Scouting rewards and Change
Word is in from both Long Pond and Ninigret. Scouting parties ventured out with caution and were able to sail though winds inland meant a good deal of pushing.
Reports of good sailing on Ninigret in Charlestown, RI yesterday. Unfortunately conditions there are deteriorating rapidly as temperatures rise. Salt ice is fragile and looses its integrity rapidly. At this point this plate is NOT safe till things get cold again.
Th Long Pond Lakeville, MA gang set out over some fresh snow sailed and pushed some (on site details in previous posts comment) Warming temperatures mean this plate will need to be rechecked and scouted before being sailed again. A cycle we know all too well.
Thanks to Ed Edwards for the Long Pond Scouting fleet. Yes, it was shamelessly pinched from Facebook.
Further north and east the Chickawaukee Boys ventured onto Damariscotta which was previously thought to be unsailable. For details check out iceboat.me for their usual excellent coverage from the editorial staff of Buchholz, Roberts and Squib.
Up the Champlain Valley the DN and ISA Easterns are just getting underway. The expansive plate has been talked about, sailed and envied for over a week. Onsite updates to to come later from our Commodore AKA Mr “T”
Moral for this weekend and ice boating in general, sailable ice comes and goes. Sometimes before we ever have a chance to enjoy it. Find ice, get together for checking and scouting, talk it up and enjoy. Safety in numbers is key.
The weather guy(s) are calling for some change over the next 48 hours but the barometer on my wall still reads high.
Here’s to change either for our local haunts or our ability to travel.
Be safe, especially as the ice is changing,
John Stanton
NEIYA Secretary
Easterns on
The 2014 Eastern championships are called on for February 1st and 2nd in the Plattsburgh NY area. The launching area will chosen tomorrow. There are multiple potential site between Plattsburgh and Burlington VT and we will wait for more information before making a final decision.
Eben Whitcomb and Oliver Moore
DN NA Photos
Hey Folks- A photographer was on hand to catch the action last week at the NA’s- Click the link to see her work and for evidence that the regatta actually happened!!
James “T” Thieler
12 Channing St.
Newport, RI 02840
401 258 6230
t_thieler
To the Resolute Band of Ice Boaters
While this is what many of us are seeing on our local ice, the resolute have found, scouted and sailed this weekend.
Bantam Lake CT 1/26/14 – Grim but there is 8 inches of ice below waiting to be sailed
Don’t despair, sailable ice has returned to New England!
As reported on the hotline the Pond of Webster Lake was scouted and sailed over the weekend.
Sailors from near and far (NH) sailed the North Pond, Webster, MA on Saturday and Sunday and reported surviving some fierce gusts and a a little snow on top of a good solid surface. Look for this plate to improve with the warmer weather today and firm as the cold returns. Sorry too cold and gusty for pictures.
Late Sunday morning a group of sailors including long time member Bill Converse and the former voice of the NEIYA Hotline Jeff Soderholm and five other sailors ventured onto Lake Nippenicket. As reported by Jeff.
“Seven of us sailed the nip Sunday afternoon when the winds layed down a bit. The middle of the pond isn’t great. There was snow in the surface so when it warmed up Saturday it developed ridges. The Eastern shore there was a smooth stretch that we all did laps on that had enough length and size to make it worthwhile. No pictures. Expect there will be some sailing during the week in this area. Great herring should be the best plate once it thickens up a bit”
Bill Converse’s take on sailing on Nip “The surface is quite rough. Seems the weather of Saturday did some damage. Much snow on the west shore. We are hoping for some rain Monday, and a few of us may try to sail Tuesday or Wednesday. afternoon, if not there, somewhere else. Ice is coming in again with the cold. ”
Apologies from your secretary for not spreading the above word. it was a last minute Sunday gathering and I was en route to Bantam even though I knew it was covered with snow. Had a nice walk and a few friendly chats with ice fisherman. Just being outdoors made my weekend! More on speeding up our ice communication process to come in the next week or so.To the north members joined the Chickawaukee gang to scout and test the newly formed ice on Sebago Lake. Bill Buchholz has an excellent writeup and reminder of how fragile ice can be on the CIBC website (http://iceboat.me)
During the week lets keep an eye on our local bodies of water and ice and keep Bill Converse’s words in mind. “…if not there, somewhere else. Ice is coming in again with the cold”
While this plea should probably go at the top, I figure that anyone who reads to the bottom is more likely to heed my plea. We need to hear from YOU! Send pictures ( most of use have cameras on our phones), observations, thoughts, gripes, frustrations, joys and stories. Everyone of us has a story to tell and here is your chance. Leave a comment below, send me an email (john@neiya.org) or leave a message, yes text messaging has not replaced the phone, at (508) 377-6100 and press 1. Looking forward to hearing from the willing. Remember this is OUR platform and open to all member contributions.
Looking forward to more cold and ice ahead,
John Stanton
NEIYA Secretary
John@neiya.org
Ice for Sunday January 26th
The North Pond of Webster Lake is in the house and ready to sailed again tomorrow. Roger Livingston, reports that he and a group of sailors sailed the north pond of Webster lake today and will be returning tomorrow (Sunday).
Conditions were relatively smooth but there was some light snow over half of the surface. The snow was light and did not interfere with sailing.
Remember no ice is completely safe and there are always know and unknown hazards on any plate. Consult with the locals in the pit for specifics before setting out.
Sail safe, sail fast, sail heads up and never sail alone.
John Stanton
NEIYA Secretary
Meanwhile back at the ranch…
The intrepid DN North American Championship competitors have remained in the same place for a couple of days and finally begun racing. I will leave the recap to those who have stung their lungs on sub zero air and showered with hard sharp Champlain chips. NEIYA members Eben and Eric began scouting locations for he NA’s two weeks ago. Scouring bodies of water that straddle northern Vermont and Canada. They again scouted the area ahead of the eastward bound ice-less hoard.
Our unsung heroes and MVP’s are the ice checkers. They patiently watch as the edges begin to skim and smile when the morning light reveals fresh shore to shore black ice. Setting out upon the plate they probe with ax and drill to determine thickness and strength. Once a plate is confirmed to be sailable, word go out to the masses. Come out and play.
This is where we are now. It has been bitterly cold for days, we have had snow a foot or so on the coast, ice is thickening as we speak and lakes and ponds are being eyed and checked. The only thing left is COMMUNICATION.
Jeff Soderholm sent in a drive by picture of Lake Nippenicket in Bridgewater MA yesterday. It and other plates are ready to be scouted.
Who’s out looking? Let us know. Who’s scouted a local plate? Let us know. Who wants to check a local plate but needs help (safety in numbers)? Let us know so we can drum up help from the membership. Let us know by commenting below or leaving a message on our ice hotline (508) 377-6100. Please leave something to share with your fellow NEIYA members and ice enthusiasts.
Remember our membership directory is available in the Members login section tab at the top of the home page. Forgotten the password? Email me john@neiya.org? It was given out at the annual meeting and published in the Black Ice newsletter.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone and be safe when venturing onto new ice.
John Stanton
NEIYA Secretary
John@neiya.org
P.S. Remember there should still be world class racing going on in Platsburgh, NY tomorrow (Saturday 25th) for anyone that wants to watch. Do check the IDNIYRA for up to date info before venturing north http://ice.idniyra.org/hotline
What A Winner Looks Like
See article below….. Way to go Steve!
James “T” Thieler12 Channing St.
Newport, RI. 02840
401 258 6230
t_thieler
DN NA’s Under Way
Big news in Plattsburgh NY as the first race was run yesterday afternoon…. Want to know who won? Tough, I’m not telling you until later.
The day started well before dawn with Chad, Oliver and a few other hearty souls scouting a new plate of ice a few miles from the snowy, drifted-out one we were on originally….
They came back with glowing reports and so we bugged out and headed for the new- Worth the trip, this new plate is gorgeous- Smooth with some very cool looking hoar frost on the top.
Still wondering how the first race went? Wait for it….
Prior to that at race HQ there was some red tape to be dealt with as we didn’t know if we needed insurance or permits to launch out of the public ramp- At one point Chad jokingly asked the woman who runs the restaurant at the hotel if she knew the mayor by any chance- When she responded that in fact she did he grabbed her arm and led her into the war room while stating in his best movie secret agent voice “Come with me.” Maybe you had to be there- Trust me, it was classic.
So who won that first race? Keep reading.
Turns out we were good to go anyway and once on the ice Bob Schumacher stepped up to the plate to have a safety meeting and point out a few hazards out by the starboard layline- As soon as he said the word “hazard” the ice flexed under the group and we all dropped down about three inches as we back-pedaled away from each other to spread the weight…. Can’t make this stuff up.
Bet the suspense is killing you now, dear reader.
Line set, just enough breeze to get around the course, flag dropped and off they go…. That first boat around the top mark looks like it has a white mast with lots of orange tape on it…. Good speed down wind…. A little closer…. White hull…. Red jacket…. Could it be….
Suddenly the NEIYA’s own Steve Madden goes flying around the mark in fine form- You could almost see him grinning under his helmet and face mask. After the race he was smiling so much the snot-cicles in his mustache cracked.
Now aren’t you glad you stayed with it???
Way to go Steve! With his win he qualified up into the Gold fleet and also finally got this darn regatta started. Who knows what the hell today will bring- In theory we may have some new faces as Jeff Kent and Greg Cornelius may just get out of the car shop in Manchester and Dave Buckley is purported to be on the way- Pretty sure late arrivals will be welcomed if you ask nicely… Anyone else gonna head up?
Folks, this has been an epic journey- You should hear the stories I can’t or won’t write about- Lotta laughs along the way- Wish is luck on getting this one in the books!
Stay tuned-
James “T” Thieler12 Channing St.
Newport, RI. 02840
401 258 6230
t_thieler
2012 Annual Meeting Recap – Swap
The annual Swap meet was a huge success with a new venue and an earlier opening. Leaving lots of time to kick runners, buy stuff and catch up with old friends.
The Swap featured the latest boats and gear from Jeff Kent and Steve Duhamel as well as some great cast offs from T, Chad Atkins and others.
Boats ranged from race ready, to recreational in sail away condition and my show favorite a well used over built green heavy weight DN ready for the winds from Sandy.
Photo credits Jeff Soderholm
Check back soon for pictures and recap of the Lunch and Meeting portion of The Annual.
John Stanton
DN5023
Web Ice Master
P.S. Sorry for the delay. Seems that our other annual event is weather after the meeting. At least all I saw this year was out of state power company trucks coming east on the Mass Pike and 84.
New England Ice Yacht Association 