch out on the slightly leaky air mattress in the back.

Off watch at last- Good practice for summer sailing-

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

401 258 6230
t_thieler