Just got this post. Usually this area gets the snow. Flagstaff is one of those, “Dam the river, drown the town”, types of lakes. Much shallow water in a definitely colder part of Maine. Not sure of a good launch site except maybe the main road. There could be moving water there though. Great camping in the summer too and a Main Hut just a short ski in.
This past weekend NEIYA members bursted out of our six New England states to join the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club’s annual meeting. For those who are not familiar with the organization, the HRIYC members are custodians to one of the largest collections of early 20th century ice yacht. Some in their collection were owned by the Roosevelt family.
Those traveling to Hudson NY included VC Charlie, Eben Whitcomb, and our new Vintage Event chairman George Neyssen.
We intend on holding a grand classic iceboat event this season. The welcome mat has been laid down. Has been laid down for the entire region as well as the Midwest. And as we often hear “All we need is ice”
While we sat around inside and talked iceboating on Sunday, several NEIYA members actually sailed. As previously reported by Karen and T there was ideal ice and practice racing on Lake Christina in Ashby, MN. Hats off for the level of commitment to make that happen. More tiller time is the open secret to performance on the race course or cruising.
Coming up we will have our regular call on Thursday at 6:30 maybe there will be some sailable ice to report. If not we will certainly talk about our most recent travels, the Classics event, and how we are getting closer to sailing somewhere.
Any Metro NY iceboaters or those with an interest in iceboating should consider attending the Lake Ronkonkoma Ice Boat Yacht Club Swap Meet.
When: Saturday, December 9th, 2023
From: 12-3 pm
Where: Weeks Yacht Yard
10 Riverview Court, Patchogue, NY
Qeustions: contact John Ziermann racekart8@yahoo.com
Think Ice,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
Take a look at this vid from today’s racing from the Western Challenge; Great day!
Good breeze, nice ice, seven races each in three different fleets and a whole second course set up for new sailors. Awesome day! Thanks to all who are making it happen….
I figured it was time to start my new job. Thank you for voting me in as vice commodore of the NEIYA. It is a wonderful organization that I’ve been a part of for many years. Settling down in Wolfeboro in 1986 was by a stroke of luck . Within a couple years I was back on the ice with parts of a rig my dad had made in 1962. The following years always seemed to have local ice and many a Frolic was to be had. I hope those times will return and fun times can be had by all. I’ll try to keep all posted of local conditions and keep the group informed of happenings of this great activity.
Thank you again and hope to see you on the lakes this year.
Not much to report sailing-wise other than we were skunked for beeeze. A total bummer BUT it gave everyone plenty of time to hang out and catch up which, in a group like this, is always great to do.
In twenty-five years of DN sailing I’ve always been amazed at the scope of vocations, avocations and personalities of the people who are involved in this class. Boat captains, doctors, pilots, engineers, musicians, artists, landlords, composite experts, sailmakers, lawyers, boatbuilders, at least one plumber…. The list goes on and on!
Where are these people from? I can tell you that yesterday I chatted with people from Minnesota, Maryland, New York, Maine, Wisconsin, Ohio , Illinois, Rhode Island, Michigan, Germany, Massachusetts, Canada, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Australia. All hanging out in a lake in northern Minnesota. Not bad!
A quick count showed roughly 70 boats here, also a great turnout. We have even spotted a smattering of women and younger sailors in the group, good to see but would be great to have more of both…. Please recruit more women and children into this little cult….
Did I mention some night owls saw the Aurora Borealis last night?
Hoping for breeze today, will update as things go. Looking forward to doing some sailing…. In the meantime see below for some miscellaneous photos.
Think ICE!
T. DN US 5224
The frozen pizza section at Larry’s Food Store:
A small woodpecker eating suet off a deer carcass that someone left hanging from a branch:
Lake Christina from the top of a hill….
Aussies in Minnesota. How the hell???
The Deep Creek-ers made it out:
Action photo from the road:
The launch area Thursday afternoon, before the horde arrived
With Thanksgiving behind us, watchful eyes are monitoring the ice on various lakes and ponds. In case anyone did not see the IDNIYRA announcement last week, our own Paul Chamberland took the honor of first sail. Paul had to really go the distance and success meant going all the way to Alberta Canada.
We already know that the NEIYA contingent has arrived or is en route to Minnesota for the unofficial start of the DN racing season. Secretary Karen will continue to keep us jealous with her reports from Lake Christina. Put it on your calendar for next year.
Bob S. took a swing by Quabaug for a look and it is nowhere near what it needs to be but making progress. Seeing the ice form gives one the motivation to get boats ready.
Meanwhile some 350 miles northeast of Quabaug, Bill Buchholz and cohorts are nosing around a small lake. He reports there are skaters and skimbots. Heavier crafts are holding off for the moment. Pushaw Lake is also being looked at.
A small contingent including myself, VC Charlie S., and George Neisen will be dropping in on the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club’s annual meeting this Sunday. The HRIYC is the historical custodian of many vintage stern steerers. Their goal is to not only maintain but also use the crafts for their intended purpose, sailing on the frozen Hudson and elsewhere. As announced at our own meeting George will be the vintage event point person. Yes, we are going to do our best to make this event happen in 2024.
Our regular call is scheduled for 6:00 pm tonight Thursday 11/30 @ 6:00 pm. Drop in if you can.
Think Ice,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
Great ice and a gorgeous day with breeze filling in now. 
The usual halfway point at Center Harbor with the MV Mount Washington in the background.
Here is a little update on the, “Hard Way” to wet your appetite. For a more detailed history, please look under the, “Regattas and Events” link and read the article by Bob Kilpatrik on the Hard Way. There are also more detailed reports of the current fleets on the site.
The Hardway , as it is called, is a roundtrip from one end of Lake Winnipesaukee to the other. It can start at either the north end, Usually Center Harbor, or the south end at Wolfeboro, NH. The trip must contain a fleet of 5 boats minimum and one person must have completed the trip prior. The round trip must be completed within a 24 hour period. Only the pilot of the craft receives credit although passengers and crew often will get mentioned. skippers who have competed the trip 3 times get their names engraved on a trophy.
I’m not sure why Fleet 15 in 2004 seemed to be the last attempt for a while but it might have been due to the loss of several veterans of the Winni Frolic. Jon Hix, Leigh Turner, and Allen Stevens are all sailing that plate of perfect black ice. They tended to be the main scouters of the lake. With the transition into retirement, I now found the time and the companionship to do some scouting. I also rely on others to help especially from the north end of the lake. This led to renewed interest locally of attempting the “Run” again. Although I tried to post conditions as I scouted, many times they occurred midweek and May not have lasted thru the Weekend. More detailed write-ups are on the NEIYA site but here’s a recap.
Fleet 16 1/28/2016 10 boats
Fleet 17 3/26/2019 11 boats
Fleet 18 3/1/2020 6 boats
Fleet 19 3/16/2021 8 boats
Four new names have been added to the trophy with several in need of just one more trip. Perhaps this will be their year. I hope many more of you can enjoy this wonderful experience soon.
T and I rolling out of the driveway as I type. We used our handy packing list, but when driving all the way to Minnesota one wonders if all bases are covered.
I’ll send some reports on conditions and how Team New England handles the ice!
Over and out,
Karen Binder
DN 5630
As always the summer flew by and it’s time to get rolling into the winter season. And if you are anything like me you are asking “What the hell happened and why am I so far behind on getting my gear ready YET AGAIN!”
But never mind the details. Time to go sailing! Things are looking good for the Western Challenge so cobble together whatever sailable gear you have, load on up and head on out! Forecast etc looks good and it sounds like there will be a good turnout.
Hope to see a lot of Eastern faces out there!
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Hopeful signs for a good season!
One of our own got the NA season going this year! Well done Paul!
https://www.idniyra.org/2023/11/22/paul-chamberland-opens-na-dn-season-in-alberta-canada/
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