Some good video from the recent DN Nationals out in MI…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LWa0lQSQSA&feature=emb_title

In case you don’t already know we are out of business for a little while. A little patience and we should find something. I know some people are hoping there is a miracle body of water that repels but sorry to say, no.

Best grab some skis or snow shoes and head out and enjoy the outdoors some other way.

Next update mid week next week or sooner if something materializes.

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

It is with a heavy heart that I must let everyone know that Leo A. Healy one of our founding members passed away last week. Leo led a rich and full 98 years on and off the ice. Here is a link to his obituary https://dockrayandthomasfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.html

He was one of the founding members of the New England Ice Yacht Association and had remained active to the end. He was a driving force behind racing for many years and a regular participant both in New England and where ever the ice took him. A brief club history by Bob Kilpatrick https://theneiya.org/neiya-a-brief-history/

One of the lasting memories for many of us was his voice on the ice hotline announcing the weekend’s activities. Way back when all we had was the phone to keep us in touch and Leo did it well. His signature sign offline and one that is continuously used to this day. “Remember, there is thin ice someplace”. We all know how true this can be!

On a personal note, Leo and I would spoke regularly both leading up to and during the season over the past number of years. He would preach about unity within the NEIYA and the need to be inclusive regarding new sailors and those wanting to enjoy iceboating away from the start finish line. The last time I talked to Leo was prior to our annual meeting last fall. I knew he would not be able to make it so gave him a call to let him know of our plans. I could clearly hear that he was thrilled that I called and told me that he was wearing a regatta coat that day. He was happy to here that we were continuing under difficult circumstances and told me “John, you seem to have everything under control” Of course, I did not know this would be the last time we would speak but looking back I think he believed that the organization on a good path. The NEIYA was his baby and he cared deeply about it currently and into the future.

At the 2017 NEIYA annual meeting Leo was honored for his years of service and awarded a perpetual membership in the club. That membership is still current and will renew everytime we think about him and especially when we next do the “Hard Way”.

A proposal will be put forward to rename the “Hard Way” in honor of Leo. “Leo’s Hard Way” etc. Submit your ideas.

I have talked and communicated with many of you and need your help in putting together a proper memorial/tribute page for Leo. Need pictures, stories, and thoughts. Please help us preserve memories.

Leo sail fast on boundless ice,

John Stanton
DN5023
Commodore, NEIYA
john@neiya.org

When I learned to ride a horse as a boy I was told, “There are two kinds of horsemen, those who have fallen and those who are going to fall.”

I suppose one might say the same of ice boaters.

When I started ice boating 40 years ago on a “cheap skate”, I used to carry two Phillips screwdrivers attached by a thin line run thru the sleeves of my parka. I never had occasion to use them, but they were there.

More recently when I started Nordic skating and purchased a DN, I bought a pair of more upscale “ice-claws” that hang around my neck on a plastic holder. Last season after a “wake- up call” on Newfound Lake (sailing towards open water at 30 knots) I bought a dry suit and started wearing it out on the ice.

I am comfortable in the water, a strong swimmer and confident sailor, but having jumped into 34-degree water once (intentionally) I recognized the danger.

Today on Lake Winnipesaukee I went through the ice not once, but twice. The first time was in a trench where one ice plate was subducting beneath another and the surface looked sound, but the boat broke through. Thanks to the drysuit there was no submersion shock of hitting the freezing water.

To my pleasant surprise, my DN floats, though I know most DNs do not. I crawled /swam over the top of the floating hull to the edge of the ice. I was actually quite buoyant in the drysuit. Once there I was confronted by a 45degree angled sheet of slippery wet ice that I could not surmount. Out came the ice picks and I clawed my way up the slippery slope, pulling a line that was attached to the mast (in anticipation of just such an incident).

Not from incident but a great example from From Bob Dill’s http://lakeice.squarespace.com/pressure-ridges/

Classic downfolded ridge. Photo by Jeff Brown

Once up on the ice I was able to flag down a fellow ice-boater (Randy Rice) who helped me rescue the boat from the “drink”. Thanks to him and my attached line.

Eager to get back to the car, but feeling warm enough and not wet through (due to the dry suit), I headed back to the beach, but wandered off course and found another gap between two plates.  Again the boat floated and I was able to get back up on the ice. As I tried to rescue the boat a second time I heard a high pitched cracking and realized the ice I was standing on was less than an inch. At that point, 200yds from shore and with no help in sight I abandoned the boat and walked ashore.

A homeowner was kind enough to drive me back to the launch point and my car.

“After action report”

The point of the story is not to embarrass myself, but to present a cautionary tale and encourage all my fellow ice enthusiasts to consider the merits of dry suit technology, and by all means, keep those ice picks handy.

I was moving slowly, scouting what I recognized as a sketchy situation, so there was no high-speed trauma. I climbed out of the water twice, was not cold, did not end up in the ER with hypothermia, was able to get back in my car and drive myself home.

I notified the people who were out on the ice and knew I had gone in before I went home, so that they would not undertake a search and rescue operation (they had already started looking for me).  Luckily my phone was still working. I also notified the local police so that if the boat was discovered by anyone else they would not undertake a search and rescue mission.

Your fellow ice–boater,

Mark Friedman
DN3869

Some good videos and stories here to while away the time until the snow melts….

At The Front – February 2021 (adobe.com)

All but the very youngest of us (Milo) had blackboards in school. Some of those boards were green. Randy Rice found a beautiful stretch of perfect mirror-smooth Green Ice. Take a look as it will be under a white blanket of grr show soon. We look forward to hearing from Randy when Winni and the surrounding lakes come back into play.

When sailing is not an option, most of us can’t help but skate, walk, or ski on or around our favorite local bodies of water. The Covid grip has pushed us to explore smaller venues closer to home. Even if not sailing, I have not been disappointed in the wonderful winter scenes.

As veteran DNers and former NEIYA commodore, Eben Whitcomb said to me after returning from a skate recently, “it’s nicer outdoors”. Till our ice returns get out there and enjoy what the cold has to offer us all.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

Frosty, Karen, T, Ron, Rhea – Great day of practice!

Hello,

After six straight days of sailing, I woke up this morning with my brain was saying…"I am Living the Dream." My joints were saying, "Stop! Please!"

Yesterday, David Frost, Rhea Nicholas, and I had the incredibly benefit of an on the ice private coaching day with James "T" Thieler and Ron Sherry. Two of the very best….

We set up marks, the breeze filled to 10-12mph, and the drifts seemed a bit smaller. Scratch racing, switching boats, and mark rounding practice all afternoon. During Nationals my mast inverted several times during tacks. That is not fast because you have to bear off a ton and let out a lot of sheet to get it to pop over. I am sure that allowed for boats to zoom by me a few times. So, I asked Ron for tacking advice.

He broke down how he tacks and said I was probably tacking too fast. Ron heads up very gently/slowly. Then scoots forward, bends his knees, eases his body and his head under to slide under the boom, uses his knee to push the boom over to help the mast to rotate, then let’s out a TINY bit of sheet. As soon as the sail fills he straightens his legs by pushing hard on his steps and pulls the sheet hard back in. It worked. I was easing way too much sheet and going into the tacks way too fast. My tacks improved dramatically and no more mast inverting.

So, then I asked him about gybes. At the speeds we were going during Nationals, I felt my boat was floating a bit during gybes so I avoided doing too many gybes. That also probably cost me a few boats in various races. Ron said he does not let out any sheet when he gybes. He scoots forward, gets under the boom, and gybes. Boom. It worked. I felt my boat was staying down on the ice and I felt much safer.

The highlight of yesterday was beating Ron and T in a two-lap race. Maybe they started late. Maybe they were taking it easy. I don’t know. I raced really well and Ron’s tips were extremely helpful. I hope they will be to you, too.

Fun day as the picture shows. Today was a no wind day so no sailing. Joints are happy. We are here in northern Michigan for a few more days. With snow predicted everywhere else in the next few days maybe we are in the perfect spot to sail more.

Cheers,

Karen
DN 5630

Sorry for the late post but was waiting for some additional intel. The late returns did not pan out but I was ever hopeful. Hopeful that there would be some choices in other states but New Hampshire. We are out everywhere but NH. There was scouting on Winni but the results were not great and or require further scouting.

Wentworth is back in a limited way but it has been sailed over the past couple days. And what appears to be the best game in town. There are frozen drifts ranging from 1/2 to 3 inches in depth and firmly anchored to the surface ice.

Think Ice and be safe,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

Before you go:

• Be aware of and adhere to all local, state, or federal regulations.
• If you have any symptoms get tested and be negative before you go. If in doubt, stay at home!.
• Practice Social Distancing – Easy gauge, the length of a DN plank is eight(8) feet.
• Keep congregating and socializing in the pits and parking areas to a minimum.
• Wear your mask or face covering while setting up, transporting gear to and from your car or trailer, and while setting up.
• The NEIYA will NOT be holding any official after ice activities so plan accordingly.
• Let’s all be safe and keep the safety of others in mind in everything we do.

16F felt so much warmer than yesterday’s 2F and despite a forecast for light wind, it piped up quickly once we walked a mile out to the plate. The race committee hoped to get in three races for the gold and silver fleet, but with changing wind direction, blowing snow, and huge puffs each fleet was only able to do one race before racing was halted for the day and the regatta called completed. When asked about the racing conditions T said "Hurtling down the downwind leg was equally exhilarating and terrifying! It’s a fine line."

Congratulations to James T. Thieler for placing 4th overall after 9 races, Ron Sherry for placing 1st, Chris Berger for placing 2nd, Eric Smith 3rd place and Steve Orlebeke for his 5th place finish. View the results http://iceresults.org/dn/2021NATIONALS.htm

Here are the conditions on the ice when racing was called due to conditions. This picture does not do it justice. YOU HAD TO BE THERE!

A huge thanks to the race committee for three days of difficult and freezing conditions!

See you New England soon,

Karen Binder
DN 5630

At the launch this morning the thermometer read 2F, but the wind was 0 mph. Racing was delayed for quite some time. By 11:00 am I noticed a head stay telltale flying straight out and said as much to a few guys in the pit, but no one was convinced. So, the guys gabbed and I forged out to plate. It’s about a 1.5 mile push through snow and very rough ice. It’s exhausting.

By the time I reached the sailable ice, the wind was definitely blowing a steady 10 mph and the race committee was just setting the windward mark. That gave me a lot of time to get settled and set up before others arrived. After one lap I was happy with my runner choice, but saw dark clouds and snow showers on the horizon so switched to my ABSS sail. A good call as the wind just got bigger as the afternoon progressed and at times racing was delayed due to white out conditions and marks falling down. T felt the wind was a steady 15 mph with gusts in the 20s. With blowing snow, he said the conditions were not for the faint of heart.

All of that made the racing really really fast. I thought yesterday was the fastest I’d ever gone in my boat, but today I reached a new kind of speed downwind. I felt like my boat had a jet engine and it was going to go insanely fast whether I wanted it to or not. It almost felt like it was ready to lift off the ice and fly. While I was working hard to race well, I didn’t focus too much on my place in the fleet. I took it as another good day to work on sailing in big wind. My last race was my best race, but I still lost two boats on the last downwind leg. ARGH. I did hear a few guys comment on how challenging the conditions were and so for me to stay in control, finish all the races, and beat a few gold fleet boats made for another great day of sailing.

A few of us at the end of the racing said out loud to each other how fast we all felt and then just shook our heads in disbelief that the top guys (Ron, Chris, T, Steve, JR) still finish a leg in front of us. How fast must they be going?

Tomorrow has us doing three more races to wrap up the Nationals. The wind is predicted to be light.

Cheers, Karen DN 5630

Sometime yesterday there was a collective sigh heard amongst the New England iceboating community. The white stuff has fallen across our region covering up some of the best sailing this season.

In case anyone needs a reminder about taking advantage of good ice as soon as it’s available. Bantam came and went in a matter of a few hours yesterday. Sailors set up early sailed and marked the hazards and a couple hours later they were forced off the plate due to accumulating snow. The wait continues.

Let’s post some first hand info into the comment section below or if you prefer our Forum. https://theneiya.org/forum/

We are sorting through rumors of areas of ice that have missed the brunt of the snow. With a little luck some people could be sailing for the weekend or sooner.

Think Clean Ice,

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

Hi folks,

Today was the first day of Nationals with 52 competitors traveling from as far as North Carolina, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Florida, and New York. Black Lake is located in Northern Michigan and the lake is large. The day had big winds with gusts to 20 at the start of the day and the temperatures hovered at the upper teens. Snow was whipping around and the pitted ice made sailing pretty exciting. T and I arrived early on Sunday and managed to practice both days. Given the limited sailing back east, it was nice to have two solid days on the ice before the racing began.

I squeaked into the gold fleet after finishing 12th in the qualifying race. For me, today was about sailing with confidence in big wind which has always made me very nervous. I started with my heavy 90 degree inserts and my flatter sail. I surprised myself with solid starts by sitting more back in my boat and hiking a bit until I was two blocked. I made good lay line decisions both upwind and downwind, and my mark roundings especially at the leeward mark were at good speeds but always in control. In one race I had a great start and rounded the top mark in 5th place just behind T, but what I am learning in the gold fleet is that these really experienced gold fleet sailors just ZOOM-ZOOM away while I watch from behind and wonder why?! It must come down to better and constant sail trim both upwind and downwind. T said he is constantly playing his sail. I tend to lock in and let her ride.

By the 3rd race I felt I could sail a bit faster so I switched to my 95 degree inserts. The wind was fading a bit and that was causing big slow-downs when hitting the drifts. That really helped a lot in my other races. Yes, my finishes are still at the bottom of the fleet. But given the very challenging wind and ice conditions I definitely sailed the fastest I have ever gone in my boat and I had a lot of confidence at those speeds. Last year, I remember being terrified in big wind. Today, frankly, it was a total rush.

More tomorrow!

Karen Binder
DN 5630