How long until we can send some NE kids to one of these things?

IDNIYRA Secretary Deb Whitehorse stayed in Sweden to cover the European Junior champs (rough duty but someone has to do it…)

She sends these reports and photos- both very worth a look!

https://www.idniyra.org/2020/02/17/2020-junior-ice-sailing-world-championship-day-1-pm-update/

https://www.idniyra.org/2020/02/18/2020-junior-ice-sailing-world-championship-day-2-pm-update/
https://www.idniyra.org/2020/02/19/2020-junior-ice-sailing-world-championship-day-3-pm-update/

https://www.idniyra.org/2020/02/21/2020-junior-ice-sailing-world-european-championship-final-results/

Hi Everybody,

My boat and ribs are fixed from my little mishap on Lake Winnepeasauke…Late Saturday afternoon T and I were at Quaboag and heard there was ice to the north so we headed to Canada…Gorden from the Kingston Yacht Club found Consecon Lake in a little town called "Carrying Place" about an hour and half north of Kingston. When we arrived the ice was hard and fast with a wind of about 12 to start. Several folks from Kingston Yacht Club arrived including John Curtis and Peter van Rossom and Colin Duncan (he had just landed at 6 am that morning from a tropical paradise vacation in Cuba). Several others made a longer trek from Montreal to get in another day of sailing. Andre, Robyn, Jacek, and Nick.

We rigged and all of us were excited to scratch race. T suggested we do one lap races so that folks could make rig adjustments and see how those worked out. We all started on either port or starboard rather than split the fleet in half so we could all gauge our speed off the line as an entire group. Up at Lake Winnepeasauke the other week I didn’t feel like my mast was bending enough and I didn’t feel my runners were right based on the fast ice. Out at the North Americans, Chris Berger said if you want more mast mend one should raise the halyard. So, I did that and BOOM. My mast performed much better and in the bigger breeze I felt like my runners and boat hunkered down on the ice better. I am pleased to say I was really fast and at the top mark with all the guys. I finished in third in most of the races and I even won a race and took one off the current North American champ DN 5224.

The temperatures started to rise and the sun felt great, but the ice was getting very slushy. Once the wind died, if you lost speed you were done. I changed to a pair of slush runners. It was my first time using them. Although I lowered my halyard so the boat and runners would not compress down into the slush, I just could not maintain great speed. In my last race, I had to get out of boat and push a lot so my ribs started hurting. I knew to call it a day.

It was a super day of racing with our Canadian friends and there was lots of sharing information, boat swapping for races, and tips provided. But, the biggest take a way from the day and the weekend was the genuine interest by so many in sharing this sport with others and getting more people into ice boating…. On Saturday, T brought his older DN to Quaboag and my good friend, Marc, got to sail it all day. Marc is hooked and wants one. On Sunday, a guy that has a home on Lake Consecon and is a very competitive soft water sailor (he is bringing his boat and team to Newport this summer to compete in the J80 worlds) took out T’s old DN and yelled "Yahoo!" when he took off in the ice boat at a good pace and has already emailed T about getting a boat. Nick from Montreal shared his story of letting Robyn use his boat two years ago and Robyn immediately bought a boat and just finished 2nd at the New England Champs. Peter shared the story of how the Kingston Yacht Club started as an ice boating club decades ago, but no one had been ice boating for years. He and a friend bought an old DN and started to invite others to take 30 minutes turns on it. Then he bought another DN for $400 and more people came out to take turns. Ten years later, the club has 30 ice boaters and lots of boats.

And the same happened with me…over the years T would send an invite to go ice boating on his old DN. Two years ago, I took out his old DN on Wattupa Pond and look at me now. I am ridiculously into it, I think about how to get faster daily, and I travel everywhere for the chance to go ice boating. I hope we can all continue to share the sport and let others try it out. Keep sending invites out and if you have old boats bring them to the ice…

In the meantime, we are hopeful that conditions will allow for sailing in Maine this weekend. More soon.

Think Maine Ice,

Karen DN 5630

Want to see what it’s like to travel from Montana to Sweden via Germany and back again?

Sean Heavey is a professional photographer, videographer, and artist who ran into the iceboat crowd when we invaded his town of Glascow, Montana for the 2020 DN NA champs. He did an amazing job out there (he is the real deal, not like the rest of us wanna-be photographers snapping away with our smartphones) and decided to follow it up by coming along with the group headed to Europe for the World Champs.

The result is an extraordinary account / travelogue of what a DN trip to Europe is like for a bunch of scruffy Americans- It also shows what an amazing two weeks you’ll have if you get kidnapped by Jorg Bohn and his unbelievably hospitable group of friends in northern Germany. Once you are in the care of Jorg, Ulrika, Torsten, Daggie, Stefan, Beatu, and the rest of the gang the fun doesn’t stop. We cannot thank all of them enough! Great food, great restaurants, great drinks, great scenery, great coffee, great stories, vans, ferries, possibly small planes, and even the occasional mishap. But hey, who said that “comedy is tragedy over time?” Mark Twain maybe? All good for a laugh a few hours or days later.

Oh yeah, there is a big regatta in there somewhere. Sean has photos of that too!

One of the great (do I need a thesaurus or what?) things about iceboating is all the characters you get to know- Sean is certainly one of them- Many thanks to him for pitching in with all the travel chores and being just as entertaining as the grizzled veterans in the group!

So with all that said check out Sean’s work here. Jorg is always reminding me to round up more Americans and bring them over for the Gold Cup and other regattas over there- Take a look at the photos here and give it some thought…. You won’t regret it!

Get a cup of coffee, a comfortable seat, a big screen, and enjoy the photos-

2020 IDNIYRA World Championship

Bella Langley rips up Quaboag on Friday 2/21

Quaboag delivered one of the only games in town, it had a wonderfully smooth surface. There were a number of boats, multiple boarders, and wings, high tech and low rigs all sailing together. There was a huge range of experienced, new and newer sailors all doing what we love best. It was great to see Bill Converse one of our Sr members on the ice again. Boarders had a heavy presence and were ripping it up throughout the day.

Any info on happenings at Attitash? I have not heard but let me know how it went.

Credit John Stanton Quaboag 2/22/20

As we all know ice conditions change, sometimes rapidly. I sailed last week and until things were checked later in the week I was not sure whether the plate would be sailable again. We have the NEIYA organization the group of dedicated members and non-member ice enthusiasts to thank for finding and spreading the word.

Heros of Quaboag this week are Bob S. who spent several days in on and around Quaboag, the Langley family Brian Langley. After marking the hazards, Brian and his family sailed the less crowded non-weekend ice. Those marks served us all well on Saturday. Let me know how it went.

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Cant see the images in your email check our website

During one of our on-ice NEIYA conversations, Karen Binder our secretary mentioned that she recognized and talked to a number of people on ice that were not members or had been members in good standing but for unknown reasons allowed their membership to lapse. Guilt trip warning. If we have helped you find and get on the ice then pay your dues, if we have helped you buy or sell boats or equipment then pay your dues, if you have participated in a NEIYA sanctioned event then please pay your dues. If you enjoy gathering with like-minded ice enthusiasts, then please pay your dues. Thanks for officially joining or renewing. Pay dues here or below

Description	Price
2020 Membership	$30

NEIYA burgees are available once again. Show your iceboating spirit fly it from your halyard in the pits or your car antenna in the parking lot. They are hand made right here in Guilford CT by the Sail Bag Lady and made to last in a stiff breeze and will be around a long time. They are priced at our cost which is $40.25.  Purchase burgee

At this point, we need a melt and refreeze to happen. Looking like that could happen this week. Bill Buchholz will be keeping a keen eye on Maine and Lee, Charlie and Randy have an eye on the Winnipousaki region others sare watching Champlain. I don’t know where but we will be sailing again soon. Lead the way, we will follow.

Think Ice,
John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

P.S. Have any thoughts drop me a line.

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

As most of you know and previously reported on the CIBC site the northern parts of New England got more snow so they are out of play. Our search for that Goldilocks plate of ice has not materialized but there are options to feed the need.

Some people are going back to Quaboag today and tomorrow as well. There are a number of known and likely unknown hazzards. If you do not know exactly were they are do your own investigations to get familiar with the safe sailing arounds. Mind the open water it is out there. Note Sunday it will be warmer so tomorrow is the day.

Paul Delnero aka PAD has been sailing, and will be there Saturday, Lake Attitash in Merrimack Massachusetts was scouted and sailed yesterday. Grade 8 white ice of 4-5 in. All Drain holes completely healed. Launch at public boat ramp. Route 110 to Attitash Ave to parking area. This is a small lake but with not many other choices…

Could there be something out of Canada or Western NY? Maybe but reporting what I know for sure at this point.

In the mean time here are some images taken Jackie Mushinsky of Spencer Cable Access.

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/17/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Photo Credit Jackie Mushinsky Spencer Cable Access – Quaboag Pond 2/16/20

Sail Fast. Sail Safe during this time of seasonal transition and please be careful,

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

P.S. if there is anything else to report after today we will post.

Hello All-

We are getting some positive reports from the other side of the St Lawrence- Could be some racing up near Kingston this weekend, stay tuned! Details here as they emerge….

Seems that it has been chilly around New England, have to think that there will be some more local options as well- Again, stay tuned, more details here-

If you have an ice report or know a lake that has potential let us know! Sharing is everything….. Email ice@neiya.org if you have a report to share- Remember, playing with others is way more fun than playing with yourself!

Stay tuned and Think ICE!

Hi Everyone,

Quaboag Pond sure does surprise us with ice sometimes…it hit 70 in Antarctica this week, no ice in almost all of Europe, flooding wet ice in Sweden, and nothing to the North of us.

And it was VERY good ice. I loved Bob’s statement, "When it’s the only ice, it’s a 10!" I also really appreciated Bob reporting on the ice Friday and re-confirming Saturday that conditions were good. We had ICE. We had wind!

Since T our race chair is still across the pond, I volunteered to run a regatta. Since both very experienced and brand new racers had a great time on Lake Winnepesaukee a few weeks ago, I wanted to keep the momentum and interest going. There was some back and forth on what to call this regatta and, ultimately, I said, "We will call it the President’s Day Regatta." Done.

We are challenged by Quaboag given it’s not the biggest pond out there, but I asked Eben to set the windmark and was glad when the wind shifted slightly to the right so we could get a bit longer course by moving the leeward mark a bit to the left… A smaller course made for more tacking, but that’s good practice too.

Running my first ice boating regatta for NEIYA, let’s say I got to feel…well…..very Presidential. The skipper meeting started on time, 11 skippers signed up to race, I announced racing would start at 10:30 am, and the flag dropped at 10:29.

My boat is out of commission and so are my ribs (long story), so I really enjoyed observing the racers’ style and techniques. Jeff Kent got faster and faster with each race stretching out his lead every leg and in every race. Three races, three bullets. He makes it look so easy!

Most of the tangling was between Bill (who sticks his leg out at the leeward mark rounding!?), Eben (who does the same!?), Matt Knowles (you should have stayed cause the wind came back), and Rick Bishop who much prefers bigger breeze. Scott Valentine was duking it out with returning racer Jack Ericcson…and a big sorry to Randy Rice who could not find the pond so he missed the first three races. Based on his other scores he would have been tops on the leader board…Lastly, congratulations to Ed Demerest in "Splinter DN/1914"…It’s an older boat and Ed is really getting good with his starts and seems to really enjoy this new thing called racing. Maybe he will find something at the next swap meet…

Jeff had his drone up for the 4th race and hopefully he will share some video of the racing…

We completed 7 races including a 45 minute break for lunch. I am not a tyrant…

Here are the scores.. And T is coming back tomorrow so I will graciously hand back the reigns of power. To all, thank you for letting me feel presidential yesterday.

Think more ice,

Karen Binder DN 5630

Bob S. stated that the cruisers would all be mindful of the racing and that was really really appreciated. Thank you!

There was racing but not the Doc Fellows we will be seeking a more suitable venue for that venerable event. Thanks to Karen Binder for taking on the race committee responsibilities. More on the races later.

Before I go on, as many will only be reading this to know if there will be sailing at Quaboag tomorrow. The answer is yes. Show up, have fun and report back.

I have been to Quaboag on a number of occasions but never noticed that it is literally just down the street from Podunk. I have sailed in some out of the way Podunk lakes and this really is not. Quaboag is an easy 15 minutes off of the Mass Pike or Interstate 84 near Sturbridge MA.

Quaboag 2-16-20

Quaboag 2-16-20 Check in

Quaboag 2-16-20 line em up

A good crowd of sailors, some arriving early and others trickling in later in the afternoon descended on Quaboag Pond in Brookfield, MA. We had about 30 boats mostly DNs but a number of Whizes or is it just Whiz like fish? Also a handful of J14s and an assortment of other crafts.

The ice was smooth and remained relatively hard throughout the day. The wind was 10mph with some decent gusts that made for some lively sailing. as the day. The wind died down a for a little while but cam back up.

All looks good for another day tomorrow. If you are just coming for the first time mind the open leads to the left of the ramp and set up on the beach to the right. As always inquire about current conditions before you set out and sail slow and heads up till you understand where the issues are.

I will be sitting tomorrow out but see you on the ice somewhere else soon,

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

P.S. if you took pictures today or tomorrow send them my way so they can be shared.

With the Euro Champs called off (dangerous ice, no time, no breeze…) we loaded up and hit the road south. Drove all day through Sweden, picked up a ferry in SW Sweden which will take us overnight to Germany. Saves a lot of driving.

Cool ferry- This bad boy is LARGE….

Here is nearly empty parking deck

One of the hallways

Some boat data

Cheesy decal in shop

Screen grab from my plotter app…

Half of the restauran

Quaboag Pond Super smooth Surface – 2-15-20 Credit Mike Acebo

Seven boats sailed Quaboag today on a very smooth surface. There are a few open leads as well as some other hazards, some are marked. The area is not that large but should be plenty of space for cruising and racing.

Quaboag Pond, Brookfield, MA https://goo.gl/maps/LXKKs4PgatYfa7er8

We will be running the Doc Fellows with the Skipper’s meeting at 9:30.

Whether you come to race or cruise, come early or late, be sure to check with those who know the existing hazards and sail heads up till you understand where they are.

This has been a tough season and we don’t know how many more opportunities we will have, so load ’em up and see you tomorrow.

Sail Fast,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

Dang…

https://www.idniyra.org/2020/02/15/2020-european-championship-cancelled/

Sailor’s Valentine from Capt. Jared Wentworth Tracy (1797-1864) to his wife, Mary Hussey Tracy (1809-1891) of Nantucket. Created 1839-1840. Credit Nantucket Historical Association.

All,

Apologies this was supposed to go out last night but your technically inclined Commodore was having issues.

Most of us know what the weather has brought us over the past week and that does not bode well for sailable ice. “I know what I know” but confirmed with our best boots on the ground in VT, ME and NH. and it was a unanimous no sailing. The same reports are coming out of the Montreal area. There is either too much snow or a very undesirable crud like surface keeping us from our beloved ice. Pretty much everything south of there is in various stages of returning to its summer liquid state.

There is one glimmer of hope for the long weekend. Quaboag Pond in Brookfield, MA is going to be checked today or tomorrow after the cold comes through. Maybe just maybe we can sail during this long weekend. Our ace checker Bob S will be confirming Quaboag’s condition and reporting back.

Patience rules the day and since this is Valentine’s Day, I’m sharing how other sailors be they grounded or during long voyages spent their time. Hint, they spent time, thinking about and creating hand crafted Valentines for their loved ones at home. A lesson for us all as the season progresses and we travel further and further from home in search of ice or whales.

From the Nantucket Historical Association https://nha.org/
This sailor’s valentine was a gift from Capt. Jared Wentworth Tracy (1797-1864) to his wife, Mary Hussey Tracy (1809-1891). The anchor symbolized Capt. Tracy’s intention to return home and “anchor” at his wife’s side. Tracy was captain of the schooner Harmony of Nantucket on a whaling voyage to the Indian Ocean in 1838-39. The Harmony wrecked on a reef near Caldeira Island in the Mozambique Channel (now Ilha Caldeira, Mozambique) on February 8, 1839. Tracy is reputed to have made this sailor’s valentine while stranded after the wreck. He returned to Nantucket by way of St. Helena in fall 1839. He subsequently retired from the sea and in 1840 set himself up as a shoe maker on island.

Think Thaw and Refreeze,

John
DNUS5023

P.S. Mike Acebo has published pictures from the New England Championships to the cloud on Dropbox. I am sure many of you can use an updated screen saver at work and home https://www.dropbox.com/sh/g48q6ugag93uilr/AADxpUBsGC2WjesOZAmxABqWa?dl=0 If you have a chance thank Mike!

P.P.S. Thanks to all those who supplied the human on available ice. We can not do it without you!