Throwback Thursday: 8mm Memories

by | Oct 22, 2020 | 2020-2021, Home Page, WSSA

Michigan’s Bill Parker converted his grandfather’s 8 mm ice boating films and uploaded them to YouTube. Take a look.

My father, Bill Parker, and my Grandfather, Howard Parker, built, sailed, and raced iceboats in the Battle Creek, Michigan area. These 8mm films are from the WWII era, primarily after the war. They were scanned from very neglected originals, and the quality is really bad. The original “cinematography” wasn’t great, and Dad was good at taking film of rig or boat details. Much of the footage is relatively static in nature, but there are action shots of iceboats here and there.

The most common iceboats shown are C-class, there is an A class boat or two, and also Skeeters. Grandpa owned an A-class boat for a few years called the “Gossoon”, and later, a Skeeter named “The Duchess.” Dad’s C-Class boat was “Valkyrie”.

I am sure of the Gouguac and Crystal lake venues, but unsure if the other venue is Lake St. Clair. I know they raced there, but also in Wisconsin venues. If you have any information about the venues or the boats, please feel free to comment. [On the YouTube page.]

2020-2021 Winter Forecast: There Will Be Iceboating Somewhere…Again

by | Oct 20, 2020 | 2020-2021, Home Page

“Ice Yachts On The Hudson River” by Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick. “They work primarily in the fields of photography and installation art, specializing in fictitious histories [much like winter weather forecasts – Ed.] set in the past or future. Website

The winter forecasts are out, peppered with words that hedge their predictions – terms like possible, possibly, maybe and expected.
You can trust our winter forecasts here at iceboat.org. We guarantee that there will be ice sailing somewhere in North America and around the world, hopefully near you! And make plans to attend your local iceboat swap meet this Saturday, October 24. Information below!
WINTER WEATHER GUESSES
Farmer’s Almanac
NOAA
Accuweather
John Dee’s Winter Outlook

ICEBOAT SWAP MEETS
EAST – THOMPSON, CONNECTICUT
New England Ice Yacht Club Swap Meet
Saturday, October 24
10 AM
Thompson Motor Speedway Golf Course
205 E Thompson Rd, Thompson, CT 06277
We will have lots of outdoor space for the swap meet, Lunch, and our Annual Meeting. You don’t have to come inside if you are not comfortable doing so but everyone should meet up in the parking lot. You do not have to be a member to attend the swap or other activities.
More information

WEST – GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
Green Lake Ice Yacht Club
Saturday, October 24
10 AM – 2 PM
Green Lake Town Square Parking Lot
Green Lake, WI
More information

WEST- DELAVAN, WISCONSIN
Delavan Yacht Club
Saturday, November 7, 2020
10 AM – 3 PM
Location: Delavan Yacht Club
1501 Cedar Point Drive
Delavan, WI
More information

 

How Do You Say HOLLYWOOD in Norwegian?

by | Oct 14, 2020 | 2020-2021, Home Page


An intrepid ice skater who goes by the name “The Dutch Ice Finder” found the first of the season today on Lake Juvvanet in Norway and posted these heart-wrenchingly beautiful photos of perfect, fresh, black ice on his Facebook page. The season is soon upon us, folks. 

See the “B” This Week

by | Oct 11, 2020 | 2020-2021, Home Page

Ritz the puppy is intrigued by the MARY B being assembled.

In addition to the autumn colors, apples, and pumpkins, fall in Four Lakes means setting up your iceboat to make sure everything fits. The MARY B group set her up in a Westport field on Saturday.. Daniel Hearn also took advantage of the beautiful day and the large area to set up his C Skeeter. If you’d like to see the MARY B, she’ll be up all week. Don Sanford sends the following:

Mary B is waiting for you! Have you ever wanted to get an up-close and personal look at the Mary B but just haven’t felt up to braving the cold and hiking out onto the ice?

Well, here’s your chance. Our volunteers set her up today and now you can even visit from the comfort of your car.

She’s waiting for you in a wide-open field near the intersection of Hwy 113 and County Hwy M.

Set your GPS for 5341 W. River Road., Waunakee 53597. Once you’re on River Road, just follow the Mary B signs.

Volunteers will be there to show her to you, answer questions and maybe tell you a story from 1 pm – 4 pm as follows:

  • Sunday, October 11
  • Tuesday, October 13
  • Wednesday, October 14
  • Thursday, October 15
  • Friday, October 16

Come on out this week, you won’t need a winter coat, gloves or your ice creepers!

Sorry about the late notice, but you know how it is with iceboats—conditions are always changing.

See you on the ice grass.

Please wear your mask.

Don

Frankie Hearn tests his dad’s C Skeeter.

DN Tech Talk: Gluing Chocks

by | Oct 11, 2020 | 2020-2021, DN, Home Page

Previous: Shimming Runners
Polish DNer Tomek Zakrzewski’s is back with another instructional Youtube video.

One of the ways to glue chocks to the runner plank using simple jig and MMA adhesive. Building ice sailing gears can be easier when we learn one from the other.