The day started out with warm rain and pretty much stayed that way the entire day.

The NEIYA fellowship began gathering, to set up, well before the official start time of official start time. From the start young, experienced, novice, and nubies began talking iceboating. A call to order to review the agenda was made at about 11:15am. First up Jay on ice safety review, followed by plank building with Paul Zucco and runner stoning with Eben. Along the way a break out team found time to help Bruce from NH rig his new, to him, DN for the first time inside the shop. Believe it or not only the battens were missing.

NEIYA veteran and founding member Leo Healey made an appearance. Leo was the voice of the hotline so long it’s hard not to think about that when one talks to him.

Jay Whitehead opened up talking about the effects of cold on the human body. Jay laid out simple steps in identifying, treating and preparing a hypothermic victim for the arrival of EMT personnel. People remained attentive for the entire presentation and through the question and answer session. Way to go guys for attention.

Paul Zucco was up next and had a number of plank building steps laid out so we could see how and understand. I overheard a comment from an experienced woodworker that he took away a number of tips from paul. Thanks, Jay we all learned a lot.

Eben Whitcomb was closer with a demonstration on stoning one’s runners. Eben stressed the importance of patience, consistency and attention to detail while slowing honing blade edges to perfection.

Have a question for Jay, Paul or Eben to leave a comment below.

None of this would be possible without the continued support of Steve and Linda Lamb and Linda’s sister Sharon.

Up next, conditions dependent, the the unraced races and the return of early season cruising.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

Glommed from cibc and facebook

Lee Spiller sent this photo of the ice he found on Custer Pond maine (AKA Sabattus Pond) in Sabattus. Lee skated the lake top to bottom and reports 3 to 4 inches of ice mostly grade 9. The lake has not been sailed, as always caution is to be used. The boat ramp is located on the southwest side of the lake just northwest of the town of Sabattus at Martin Point off Lake Street. Lee plans to sail tomorrow as do I. Winds are forecast to 5 to 6 MPH with possible rain starting around 4PM. Info on the lake can be found at lakesofmaine.org search for town of Sabattus.

There are reports of some rough spots but worth the sail.

Its early in the season, be careful.

John

DN5023

John@neiya.org

P. S. If you are planning on going leave a comment below.

Vixen image borrowed from the http://hudsonrivericeyachting.blogspot.com/ – Hope we her up on Winni this Spring.

It seems like that is all I have been doing the past few weeks. Talk about iceboating with friends, family, fellow softwater sailors and of course all of you ice devotees. Some of the non-devotees have lost interest so I was forced to go on the road this past weekend.

Saturday, first stop Week’s Yacht Yard Patchogue NY on Long Island. Located about halfway between the Throgs Neck Bridge and Montauk right on the Great South Bay. Thanks to all the guys at the Lake Ronkonkoma Iceboat club for good conversation and a freshly grilled burger. My first iceboat sail was on Lake Ronkonkoma so I always have fond memories of the place and people. Great to see all the LI people in one place and know our conversations will continue on the ice somewhere.

Sunday, brought me to Hudson NY and the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club‘s annual meeting. The HRIYC are iceboat historical custodians for the Jack Frost, Vixen and so many other boats. From time to time over the past 20+, I have ventured onto the Hudson to sail with the museum boats. The Hudson sailors might be the most patient iceboaters in the northeast as their venue does not freeze ever year and its a real chore to cart 1000’s of pounds of boat parts and gear to a new venue. We all share a passion for iceboating whether piloting a craft made of carbon fiber and constructed in an autoclave or rescued from a barn and lovingly restored to 1800’s splendor.

I let the group know that we have been keeping a keen eye on Winni over the past couple of years and wanted them to once again bring some of the big boats up for a Frolic. All were keen on the idea and pledged to make it happen if conditions cooperate.

The 2020 Wooden Boat Calendar featured Vixen one of the HRIYC’s boats for January. Nice to see an iceboat make the cut. Here are a couple places to check it out or just Google. NOAH Publications and Landfall

See everyone at the Lamb Tune-up in Canton MA this Saturday 10 – 3 PM. Details Here   https://theneiya.org/2019/11/17/annual-tune-up-saturday-december-14th/

SO ENOUGH, TALK TALK and on to the doing part. Good luck to the NEIYA members that have ventured out to the Western Challenge to tune with the top tier. We look forward to hearing about what looks like near-perfect conditions.

Lastly, reports are coming in from all over and some are venturing out for a look and test. Careful out there with new ice and keep the information flow coming so we can gather when conditions allow.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

P.S. FYI as some have noted Yahoo is about to turn off the Yahoo Groups including the Iceboating group many of us have been on for quite a few years. Doug Sharp and I are in the process of archiving all the content so it is not lost forever. I encourage everyone that has content on the Yahoo Iceboating group to download their own content HERE and follow the instructions. last call is December 14, though there are rumors they will extend that through the end of January but I would not bet on it. Now is the time to get your stuff before Yahoo does a big purge.

This is Puckaway Lake in Princeton, WI yesterday evening…. may have been hit with some snow overnight but still, not a bad looking piece of ice…. stay tuned

John Pepper has been putting some classy new graphics on his Iceboat trailer…. and taking club spirit and advertising to a whole new level! Take a look…

https://www.idniyra.org/2019/12/11/dn-great-western-challenge-is-on-for-wisconsin/

James “T” Thieler
12 Channing St.
Newport, RI. 02840

401 258 6230
t_thieler@yahoo.com

It is early in the season and we have already begun the cycles of winter. Cold, Snow, Melt and wait. The folks in Maine sprinted up to Plymouth Pond for the last sail before the white dump, some shoveled and plowed and others watched the meager snow melt away in the hard rain. The common thread is we all thought about iceboating, worked on our boats and watched the weather forecasts for some miracle or miracles.

As most of you know, Steve Lamb has once again graciously opened his shop up for our annual off-ice tune-up clinic. If you have not come before it’s a great chance to catch up with fellow sailors, ask a question, learn a new skill, pick up equipment, and of course feast on the food Linda puts together for us. The short of it.

When: Saturday, December 14th, 10:00 am to 3:00pm
Where: Arthur C. Lamb Company 85 Jackson St, Canton, MA 02021
Details: Here https://theneiya.org/2019/11/17/annual-tune-up-saturday-december-14th/

There will be sets of Boride Stones some safety equipment as well as other items for sale. New this year VC Jay Whitehair will be demonstrating ice safety equipment.

See you all there and Think Ice,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

P.S. If there is sailable ice do what you need to do, get some tiller time but there will be a crowd at Steves regardless.

P.P.S. Keep an eye on your local ice and spread the news to all! We have only a couple weeks to get some of the 2019 races in and it’s always great to start the season before Christmas.

What is Black-Ice Friday you ask?

The holiday is here!
Never mind the doorbuster super sales or the crowd trampling media events. We New England iceboat jocks know the value of a full vacation day! Consider this: Maine’s late iceboating legend Larry Hardman would blissfully don his fireball orange helmet and goggles for the season by epoxy stapling his helmet chin-strap tight under his chin while reciting his latest iceboat poetry. Another legend, Warner St Clair was known to visit his arch neighborhood DN competitors, gaining eager post-holiday access with a friendly knock and an entry-level gift, just so he could place his bootleg over a prized box of runners and release the #20 grit black beauty sandblasting sand down his leg from the carefully crafted hole in his pocket – such a clever competitor he was! Or, consider our cherished living local legend Lloyd Roberts… who on black-ice Friday is known to sit knee-deep in his rusty lawn chair in the ice-crusted waters of the Damariscotta public beach, under an umbrella, in his underwear, pontificating such things as the elastic modulus co-efficiencies of splintered Sitka spruce sliding along a perfect ice surface. The value of his all-inclusive hard-water daydreaming has yet to be fully appreciated. Get the idea? Make your plans NOW.

Take advantage of this all-important holiday… gather your buddies to safely check your local ice and forward your ice alerts to the NEIYA ice report (Contact me, John or Karen for details). Mark December 14th on the calendar to meet with your chillest friends by attending the 2019 annual tune-up clinic. Order a 50’ throw rope/bag, ice awls, two space blankets, a 6’ x 6’ poly tarp, and a couple of instant hand warmers to build the survival-assist kit we spoke of at the annual swap meet. If there is interest we can make a group purchase contack John (john@neiya.org) Make those last-minute trades/orders for the parts you needed last season.

The season is here…. and for many of us, it officially begins on Black-Ice Friday!!

See you on the ice!

Jay Whitehair
US3947
Norwich, VT
Vice Commodore NEIYA

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have all been thinking about iceboating and thanks to a good cold snap some sailed Plymouth Pond in Maine earlier this month. For the rest of us it is just the waiting business as usual.

Thanksgiving marks a real change in the season and if you have not already drag your boat and gear out. put the boat together fix the stuff you never go around to when it was warmer and get ready.

Need a boat or equipment check the Classified Section and be sure to come to our annual Tune-up at Steve Lambs Shop in Canton MA on December 14th. That’s just over two weeks away. There will be boats and equipment for sale, trade etc. Have extra gear? Post on the Classified Section

A note from our dedicated Web Guy Deane Williams, please contact the seller for any information, there should be a phone or email on each ad. Replies like, “is it still for sale”, “send more info”, “send pictures” will not be posted on the website. They just clutter things up and make it hard for people to find what they want. We will be featuring the best of the best on the classifieds on our home page next week so get your ads in.

Is your NEIYA sticker getting worn and tattered or sold the car with the sticker? The will be available at the Tune-up or give me a shout and either Secretary Karen Binder or I will get a new one out to you.

Enjoy your holiday with family and friends and thankful for all that we have.

See you at the Tune up in two weeks and on the ice.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org
Commodore, NEIYA