Scott Valentine and the gang on LI are getting into the apparent wind zone… Not a frozen lake but in a pinch a parking lot will do! Will be watching out for these guys when it gets cold…
Not long until the Swap Meet, early Ice and Western Challenge…. mark your calendars!
I believe there has been quite a bit of iceboating done on Michigan’s Gull Lake over the years, and this weekend there is a cool soft water event going on;
A regatta for Vintage Star Boats. Sounds like a great event, full of vintage boats and some of the true legends of the Star world, including my old college buddy Arnis Baltins crewing for Lars Grael. Pretty good bet there will be some hard-water sailors in the fleet….
The boats will be on display Friday for all of us aficionados to gawk at. And you never know who you will bump into on the dock!
Click the link and take a look…..
https://mailchi.mp/358a5ffa1c78/3rd-annual-vintage-gold-cup-regatta-on-gull-lake-michigan?e=f576e4cc07
Think ICE!!
…Take a look at these photos and you will have it. This is the secret lab of the one and only Bill Bucholz, hidden away in a secret location in the Maine Midcoast region (Camden).
It has everything an iceboater could ever want. Heat, ceiling high enough to step a mast indoors, benches, light, every tool you could ever need, a thousand clamps, cool pictures, and for style points a stained-glass window depicting an iceboat. Wow.
Look at the pictures and have a drool! And when you’re done get yourself into your own shop and start working on your gear- there’s a nip in the air….
Think ICE!
If you are looking for an economical way to get on the ice with style points to spare you might want to look into this craft:
https://worcester.craigslist.org/for/d/north-grafton-ice-sailboat-racer-vintage/6984608867.html
Very cool, hope someone can get it out of the barn and onto the ice this winter!
Thanks to John Pepper for sending the link.
Think ICE!! The season is on the way….
Ice Report #1
2019 – 2020 Ice Sailing Season
DN DCL Ice Sailors,
Who knew? Who knew that we would be here to experience the second decade of the second millennial! But here we are! And right on the threshold of the best DCL Ice Sailing Season yet!
Mark your calendars for Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend (11/30/19). We will get together starting at 10:00 am at the Ice House, at the Ice Man’s place, to set up, tune up, and sharpen all of those neglected runners! Ice Man performed the first LRT (Little Rock Test) this past weekend and believe it or not it seemed to hesitate for just a micro second before plunging through the surface… Ground Hog says that means six weeks to ICE!
This year please bring any ice sailing gear you want to barter, sell or give away. We have several sailors that could use some upgrades to equipment you may not be currently using.
Please bring beverages, snacks or deserts to share. IceMan will have hot dogs and hamburgers grilling for all. Let me know if you and another plan to attend… no sense fighting over that last burger!!!
The Great Western Challenge is scheduled for 12/6-8… unfortunately I told a few people wrong… it actually is the weekend right after Thanksgiving… lets see if we have any interest for a 22 hour road trip!
Pictures are… last season’s core group of Ice Junkies, Tom Wolfe in Howling Wolfe approaching the leeward mark and lastly the Ice Man our West on the big ice. Wish you were there!
Now.. open up your refrigerators and freezers, get a fan and start blowing all of that freezing cold air out on to our beautiful lake!!! This is the season we will break out John Meredith’s ice fleet… from Ice Opti to Skeeter and everything in between… BE THERE! Grab your DN, your gear and bring your honey to the Ice Sailing Tune Up!
Ice sailing fever knows no bounds…
Think Ice!
IceMan
US 5576
Hey Folks- Whether you like DNs or prefer other hard-water craft you will still be interested to read the September issue of Runner Tracks!
This issue has some great archival stories and photos, plus all the latest goings-on in the DN world. Most importantly it features our very own mad genius Jeff Kent on the cover, looking in very fine form!
And the price is just right for all of us frugal Yankees- FREE! Click and enjoy- THINK ICE!!
https://www.idniyra.org/2019/09/25/september-2019-runner-tracks/
The latest installment from Dan Hearn, working away in his secret basement laboratory…
Anyone else feel the chill and start thinking about the upcoming season?
Here’s a vid from the Polish Champs that might get you thinking….
Bojerowe Mistrzostwa Polski – Bojery 2019
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The latest from Dan Hearn’s basement shop… Read and enjoy!
“Left Alone With Big Fat Fanny” – iceboat.org
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Mark your calendars, start the countdown, get this Labor Day Weekend nonsense out of the way, and start getting ready for the big season kickoff! It’ll be here before you know it….
If you haven’t done this one, make this the year. The scenery out there is amazing, the food is good, and gettin’ there is half of the fun!
Info here:
2019 DN Western Challenge: December 6-8, 2019 – DN North America
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Hey Gang- Here is the latest installment from Dan Hearn, who has been spending his summer building a Skeeter and writing great reports about it….
Click and enjoy!
A Space for Cowboys – iceboat.org
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Big day for Gougeon/WEST a little while back!
Jan and Meade were two extraordinary guys- They built boats, planes, iceboats, and a giant glue company among other things.
You could not chat with either of these guys and not walk away with a whole list of lessons learnt.
Anyway read the article, get to your shop, mix a batch and start building!
Celebrating 50 Years of What Holds Us Together – DN North America
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New England Ice Yacht Association 