Looking Forward To 2020 & Over My Shoulder

Nothing like the first real cold and snow flurries to jolt one into iceboat mode. My work colleges do not quite understand, they never do, so I showed them the Thunder Bay video from earlier in the week. https://youtu.be/VUWgdQA6dAw Unfortunatly their minds are on deliveries south and cruising in the Caribbean. But we know better and look forward to first ice.

Today’s note is two-fold looking forward and looking a little back.

Looking forward
In less than a month Steve Lamb will once again host the annual off ice tune-up clinic. Mark your calendar’s Saturday, December 14th, Arthur C. Lamb Co., Canton, MA. The timing should be perfect for securing last-minute tune-up tips and propel us into full iceboat mode. Rick Bishop will be getting the full agenda out in a few days.

Looking Back
This year’s Annual Meeting and swap meet was very well attended. We successfully filled a bigger parking lot at our new (second year) venue in Hudson NY. Two boat legends changed hands, Hal Chamberlain and Roger Livingston’s boats have new caretakers. Good luck gentlemen. Sail Fast and make their former owners proud.

Lunch began shortly after the swap meet hoard were herded into the meeting room. We left the usual abstaining crowd in the lot. Maybe they had more fun out there but the real show featured chicken, Swedish meatballs, the usual sides and boat talk. But it was not as much about the food as the crowd of people all gathered together to talk mostly about iceboating past and future. Mixed well amongst the NEIYA veterans was six brand new members eager to join in.

Commodore T kicked off the meeting with his usual style and grace and believe it or not the jokes were clean.

The next part of the meeting was fun, prizes and safety-related. Yours truly raffled off safety items that Landfall (www.landfallnavigation.com shameless plug) helped bring to our meeting. Safety tip of the day, carry a whistle. Be sure that it does not have a pea that can clog or freeze up making it worthless. Jay Whitehair was up next with his VT first responder ice bucket challenge. Jay talked about the effects of Hypothermia and what you should do and how to safely help someone else. Jay, thanks for the good tips for all the potential swimmers out there.

The required business portion of the meeting rolled along smoothly and we tried to make it as painless as possible especially for those that are new, just having lunch, or easily distracted.

T talked about local racing this past season which was a little challenging but last year’s New Englands did happen late last year up in Maine. The same may occur this year. Get ready to roll on a moment’s notice as December may just deliver a good plate for race and cruising.

While conditions for racing did not materialize Charlie Silvanus was able to pull off the Hard Way for the second year in a row. Bill Buchholz presented signed certificates of completion. Kate Marrone will be putting the Hardway recap on the web in the next week or so. So read the details there and get ready for the next attempt. Could there be a Winni Spring Fling in 2020? It’s been way way too long so let’s hope so and stay tuned.

Eben Whitcomb representing the nominating commitee put forth the recommended slate for the 2020 season. Some well known and some new blood was proposed.

Commodore: John Stanton
Vice Commodore: Jay Whitehair
Secretary: Karen Binder
Treasurer: Bob Haag

The slate was presented and no additional candidates were nominated from the floor. Motions to accept nominations and vote were put forward electing the slate.

I am proud to be the next NEIYA Commodore and look forward to serving the club and ice boaters en masse. I have spoken personally with many of you and heard what you are saying both positive and areas needing improvement. I’m already working on the weather thing and planning for a solid plate of ice from the big lakes in Maine clear down to the New Jersey shore. Wish I really could make that promise but… I do want to be sure that we communicate as a tight group and will publish where people are sailing on a weekly basis. It’s all about the people. I am committed to making this happen. With Karen’s help as well as Deane Williams who is helping out on the web we will make it so. Our Cruising Chairman Bill Buchholz always plays a key roll in getting the word out for Maine ice and is a fine example of cooperation and sharing ice related information.

We started a tradition a couple years ago with the honoring of Leo Healey, who regrets that he could not make it to this year’s meeting. This year we honored Lloyd Roberts. If you know Lloyd than you know what a fine gentleman and iceboater he is. In a couple words, he wrote the book. Think Ice originally published in 1980 and later updated in 1985 and 1997 (Millenium Edition). Rumor has it that there is a new edition coming out in a year or so but it really is quite up to date. Think Ice is available direcly from The Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club HERE

Lloyd, I appreciate knowing you as a friend and fellow iceboater for the past 20+ years. Sorry for the low audio. I hope you can hear the words of admiration and if you can not know that the NEIYA and all its members hold you in the highest regard. We look forward to sailing with you this season.

On behalf of myself, Jay Whitehair, Karen Binder, and Bob Haag have a great 2020 iceboat season and see you on the ice.

Think Ice,

John Stanton
NEIYA Commodore
Dn5023
John@neiya.org

P.S. If you have not paid your 2020 dues please do today.