Iceboating weather can be extreme, but usually on the cold side. The MARY B group met on Friday, June 30 (on a day that the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning) to set up the historic stern-steerer. Their goals were to practice efficiently setting up the boat, to put up the newly cleaned sails, and to assess the boat. Despite the heat, a big group pitched in to make easy work of it. The new sails and the bright chrome made for an impressive sight.
Snow Sticks
Ice sailing in the Four Lakes area is on hold until the Great Zamboni© descends to take away the 7″+ of snow covering our beautiful ice. There will be no 4LIYC racing for the weekend of February 10-11, 2018.
On Thursday, the MARY B group towed her from the Edgewater to the Brearly Street launch via snowmobile. Paul McMillan reported it was a fast ride.
The last iceboat off the lake for a while.
Not much to report for today because snow ended sailing on Lake Mendota. However, Saturday was one of the most memorable days spent on the ice in Madison in years. There were a few thousand people introduced to iceboating at the Frozen Assets Festival at the Edgewater. Around noon, the Nite fleet and 4LIYC Renegades sailed up to the Edgewater and served as the backdrop for the MARY B stern-steerer which was on display at the festival. The boats were immediately descended upon by festival goers and sailors spent a few hours explaining our sport to the curious. Andy Gratton and Mike Kroll gave gave some rides to and from the launch area on Andy’s beloved red stern steerer (complete with the plank-riding bear) WISCONSIN. The Nite banquet was a rousing good time at the German restaurant and beer hall, Essen Haus. Nite skippers embraced the tradition of passing around glass boots filled with beer. What an exceptional day!
Here are some shots of the festival from the crowd.
INSTAGRAM PHOTOS
Back in Madison after exhibiting at boat shows (he’s a boat dealer in his day job), 4LIYC Commodore Don Anderson has been busy making up for lost ice time on Lake Mendota. EASY RIDER and Don enjoyed a great day of sailing Wednesday and today, the MARY B stern-steerer group is setting her up n front of the Edgewater as part of Clean Lakes’ Alliance Frozen Assets Festival.
Photo: George Gerhardt Ready position!
This weekend, Lake Mendota will be the place to be if you embrace winter. The 2018 Nite National Regatta will be sailed on Lake Mendota February 3-4, 2018. All official information is posted on the Nite Class website.
The MARY B will be on display at the Clean Lake Alliance premier event, Frozen Assets Festival at the Edgewater Hotel. If that isn’t enough fun, UW Madison’s Hoofers Winter Carnival is also taking place. The 4LIYC will likely be club racing this weekend as well. We’ll have an announcement about 4LIYC racing by 5 PM on Friday.
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
Location: In person at the Elks Lodge 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Time: 6:30 PM
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TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
