First Blood Behind Us

Our season has opened. As most of you already know, NEIYA sailors hit the ice the first weekend of December on Plymouth Pond in Maine and at the Great Western Challenge in Minnesota. Since then, conditions have deteriorated and temperatures have not consistently dropped below freezing. It does not look promising for a little while. Hold tight, check your gear, etc. This is no surprise, as not much happens before Christmas but is a real treat when it does.

As promised, I will be hosting a gathering of wannabe, new and seasoned iceboaters Landfall Navigation in Stamford CT this coming Saturday 10 am – 3 pm. Bring your boat down for a pre-ice survey. There will be decades of experience of waiting to help out. If you have any interest in iceboating come down all are welcome.

Where: Landfall Navigation, 151 Harvard Ave, Stamford CT 06902 just off I95 exit 6 North or Southbound

As always if you know something communicate with me or other officers or committee members. Word will be spread via this website prior to a weekend or event. We will attempt to give as much notice as possible but weather is weather and not always reliable.

Looking back at the Great Western Challenge December 3-5th

We traveled by car and air from ME, RI, MA, and CT. All received a warm Minnesota welcome. Not just from the Race Committee but all the sailors as well as the locals who stopped by or introduced themselves at the local eating and drinking establishments. Hats off to our MN hosts who put in hours of scouting leading up to the event.

If you are ever in Battle Lake MN be sure to stop in at the Shoreline Restaurant, Bar, and Bowl for great eats and lake views.

Be sure to consume the apex predator of the northern lakes. Whether at the Shoreline in Battle Lake or someplace else. Walleye is excellent eating. Blackened for dinner and in the Fisherman’s omelet for breakfast while watching the sunrise over the lake. If that is not enough to get you in there, the Shoreline hosts a meat raffle every Friday night. I wonder what would happen if one of us won. Traveling 1500 miles with a slab of dead cow is a story just waiting to be told. Maybe next time.

Other must-have culinary treats are the mini corn dogs and Prime Rib at the City Restaurant & Club 74 in Asby, just a short way down Rt 78 from Lake Christina.