The Rodent Brings Us Luck
Punxsutawney Phil may be calling for six more weeks of winter, but based on what we sailed this weekend and the solid, thick ice holding beneith the snow on our larger lakes, we appear to have considerably more opportunity than the shadow seeing rodent suggests.
Conversations and conjecture ran high on last Thursday’s call. We all acknowledged that many of our colder lakes had too much snow, so attention shifted to smaller waters that may have frozen after with the recent cold snap and missed the snow. Another possibility was snow that had settled, wetted out, and refrozen into white ice. The third option were the brackish coastal bays and estuaries, Red Bank and Oceanport delivered in New Jersey, with Orient Point and other Long Island locations also seeing good sailing.
The prize of the weekend, miles and miles of smooth black ice. Members of the Chickawaukieice boat Club (iceboat.me) have been patiently watching Sebago for a while and the past several days were doing what ever was in their earthly or otherwise powers to ward off a fresh batch of snow. Their patience and many others were rewarded this Sunday with what was described as epic black ice. I will leave further elaboration to those that make it up to Sebabo on Sunday and those that are there as I pen this post.
My choices for Saturday were pretty much between Long Island and the Jersey Shore. Since I had to be Nassau County Saturday morning traveling out to the end of the North Fork was an easy choice. There were a good twenty or so boats on the ice. Some DNs, J14s and smaller skeeters as well as a number of Lockley Skimmers and one infamous South Bay Scooter. The bays of Long Island are there home and most every ice boater I know has some odd attraction to a craft that doesn’t have active steering capabilities. Unfortunately, the wind didn’t come in all that strong so there was more catching up with Long Island friends then sailing but that’s iceboating sometimes.
The NEIYA DN North American Regatta contingent are all safe back east and ready do for the next regatta. Congratulations to T on winning the newly minted national Championship and very strong showing in the NAs with a fifth a mere seven points out of first. Jeff Roseberry finished with a 10th place in the NA Gold Fleet. In the NA Silvers Paul Chamberland took a third place. Eben Whitcomb clawed his way to 12th after sitting out race 2 and 3 with some boat damage and taking a fourth in the Nationals. In Bronze Bob Haag pulled off a tenth place with consistent finishes throughout the regatta. Stay tuned we may get some first hand accounts from those who competed on Green Lake. NA Results / Nationals Results
Looking ahead we have a growing number of opportunities across the region. We are running right into a feast from our state of white famine just a week or so ago. To name a few Sebago, NJ shore, Long Pond in Harwich MA, Some of the bays on eastern Long Island including a high likelihood of sailing the Great South Bay a prize notch in any iceboaters belt. Also in the line up is Lake Champlain again and the prospect of Hudson ice.
Plenty of activities await us including some vast cruising and we will be looking to get the Don “Doc” Fellows race completed soon. The Doc Fellows is the NEIYA’s longest running regatta originating in 1975. Keep your eyes open and report in any findings you have. Did you drive by a body of water that needs further checking? Let us know.
Think Ice and encourage the winds to scrub our ice clean,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
And They’re (finally) Off…
WHOOP WHOOP! The bullhorn has sounded, the first day skippers meeting is in the books, and it is time to race.
NEIYA is well represented with nine racers on the line. For those who keep an eye on the numbers, that is 16 percent of the 56 boats listed on the scratch sheet. A strong showing.
It has not been an easy path for our intrepid nine. They battled the same conditions many of us just endured. Snow, snow, snow, and low, low, low temperatures. When conditions deteriorated at Lake Wawasee in Syracuse, Indiana, the entire event regrouped and reconvened roughly 500 miles north and west at Green Lake, Wisconsin.
Clang your cowbells and cheer loudly for James Thieler, Eben Whitcomb, Paul Chamberland, Jeff Roseberry, David Silsby, Edward Demarest, Robert Haag, and our Long Island friends and members Peter Truesdel and Scott Valentine as racing continues over the next few days.
For the latest reports straight from the ice, look for updates from Deb Whitehorse on the idniyra.org website.
Side note. Deb Whitehorse and I were recently interviewed by Francesca Krempa for an Afar.com travel article aimed at helping cold region travelers find a way to experience iceboating. Click for the article What is iceboating and where to try it. As we all know too well, it is not that simple. Conditions dictate everything. My best advice to would be iceboaters is captured perfectly in the final sentence of Francesca Krempa’s Afar article.
“Find us,” says Stanton. “We’ll take you out. And if it doesn’t hook you, you still get to check ice sailing off your bucket list.”
Reach out to us by email, ask to join our weekly call, and come on out and play.
We know we are surrounded by lakes covered with snow but there is pre-thaw hope. To the North Bill Buchholz and the Maine crew have been closely monitoring conditions on Sebago. Focus your attention to iceboat.me for updates. Maybe, just maybe, we will see sailing on the second largest and famously elusive lake in Maine this season.
Think Ice and Sail Fast,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
Tomorrow’s The NEIYA Swap Meet 10/26 ~ Spreading the Word Far & Wide
Don’t forget, the NEIYA Swap Meet, Lunch, and Meeting is just a day away! Have you checked off everything on your to-do list? Make sure you’ve paid your dues, secured your spot for lunch, and sorted out what gear you’re bringing to the swap at Thompson Speedway. Don’t wait—take care of it today!
Donated Legacy Boats Update: I have spoken to several people who are interested in the four boats. Looks like they are spoken for, but they still have to be picked up. I can’t tell for sure but there may be some last-minute changes. Reach out to me for details and be sure to seek me out tomorrow morning early.
Event Details:
What: NEIYA Swap Meet, Lunch & Meeting
When: Saturday, October 26th, 10:00 am
Where: Thompson Speedway Golf Course,
205 E Thompson Rd, Thompson, CT 06277
Google Maps Link
Don’t miss this chance to kick off the season, reconnect with fellow members, and find gear to complete your setup. It’s also the ideal time to pay your 2025 dues and reserve your spot for our annual luncheon and meeting. All are welcome to join!
Please Pay Your Dues
| Dues Time | Price | |
| 2025 Membership | $30 |
 |
| 2025 Membership + Lunch | $45 |
|
| 2025 Membership + 2X Lunch | $60 |
|
| 2025 Lunch (11/19/2024) | $15 |
|
| Mail in Form We prefer you pay online – Thanks | ||
Do not wait till after the swap met to begin preparing for the season. It’s been a long summer and if you have not already shifted to thinking about iceboating, now is the time. Drag your gear out set it up in the driveway and be sure you have everything. Have anything extra in storage? Now is the perfect time to free up some storage. Put it up in the classified section. Remember your older equipment may be far better than what someone else has now.
Till then Think Ice,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
One Week Till Our NEIYA Swap Meet 10/26 ~ Spreading the Word Far & Wide
The NEIYA Swap Meet, Lunch, and Meeting is a week away. Have you paid your dues, Lunch, and figured out what you are going to haul to the swap at Thompson Speedway? Do it today see you on Saturday.
Three of the four donated legacy boats are spoken for. If you are interested contact me before the swap meet.
We all serve as ice ambassadors and are responsible for spreading the ice boating word.
On Wednesday night we answered that call. In response to an invitation from the Lowell Boat Shop (LBS), initiated by member Frank Morris, Eben Whitcomb, James “T” Thieler, and I made the journey to the renowned birthplace of the dory to share the excitement of iceboating. We were warmly greeted by an enthusiastic crowd on the historic deck overlooking the Merrimack. Three seasoned iceboaters, two iceboats, and an eager crowd made for the perfect learning environment.
There were discussions about how iceboats fit into the history of boating. T whipped the crowd into a frenzy with tales from the gold fleet and a review of the differences between a 1960’s and modern DN.
The crowd broke up about 8:30 and everyone had a sense of wonder on their faces. Our reward was several audience members promising to come down to Thompson for the Swap Meet and capped off with a private tour of the Lowell Boat Shop.
See you Next Saturday…
NEIYA Swap Meet, Lunch & Meeting Information:
When: Saturday, October 26th, 10:00am
Where: Thompson Speedway Golf Course, 205 E Thompson Rd, Thompson, CT 06277
https://goo.gl/maps/DbGpTekm4ZLNnV8n7
Now is a perfect time to pay your 2025 dues and reserve your seat at our annual Luncheon and Meeting. All are welcome to attend.
Please Pay Your Dues
| Dues Time | Price | |
| 2025 Membership | $30 |
|
| 2025 Membership + Lunch | $45 |
|
| 2025 Membership + 2X Lunch | $60 |
|
| 2025 Lunch (11/19/2024) | $15 |
|
| Mail in Form We prefer you pay online – Thanks | ||
Do not wait till after the swap met to begin preparing for the season. It’s been a long summer and if you have not already shifted to thinking about iceboating, now is the time. Drag your gear out set it up in the driveway and be sure you have everything. Have anything extra in storage? Now is the perfect time to free up some storage. Put it up in the classified section. Remember your older equipment may be far better than what someone else has now.
Till then Think Ice,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
As chilly temps set in, our New England iceboat enthusiasts gathered for our weekly call, eager to hear updates on potential sailing spots with smooth black ice. By the end of the call, we had one confirmed Eastern US location as of 7pm. Tom Miller shared details about conditions on Lincoln Pond in Elizabethtown, NY, just off NY Thruway Rt 87. They plan to sail there until the snow arrives. While a bit beyond our usual New England sailing grounds, we’ve ventured into the Adirondacks before, and after all, ice is ice is nice.
Bill Buchholz has been keeping an eye on Plymouth Pond and other venues in Maine, signaling that it’s nearing readiness, pending a final check today (Friday). Intel is circulating, indicating a favorable outlook, but please verify on www.iceboat.me before making any travel plans. Depending on the weather, conditions could be excellent well into next week. Could there be a regatta in Maine next week? Time will tell.
For those interested in cross-border sailing, our Canadian friends have been scouting and sailing Lake of Two Mountains outside Montreal in Vaudreuil. If you’re considering a trip, reach out, and I can connect you with Andre Baby.
Looking ahead, our local lakes and ponds are beginning to skim over, setting us up for the rest of the season.
In case you missed it, VC Charlie Silfvenius showcased his lifelong iceboating experiences in a recent post featured on Scuttlebutt Sailing News on Wednesday: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/01/03/first-ride-the-start-of-it-all/. Kudos to Charlie for introducing around 55k+ people to iceboating through Scuttlebutt. Imagine if we could convert just one percent of their audience to join us on the ice—now that would be something! Charlie thanks for reminding us all about our first time…
A word of caution as we embark on this new season: the ice is fresh, and many of us haven’t sailed yet this year. Exercise extreme caution, inquire with locals, and sail with heightened awareness until you fully understand the nature of potential hazards in the area.
Think Ice and Sail Fast,
John
DN5023
John@neiya.org
New England Ice Yacht Association 