Jeff Davis

by | Nov 22, 2017 | 2017-2018, Home Page, WSSA

Jeff, Carter, and Jay Davis.

The iceboating community lost one of our most avid stern-steerer sailors, Jeff Davis,  on November 18. Our deepest condolences to the Davis family. They always make the effort to attend regattas. Jeff will be missed. His funeral will be held on Saturday, November 25 in Emmetsburg, Iowa.  Read his obituary here.
Andy Gratton writes:

I am sorry to report that one of our younger stern-steerer members, Jeff Davis, 42, lost the battle with cancer on November 18. He and his brother Jay restored and sailed the C boat “Flirt” for the last couple decades. Prior to that they both raced DNs. Jeff loved being on the ice and made many trips from Iowa with his brother and his dad, John, to sail regattas with us. He was looking forward to being well enough to attend the 2018 Northwest and to bring his son for the first time. He will be missed.

Wish You Were Here: Glenn’s Summer Vacation

by | Aug 5, 2017 | 2017-2018, Home Page

Where it all began in America, “Ice boating on the Hudson River.”

Today’s installment combines themes from the off-season of 2017, postcards and what ice sailors do on summer vacations. Michigan/Toledo ice sailor Glenn Betzloldt is touring and sailing the northeast with his replica miniature schooner. (Ask to see a photo next time you see him.) Glenn sent photos of a historic Hudson River Stern Steerer built in 1908, STORM KING, on exhibit at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes, Vermont.

As far as postcards go, above is the only Hudson River ice yachting postcard in my collection. There surely have to be more of them because the Hudson River is where ice yachting began in America.

Here’s what an internet search revealed about STORM KING. The incomparable historic ice yachting blog  “White Wings and Black Ice”, has posted several pages from a book, Hudson River Ice Yacht Club Member Book 1908, with a fleet roster that included STORM KING, listed as owned by Silas Lane of the Poughkeepsie Ice Yacht Club in New York. Silas Lane’s family, under the name Lane Motor Vehicle Company, manufactured early steam powered cars.