by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 25, 2022 | 2022-2023, Home Page, WSSA
In the annals of what-great-timing, iceboat sail maker (retired) and iceboating historian Henry Bossett recently sent this clipping about a model building contest in the 1930s Oshkosh, WI area. I forwarded the clipping to Lake Winnebago ice sailor Mike Peters. He replied, “I picked up another of the original model stern steers that were built in Oshkosh in the 1930s
Mike Peter’s latest model acquisition.
.
Previous Posts about Ice Yacht Models:
One More Model: ACE OF SPADE
Sculptural Stern Steerer
Super Models
Model B
Ice-Boat Racer Says…
Frank Lloyd Wright & Iceboating
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 16, 2022 | 2022-2023
Arden Scott Metal Sculpture Photo: Mike Acebo
Dan’s Papers :Arden Scott Shares Her Art & Life with Pair of Greenport Harbor Brewing Shows
Orient Ice Yacht Club (OIYC) member Mike Acebo shared news about a sculpture exhibit. OIYC member and highly accomplished artist Arden Scott’s minimalist metal sculptures, inspired by iceboats, are on display at the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company in Greenport, NY. Scott’s artistic journey brought her to Lake Mendota’s ice when she was a University of Wisconsin student in the early 1960s.
Arden Scott recalls:
Fond memories of Lake Mendota- the iceboats I remember were old Stern Steerers. A friend found one under his back porch, and the landlady said, “Oh my, by all means, use it! I have the sails somewhere.” Someone must’ve known what they were doing – I was only 17 or 18 at the time. Coming from New York, I’d never experienced ice like that! Exhilarating, to say the least! I was unaware of anything organized about it, although many were affiliated with the Hoofers sailing club. My memories seem to be dramatic speeds and terrain. The lake had what they called pressure ridges; navigating these sometimes had us airborne. Oh, and did I mention cold! But ah, youth, anything that exciting….It ’twas a long time ago and much ice under the bridge.
From the Dan’s Paper article:
Another major component of Scott’s life informing her work is her passion for sailing. The artist has been addicted to the sport since she tried it as young girl in summer camp. During her college years, she sailed on lakes with a sailing club, even during freezing winter temperatures, sailing to class on stern steerer ice boats. Continue reading.
“Arden is a member of the Orient Ice Yacht Club, the home of East End historic Stern Steerers. She has worked on restoring these boats and sailing them on local ice. I had the pleasure of working with Arden for many years at the boatyard in Greenport that I managed, Arden worked in the rigging department.” Photo and caption via Mike Acebo.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 15, 2022 | 2022-2023, Home Page
Illustration from St. Nicholas magazine, February 1879.
The classic book Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates deserves a slot in any iceboating book collection because it describes ice yachts in beautiful detail. The author, Mary Mapes Dodge, may have acquired some knowledge of ice sailing living in New York and New Jersey. Dodge edited a famous children’s magazine for many years, and she included iceboat plans and articles in several of the issues. In 1879, the magazine St. Nicholas published “The Ice Boating Song.” Dodge put music to the song from her famous book.
From Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates
Just then a beautiful iceboat with reefed sail and flying streamers swept leisurely by. Its deck was filled with children muffled up to their chins. Looking at them from the ice you could see only smiling little faces imbedded in bright-colored woolen wrappings. They were singing a chorus in honor of Saint
Nicholas. The music, starting in the discord of a hundred childish voices, floated, as it rose, into exquisite harmony:
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 1, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page
Pete Johns at the 2021 DN Centrals in Michigan.
It’s time to kick off the long weekend to celebrate the 4th of July with two of the most patriotic iceboats in America. Hoping we can photograph these two boats together somewhere during the 2023 season. Happy 4th of July!
JD and his Class A Skeeter on Lake Michigan at Menominee, Michigan in March 2021.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Jun 27, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page
World’s earliest wind surfer? “Ollerus traverses the sea on his magic bone. 16th-century woodcut. Olaus Magnus, “Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus.”
Summer Solstice is behind us; we are on course for the next ice sailing season. Nordic countries have marked Midsommer since Pagan times when Thor and Odin ruled the north. I stumbled upon Ull, a Norse God who was the fastest deity around and patron of our favorite time of year. Ull could transform the shield he carried into a boat and bones into skates. With that much power, it’s not a stretch to believe his bow was basically a mast. Put his boat, bone skates, and mast together, and that’s an iceboat. In some Norse mythology accounts, Ull married Skadi, the Goddess of winter and cold. It’s five months until the Western Challenge, the season’s first fun DN regatta. Sharpen those bones!
Paul Krueger’s Class A Skeeter on Lake Monona, March 2022.
Like this:
Like Loading...
