Atkins and Chris “FishStick” Gordon after sailing Battle Lake today.

The faces tell the story. Atkins: mouth open and babbling like a lunatic. Gordon: Silently grinning like an idiot.

We all wish we wuz there!

Give them hell when racing starts tomorrow!

Atkins and Gordon got on the ice today. No written report (just as well if you know what I mean) but the photos are worth a lot.

If you’re on the way there, looks like you have a lot to look forward to.

If you’re stuck back east start kickin’ yourself!

Think ICE….

This was on Reddit- someone found their grandfathers 8mm films of iceboats tearing it up on Lake Winnebago…. TOO COOL!!!

Click and feast here to see:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/a0zfjn/great_grandfathers_8mm_film_of_iceboating_on_lake/

First NE brigade has hit the rendezvous point for Great Western Challenge. Atkins and Gordon are in Battle Lake MN. Look it up, it’s out there! Sailing starts either this afternoon or tomorrow depending on how beat up they are from the drive. Stay tuned….

The season has begun…. Sailors from all over New England and Canada are headed west, bound for somewhere in Minnesota for the big kick-off….

Stay tuned for photos and updates from our representatives on the road. I will be getting reports from Chad Atkins, Chris Gordon, Jeff Kent and Bernd Zeiger. I will do my best to translate them into things normal people can actually understand and relate to.

For “official” regatta news click here: http://iceboating.net/

Good luck to all- drive safe, sail safe, kick some butt and know that those of us left behind are insanely jealous….

Think ICE!

Picked up from the Chickawaukie Ice Boat Clubs site https://iceboat.me. They are making ice and keeping a watchful eye on things. Thanks for the report Bill. We are all looking forward to sailing soon. Some are eye balling progress in Minnesota but do believe even more are are betting on Maine. Any word out of VT? Thanks for the encouraging eye (ice) candy Thanks Bill…

Ice is coming Think Harder

Just to keep the juices flowing, here’s a shot of the narrows on Damariscotta Lake, looking north

The ice is about 3/4”, and was strong enough to withstand the gusts of wind which caused it to heave up and down, crackling in the pebbles and bullrushes alongshore. The main body of the lake is still open. This might not survive the warm front moving through Sunday through Tuesday, but what that front might do is give Plymouth Pond a surface. It hasn’t been checked since before this deep cold snap but it’s bound to be a few inches by now.
Anyone close by there willing to go have a look?

This is from the Minnesota website via Andre Baby- looks like things are shaping up for the Western Challenge…. Change the oil in the car, check the trailer lights, get the boats out, and start making travel plans!

The first regatta of the season is scheduled for Friday Nov 30-Dec 2, 2018. Per JD, usual location will be best ice in Minnesota. We have been sailing on ice since Nov 16. Many lakes up north are now thick enough.
We now have a beautiful new freeze of Battle Lake, just north of our usual Christina near Ashby, Mn.
A number of lakes closer to Minneapolis should come thru in the next week. Very little snow predicted in our regatta locations. Time to sharpen runners and check your equipment. Watch this site or Facebook Minnesota Iceboaters for updates.

http://www.iceboating.net/node/4391

Think ICE!!

Wow girl, it might be Thanksgiving and the start of a nice cold snap but that ice is not safe.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving. We all have lots to be thankful for but since this is the official NEIYA site I am thankful for this cold snap and the prospect of early ice. Enjoy friends and family and find some time to work on your equipment over the long weekend.

Next up: The Annual Tune Up Clinic. Generously hosted once again by the Arthur C. Lamb Company in Canton MA but most of us just know it as Steve Lamb’s shop.

Date: Saturday December 15th
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Arthur C. Lamb Company 85 Jackson St, Canton, MA 02021
Refreshments: Served continuously throughout the day and lunch about noon

We have a big day planed

Highlights

• Dave Fortier: Runner Edge Prep with stoning demo
• Eben Whitcomb & Greg Cornelius on Rules / Safety
• Jeff Kent & James “T” Thieler on Shifting gears – how to set your boat up for different
  Wind/Ice conditions and how components work together.

This event is an excellent opportunity to get the information you need to get on the ice for the first time or go faster than last year. If you are interested we will help get you in your first boat. Remember there is plenty of room so bring iceboats or parts for sale.

Have something laying around your not using? Bring it for someone else to enjoy. Your old equipment could be someone’s first boat. The items on the NEIYA classifieds page might be available for drop off and pickup. Ask the seller(s) directly.

HAVE AN OLD ICEBOAT IN THE BARN? BRING IT. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AND HELP GET YOU ON THE ICE THIS SEASON.

We welcome any newcomers trying to get into ice boating and onto the ice this season. Have a boat sitting in your garage, barn or cellar? Bring it down we have experts standing by to go over your craft and develop a plan to get you sailing this season. Don’t know how to rig your boat? We will show you. Not sure if all the pieces are there? We will go over it with you. We are here to help usher you safely onto the ice. No reservation needed but would appreciate you dropping me a note so we can be sure to reserve room.

See you all there and let me know if you have any questions.

Think Ice!

John Stanton
DN5023
John@neiya.org

Hey Folks-

If you search the interweb for “North DN Sails” you’ll come upon this great shot of Bob Crinion of Nova Scotia puttin’ a hurtin’ on Chris Miller of Long Island at the North American champs last year.

It’s a great shot even if Bob does have his elbow out of the boat. And his head up in the air. And his toes sticking straight up. (Sorry Bob, couldn’t resist! It’s a New England thing….) If you want to know who is driving the boats in the background you’ll have to do your own research!

By the way the new North Sails are pretty sexy and if you want some info on them check out https://northsails.com/sailing/en/od/dn-iceboat

Think ICE!!

Here we see the one and only Joerg Bohn showing a snow drift who is in charge!! Looks like a great day. Thanks Joerg!!

More from a galaxy far, far away….

Joerg Bohn sends this video from Novosibirsk, Russia. If you’ve never been there it’s just a little northeast of Kazakhstan….