Winnipesaukee's Ice Boating History

[ApS]

As usual, I stumbled upon this history of Lake Winnipesaukee's ice boats while researching a different topic. (New Hampshire's wide use of The Narrows for locations—and a brand-new use of "The Narrows" is here, too).

The site makes reference to a 2004 event—an ice boating race from Wolfeboro to Center Harbor—an event that I totally missed—actually, it has been a long series of races. (And this is a huge ice boating site).



Participants are advised of the following:

"...Remember: Assistance and shelter is a long way from the middle of Halfway to Center Harbor, Lake Winnipesaukee.

Brewster Beach, Wolfeboro to Center Harbor is twenty-seven miles each way. To accomplish the whole trip you may end up sailing over a hundred miles. Sharp runners, and be prepared. There are good reasons why pilots do their own pre-flight inspections..."

and...

"...Even if reef crossings appear to be sailable, raise your tiller so you don’t take it in the teeth in the event of a sudden stop..."

Maybe I'm not ready for this kind of adventure, after all!

"...Three miles later I am screaming full tilt in a slight hike, then suddenly I jump an 8" plate depression, land skidding and then the full pitchpole on to the ice with the boat on top of me. I grab onto the stay to keep with the boat, eventually everything stops. Am I hurt? I see blood on my face..."

How do they get so many to show up?



...and an accounting of experiences within the ice boat fleet (of 15)...

"...• Brain Langley hits 63.2 mph on GPS in the broads to make the fastest sailor of the day...

"...frayed his storm sail through at the tack.

"...frayed his side stay on the upwind leg. new rope.

"...bent his aluminum mast during the first ten minutes

"...lost runner pin at Center Harbour.

"...lost head batten on upwind leg.

"...splintered a plank going up wind

"...breaks tiller brace during wipeout pitch pole.

"...bent his bobstay going downwind through the broads over some "roughage"

"...lost stay pin, then ran over and frayed stay nearly through...""

Is it any wonder their R-O-W rules appear so strict?



Crash helmet?

http://edatkeson.com/neiya/blackIceHW.html