We asked for it and it rolled through late in the third period. The Zamboni has resurfaced our ice and getting it ready for review and fun.

Conditions are being confirmed and we have favorable reports coming out of most of the usual places. Naming names and starting outside of New England Budd Lake in NJ and Lake Mahopac in NY are both being scouted today. Moving west Bantam in CT is showing some good signs and is being checked out today. Further West off the Mass Pike Quabaug and down I395 Lake Chaubunagungamaug aka Webster Lake will both be looked at today. Reports are very positive out of Maine and it sounds like some of the best and biggest conditions will be had there. As always check out the Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club for the best coverage in that area.

There have to be other places but they have either not been scouted or they are being kept close to the vest. We rely upon condition information please share to our forum or pass it on me, Race Committee Chair T, or any of the officers.

Im not going to say we are in overtime just yet but now is the time to break loose of whatever is holding you back, work etc. As always conditions will vary and do change, sometimes very quickly, ice should not be considered safe until you have confirmed it for yourself. Sail heads up on any new piece of ice. Please be wary of the continued Covid 19 threat and be socially distant and follow all state and local regulations.

Sail Fast, Sail Safe and be safe,

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

P.S. I will say it again this opportunity will not last get out there and sail.

Hi All,

Please check the Chickawaukee Ice Boat Club website for updates regarding sailing tomorrow/Friday….https://iceboat.me/

Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club | Maine ice boat enthusiasts and friends One of the most common questions from people curious about iceboating is if we can sail in the snow. We hem and haw about bonded vs. unbonded and maximum depths,etc, and about loosing split rings and clevis pins in the powder. iceboat.me

If you can make it up, great. The weather forecast is good for Friday, but not for Saturday.

Bill has checked the ice and will be present to point any noted hazards, but keep in mind conditions may change overnight and everyone needs to use caution.

Please adhere to all COVID regulations, maintain social distancing in the pits, and wear masks.

Thanks, Karen Binder DN5630/NEIYA Secretary.

Our challenges have mounted this year but we did not give up. Small groups found small ice and had big fun over the past few days. But We all know how this story goes the fun stops when the white stuff falls from the skies. Temperatures are moderate and there is some melt going on so maybe just maybe some venues will make a brief sailable appearance.

Whether hope springs eternal or just plain Spring Hope we will be on the ice again. Thanks, Eben for helping me tailor a coined phrase for our own purpose.

With that in mind, there are definite possibilities in the heart of mid-coast Maine as well as points further east. At the more southerly end of our range, Lake Mahopac in NY is being looked at and there is some promise there. There are im sure other potential venues but the weather is a little tricky and heightened caution is needed. If you are keeping an eye on anyting please share in a comment here or in the comments section.

Weekend condition updates will be coming in tonight and tomorrow. Load up your gear and be ready do roll…

Don’t forget to check the classified section items wanted and for sale HERE https://theneiya.org/classifieds/

Think ICE and be safe,

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

Andre’ Baby was good enough to send this video our way- Good footage and be sure to take advantage of the 360 degree feature!

Hello guys,

In case you haven’t seen the latest . You can orient the camera any which way while Tomek is sailing, with the arrows on the left upper corner of the screen.

Enjoy !
André

Tak ślizga się Mistrz Polski 2021 – Tomasz Zakrzewski / Sailing with Polish Champ Tomasz Zakrzewski

Tak ślizga się Mistrz Polski 2021 – Tomasz Zakrzewski / Sailing with Pol…

Great to see the enthusiasm and guts this youngster has! She did well at the Nationals and we look forward to seeing her improve with a well tuned boat and some more time on the ice.

Iceboating bug can be dangerous >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News (sailingscuttlebutt.com)

The weather has dealt us a bad hand once again. Most of the region got some snow. This is on top of some already snowed in lakes as well as some on top of newly sailable bodies.

At the current moment we do not have reliable reports of any sailable ice. Please use extreme caution when checking out surfaces that are covered in snow. “Here is always thin ice someplace” and if its under snow you increase your chances. Just use your head and be safe.

There may be a possibility in Maine. Bill Buchholz reported on Tunk Lake in Maine. For those so inclined, he should have info on iceboat.me later today.

Anyone for some short tacks on the Alton Bay Ice Runway (Lake Winnipesaukee). The runway opened for the season last week and is reported to be 18+ inches thick. With a good thaw and refrozen surface we could be on Winni again.

If anything turns up over the weekend we will report back. Maybe just maybe something will happen.

Think Ice, Sail Fast and Be Save,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

More great tips from a top DN sailor- click and learn!

Thanks to Mike Madge for putting these together-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8LIMiLSyeg&feature=emb_title

Not sure where this is but you have to love it….

EurILCA – No matter the weather, you can always sail your… (facebook.com)

As far as we know iceboating originated in the Netherlands a few hundred years ago and there is still a strong fleet there.

They don’t get to sail in their own back yard much these days but last week things got cold and they were lucky to have some primo ice to break the drought!

Thanks to Margreet Elfring for sending this from the land of windmills, legal weed, red light districts, black ice, and colorful tulips.

Could be some sailing options coming together closer to home, stay tuned- Scouts are out and about.

Think ICE!!

The pilot of the DN that recently broke through in this photo was wearing a dry suit, used picks, and had informed others of his sail route. Because of this incident I again re evaluated the way I sail.

NEIYA cruisers and racers – please browse this excellent link about cold water immersion:

http://www.coldwatersafety.org

In all my years of emergency rescue work the link above is perhaps the most concise and clearly written explanation of cold water shock that i have ever seen. Written specifically for sport enthusiasts its contents are short and to the point. We all talk about the importance of ice claws, the benefits of dry suits, never sailing alone etc. But how often do we step out on the plate and take chances that later could cost us (or our want-to-be-rescuers) our lives? Have you had a few close calls and now are becoming complacent? I am sending this out and asking all of you to re evaluate the way you approach the associated risks of hard water sailing.

Every season I try to remind myself what it really means to fall through the ice. Some of you may recall my version of the “ice bucket challenge” where I pass around an ice filled water bucket and ask friends to hold their hand deep in it for one minute and then see what is left for dexterity after only 60 seconds have passed (spoiler: very little is left to work with). I hope every one of you will explore the contents this link opens up and from there reach out further and look at the way you, your friends, and others around you approach the ice.

Sail fast, safe, and whenever you can!

VC Jay Whitehair

Whether you race or cruise you will learn a lot by watching this video! Karol seems to have a knack for this iceboating stuff so pay attention….

Karol’s Winning Moves in the DN Ice Yacht – YouTube

Karol’s Winning Moves in the DN Ice Yacht

This pond was sailed today- as always, there is thin ice and care needs to be taken-

We stayed in the Mashpee Pond portion, did not venture north into the Wakeby Pond part so no info on that-

In the southern part known hazards include thin and open spots along the SW shore of the the lake and care needs to be taken to avoid these. Also a “goose hole” was reported, not sure where.

The ice was a bit soft and there were many healed over drain holes- cold nightly temps could lock it up and warm temps could make it un sailable- as always, exercise extreme caution, follow safety protocols, and stay in known safe areas.

Do not sail alone, wear your ice picks, and keep your eyes open-

Think ice!! T