Holiday Greetings From The NEIYA

On behalf of myself and the officers, Vice Commodore Jay Whitehair, Secretary Karen Binder and Treasurer Bob Haag everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a reminder that our season has just begun.

Our season the best season in the world. The time when liquid turns to solid and the apparent wind is ever on the nose. While sailors in New England have already set up, cruised, and raced and some have journeyed to the Central Region to race, right after Christmas usually marks the unofficial beginning of the season. Once the weather cooperates things will kick it into high gear and become the most wonderful time of the year.

We are always challenged and sometimes feel like Goldie Locks trying to find ice to play on. “This ice is too thin or not at, this ice is covered with crud but this ice is just right.” We know about the wind but let’s not tempt fate. This year we have a layer of Covid-19 on top of the usual uncertainty. A layer of fear, a layer of uncertainty, a layer of doubt, and two scoops of RISK precariously perched on top of it all.

Our own comfort zones and the patchwork of local and state regulations is channeling us closer to home. Some people will still travel and this is a decision that each one of us has to make for ourselves. With that in mind let’s make the most out of the local scene everywhere. Whether that is in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or even Rhode Island. Let’s make our plan “B” this season’s plan “A”. As reported a group of us met up for an off-ice meet-up in CT a couple weeks ago and this is exactly what we discussed. Mark Friedman in New Hampshire ventured out onto Lake Waukegan this past Tuesday and would have welcomed other locals if they could come.

In Covid times let’s change it up. Get outdoors and see what nature has given us. Find that ice within your comfort zone. Some of it might not be as big or as good as some ice that is further away but you will be. Pick up the phone, clear your throat or start pounding the text keys and get others out to join you. No matter what have fun with like-minded folks. And you never know the ice you find may be steller.

Next steps check in on the tabs at the top of the home page Member Login/Directory and Member Login and Member Login/Forum. We will be publishing a weekly group text for people to join. Big Ice and Races will of course be posted on the home page. Enjoy family and friends and let’s

Think Ice and Have a Wonderful Christmas and see you on the ice,

John Stanton
NEIYA Commodore
DN5023
john@neiya.org

P.S. Please reach out directly to me if you have any thoughts.
P.P.S. We are going to have fun this season regardless. So press on…