Conference unifix::sailing

    The word is in (via telephone network). Tomorrow (Sunday Jan 7)
    is on for Winnipesaukee. Presumably the state bea at the Weirs.
    
    This is indirect info from the N.E. Ice Racing Assn.
    
    NWS forcast is for light winds from the s.w.
    
    I plan to be there by mid day w/ a bunch of teen-agers & ice skates
    in tow. Look for a green and white Sunfish sail on a generic ice boat.
    Please say hello if anyone comes up.
    
    Note that Ice condition is unknown and wind is forcast for light.
    
    caveat emptor
    
    Bill
    

    MAINE, ICE CONDITIONS.
    
    The lakes from Augusta east to the ocean are glass. I went sailing on
    Damriscotta yesterday and had a great time. We have two DNs, one legal
    and one with sail and spars from a Sandpiper. (MAST FAILED YESTERDAY)
    We have one sailing now. 
    
    I found that the mast from the sailboat couldn't take the pressure of
    "up on two", it folded in the middle. NOW LOOKING FOR A MAST AND BOOM.
    
    All in all, still had a great time.
    
    John.

    Driving on Rt 24 from Fall River to Tiverton yesterday
    and saw LOTS of activity on a lake just off the highway.
    Looked like glass, and there were easily 50 boats out
    there!
    
    Never-been-ice-boating-but-would-like-to-try,
    Dean

    I was skunked for wind on Winnipesaukee yesterday - never saw more than
    5 mph at the most. I understand some parts of the state got something
    resembling the 5-15 forecast by late in the afternoon. It never fails,
    when one brings along a never-iceboated before sailing friend. Perhaps
    If I could have stayed a little later...
    
    Bill
    

    I heard through the grape vine that there will be some sort of activity on 
    DAMRISCOTA lake this weekend. the lake is like glass except for 1/4 "
    of snow. (dusting) We will be there with 2 DNs if all goes well.
    JT
    

    WELL, NOT MUCH HERE FROM THE ICE PEOPLE!! WHERE ARE YOU??
    
    Hi, had a great time sailing on mirror smooth ice of Damriscotta this
    weekend. MAX wind and superb ice conditions. Met up with some of the 
    racing folks and gathered more info on iceboating. Got a look at what
    they said was the fastest DN in  New England, and by the looks of the
    gold plaques on it, probably it is.
    
    I replaced my broken mast with what belongs there and am glad I did.
    Nothing like hiking down the ice at ?? mph. (FAST!!!) Oh yes, there was
    no snow on the lake at all, and all went well (we had our two dns and
    there were 8 or so more, plus quite a number of skimmers.)
    
    Later,
    
    JOHN 
    
    

Saturday I checked ice conditions on Lake Massabesic. Several people were
sailing; but they were also complaining about the very bumpy conditions caused
by snowmobiles. It was bad enough that one boat split its side. It's going to
take a good rain storm and warm weather to restore the lake's ice surface. 

Sunday I sailed on Webster Lake in Webster, Massachusetts. The conditions were 
excellent with 10 boats sailing including 7 DNs and one Gambit. Launching on 
Lake Webster is in Snug Harbor or right at I395 Exit 1.

re .6

Damriscotta Lake is a long hike for me but still I might like to visit 
sometime. For future reference, where do you launch?

- Bob

    Hi, there are several places to launch but what I feel is the best is 
    the STATE BEACH at Jefferson. It is kept plowed for easy access to the
    lake. (ICE FISHING) I drive out on the ice and set up. Some set up on
    the beach. The man that races, Larry I think his name is, welcomes all
    ice boaters to his place to set up. His place is hard to find if you
    have never been there so I recommend Jefferson (Me.)
    
    We, unfortunately, have a couple inches of snow on the ice now. But
    WAIT!! It is supposed to rain today with temps in the 50s.
    I'll keep the conditions posted. The sport is growing in this area. 
    The boats are coming out of barns, sellars, etc with new interest
    or passed along to new blood. It certainly is a thrill and I hope to
    sail more this year.
    
    JOHN who is still lame from hauling on the main sheet
    

    ICE CONDITIONS SHOULD BE GREAT THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!!!
    
    The rain leveled off all the lakes in the eastern Maine area and should
    be refrozen by Saterday. The wind today  would be suicide.
    

    I may be going out on Sunday - if we don't get inundated w/ snow. Any
    reports of local activity would be welcomed in W. Maine, N.H. or
    N. Mass.
    
    Maybe Sat. p.m. if other commitments allow.
    
    
    Bill
    

    Had a great Sat. afternoon on the ice. The wind came up and we sailed
    from about 1:00 until 4:00. There ended up 5 DNs and a couple SKs. Now
    we have snow, hopefully it will blow off.
    
    JOHN
    

re .11

Unfortunately, it's doubtful that this much snow will blow off. If the wind
clears the ice at all, more likely is a quiltwork of drifts and clear ice. I
sailed once under such conditions; but not again. Burying a runner in a hard
packed drift is a formula for ripping the runner plank off. 

Short of the wind completely clearing the ice, we can hope for a major thaw
and some rain. Alternately, we can hope for thawing and freezing cycles 
to provide us some snow-ice and good spring sailing. If the sailing doesn't 
return immediately, this may be a good time to make slush runners (angle iron 
runners) for spring sailing.

- Bob

    its RAINING here!    :-)
    
    john

    Well, it did rain enough, and it did freeze enough. Not perfect ice
    conditions but ok. Lot of flying ice chips, great wind, lot of hiking.
    
    JOHN, who's left arm is 4" longer than the right, or so it feels!

    I am in the process of building an ice board (large skateboard with
    runners and a windsurfing sail.  I would like to know what lakes
    have good ice this weekend.  I would like to sail in Wakefield and
    any information that lake is appreciated.

    What are the conditions on Winnipesaukee???? We will be going there
    this wkend. Also, where is an inexpensive place to stay in the
    Wolfborrow area???
    
    Thanks,
    JOHN

I hope I haven't forgotten anybody, but Wolfeboro offers the following
lodging: 

o the Wolfeboro Inn
	- regatta headquarters
	- in town location at the northwest end
	  of the downtown block
	- banquet location
o the Windrifter
	- closest to Brewster Beach launch area but 
	  not really walking distance to the beach or to town.
	- no personal experience but I've only had good
	  reports
	- On Route 28 approx 1 mile southeast of Town
o the Lakeview Inn
	- about 1/4 mile from Wolfeboro Inn heading away from
	  town. 
o the Tuck Me Inn
	- bed and breakfast
	- about one block from the Wolfeboro Inn heading
	  away from town
o Piping Rock Motel
	- approximately 4 miles from town on route 109 
	  heading toward Tuftonboro. 

I'm not certain of the name of the motel, but last year several iceboaters
stayed at a motel at the Alton Circle. This is about 11 miles south of
Wolfeboro at the intersection of routes 11 and 28. They were very satisfied
and the price was significantly lower than in Wolfeboro. 

I enjoy the Wolfeboro Inn Tavern for an informal dinner and would probably 
breakfast at Mast Landing downtown.

Enjoy your weekend.

- Bob

    Regarding the Ice Boat Regatta in Wolfeboro NH,
    March 10 & 11 (Saturday & Sunday):
    
    Regatta (race?) starts 10:30 AM Saturday at Brewster Beach, Wolfeboro.
    
    Banquet at Wolfeboro Inn 6:30 PM Saturday.
    
    A long distance sail will be held Sunday, starting 10:00 AM.
    
    Lake conditions (I was told):
     28"-35" ice
     Some  1"-3" snow drifts on ice surface as of Thursday.
    
    Today, I heard, people are driving cars out on the ice.
    Last year, melting made it difficult to bridge the ice/shore
    gap via car, especially later in the afternoon of the 2nd day.
    
    NOAA reports I heard predicted mostly clear, 50 F high, slight drizzle
    possible Saturday. [Light/no wind Friday. Didn't hear about wind
    for Saturday or Sunday.]
    
    rooms: "Allen A.'s Resort"   603-569-1700  1.5 mi East on rte 28.
    Most in-town hotels are full up by now.
    

    Thanks for the info. We did go and stayed at the Windrifter. I was
    pleased with the room.
    
    I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY ICEBOATS IN MY LIFE!!!
    
    We got there at about 11:00 Sat. morning. No wind for the rest of the 
    day. That didn't matter at all because we had all the rigs sitting
    right there to examine. I especially liked the old boats, (JACK FROST)
    and the like.
    
    We went down to the lake Sun. morning and started to disassemble our 
    boats whereas there was no wind. But wait, sure enough a breeze
    started. We could see the sail on the JACK FROST start to flutter. Lets
    give it a few more minutes. Sure enough, there was wind enough to go
    for a ride. Re-assembly in record time and I was sailing. It only
    lasted for an hour or so but I did get some good sailing untill about
    10:00 am. Then no wind, packed up and went home. A race did start at
    about 10:00 but they were pushing. Don't know how anything turned out.
    
    JOHN
    

    If anyone knows the schedule for the Winnepesaukee
    ice-sailing regatta this year, please enter it here.
    

    Well, it was last weekend. Apparently the conditions
    were "perfect, except the wind was a little too strong."
    This from telephoning the desk at the Wolfboro Hotel.
    Not many ice boaters have storm-sails, I guess.
    

    Any news about this season's Wolfeboro (N.H) "ice frolic" ?
    

    According to staff at Wolfeboro Hotel, the ice-sailing
    event will be on March 6,7, and 8. (The event was
    originally scheduled to occur one week later.)
    

    Can anyone provide an ICE REPORT for Lake Winnipesaukee ?
    
    thanks
    

    As of this weekend, the Ice was still in. Cars, trucks, and snowmobiles
    still cruising around the fish shacks in alton bay.
    
    
    Scott

    Four of the expected five large ice yachts are 
    at Wolfboro beach now, for the Spring Ice Frolic:
    Jack Frost, Coldwave, Phantom and Northwest.
    
    Purchase banquet tickets before 7pm Saturday
    at Wolfboro Inn $14.50 .  603-569-3016.
    
    Reportedly there's a "bit of crust" on the ice, but
    today's high temps plus a little rain on Saturday
    may just fix it...
    

    Due to thick slush, the 1993 Winnepesaukee Ice Frolic
    has been postponed to:  March 19th thru 28th.
    
    For more information, call the taped-recorded
    Wolfeboro Ice Frolic Hotline at 603-569-2982.
    
    The next update to the Frolic Hotline message
    will be on March 16th.
    

    Is it really going to include 2 weekends or just occur sometime within
    those 2 weekends?
    
    Bill
    

    Updated information from the Winnepesaukee Ice
    Frolic Hotline (603-569-2982), as of March 18th:
    
    Top_down_analysis of lake surface:
      3 inches of frozen crust on
      3 inches of mush on
      2 feet of ice.
    
    The ICE FROLIC is postponed to March 26th thru 28th.
    (Only one weekend now?)
    Next Hotline update on March 24th.
    

    According to March 24th HOTLINE, the 1993 ICE FROLIC
    has been further postponed to April 2, 3 and 4.
    
    Lake Winnepesaukee received 6 inches of new snow on
    March 23rd (?).
    
    Next HOTLINE update (603-569-2982) March 31st.
    

    After several postponements due to poor ice
    conditions, the 1993 Wolfboro Ice Frolic has
    now been CANCELLED. Try again next year!