BAIKAL UPDATE

Sounds like the annual expedition to Lake Baikal is a little less than ideal this year.

This makes sense if you think about it; after about ten near-perfect years in a row it seems like a less than optimum one was due. Sailors and iceboaters know not every day can be perfect!

That said, the gang seems to be making lemonade from the lemons they’ve been given. Unpredictable winds and less than perfect ice will not ruin the party!

That said it sounds like coronavirus may be cutting it short as some sailors are pulling the plug and heading for home before quarantines take effect, borders close and airlines start cancelling more flights.

Ugh. We live in interesting times indeed.

But here is the latest in Mike Bloom’s own words!

“Yesterday is why you travel to Baikal. When the winds called the Baikal Beast exceeded 17m/s [33 knots. Just have to point out that a New England sailor wouldn’t flinch.] and racing was cancelled.

I was invited to visit the Stupa on the big island out in the lake. So I put on my spikes for a 7 km walk in winds so strong it could blow us off our feet.

Dedric organized the day and we were joined by his wife Alexandra, Chris Berger and Marci and two other Dutch sailors both named Hans.

A Stupa is a religious structure containing the remains of Buddhist monks and is used as a place of meditation.

The shape of the stupa represents a Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne. But a local guide said the stupa may represent the five purified elements: land, water, air, fire, and sun.

We honored the Buddhist tradition of circumambulation which is an important ritual of walking three times around the Stupa. As a result, Stupas have a path around them.
We also left a small token at the alter. Surrounding the Stupa were many prayer flags. Being there was a moving and spiritual experience.

We then walked back to the ice and walked to the tip of the island to view a famous rock outcropping in the shape of a dragon.

From there we walked around edge of the island to seek shelter as the winds really picked up. We stopped in a beautiful spot with an amazing view of the lake. The rock outcroppings were covered with ice and Dideric and Marci surprisingly produced a bottle of Baikal vodka and glass shot glasses. We all briefly spoke about how fortunate we are to sail in Baikal and to be together with friends from around the world.

We drank a toast to Mark (Doctor) Christensen and then a separate toast to fun and friendship.

As we started the 7k/m trek home suddenly four dirt Buggy’s were heading straight for us. They were incredibly loud and appeared to be having way too much fun. Turns out they were sent by Jörg to find us.

After a couple of high speed 360’s they stopped and offered three of us a ride to see some ice caves, mountain goats and another large spiritual rock shrine. So without hesitation Hans, Hans and I jumped in. After all, what could go wrong traveling at freeway speeds on a sheet of ice in dirt buggy’s driven by a bunch of crazed iceboaters!

Some three hours later we were back on shore for the regatta’s international dinner. Each sailor brought food from their home country.

Jorge brought eel. Hamrak brought salami and herring. Jost brought bread and sausage. Marci made delicious American baked beans. The Swiss brought Cheese and chocolate while I have no idea who brought the rest.

After a very fun dinner the music started, as did the dancing. Young and old joined the festivities and international boundaries were no longer relevant.

Sailing continues today. The ice has gotten slightly better. Not sure about the wind though.

I made the difficult decision to join Berger and Marci and return home today. Air travel out of Irkutsk is getting difficult. European borders are being closed to foreigners. My airline reservations keep getting cancelled. Many others have already left.

My trip to Baikal was everything Ron Sherry, Jörg and Dideric promised it would be. The people, the culture, the geography is indescribable. It was truly a remarkable journey. One I will remember forever.

Think ice.

Mike Bloom

Chris Berger and Marci had this on the table five minutes after racing f was called off.