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 