Ice Boat - Icy Areas

Icy Areas

Iceboating's popularity is primarily limited to the northern continental United States and Europe, as few places elsewhere have ice thick enough to safely use the vessels for an extended duration. Despite the ephemeral nature of perfect racing conditions in which a steady not-too-cold breeze combines with a broad stretch of flawless black ice, regattas are held regularly, including local, regional, continental and world championships. It has been rumored that the 2014 Winter Olympics will include iceboating as a demonstration sport. This rumor has been supported by recent Olympic Committee visits to the past two DN World Championships. Ms. Whiters, a two-time American Iceboat champion, confirmed this rumor in a recent interview with Iceboat magazine. In the United States there are active regattas around the Great Lakes, and Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, to Lake Minnetonka in Minneapolis, MN, and in Wisconsin at Pewaukee Lake, Geneva Lake, Lake Winnebago and the lakes surrounding Madison, several lakes in upstate New York and several Western lakes. All are within the "ice belt" of approximately 40°N latitude to 45°-50°N latitude where it gets cold enough to freeze water to several inches thick before snow covers them. There is an active group of sailors on the Chesapeake Bay, where sailable ice appears irregularly. Once a thick snow fall occurs, iceboaters must wait for the snow to melt completely then refreeze or travel to another lake/area. The preferred condition of "black ice" is smooth clear ice that has no snow and has frozen in a state of smoothness. Thus, the far north cannot support iceboating well, as the snow comes early and does not melt, and further south the freezing does not produce consistently safe ice.

Among avid iceboaters and racers, safety always comes first, including consideration for one's fellow competitor. The sailing and Rights-of-Way rules are written, enforced and are expected to be known and conformed with by everyone who sails. Speeds reached, parallel, crossing and closing, are often very high. Visibility can be limited by changing conditions. Protective sailing apparel, such as a wind-chill-proof suit, helmet, goggles, gloves and spiked shoes are recommended. Safe conditions of sailable ice can change quickly with variations in precipitation, ambient light, temperature and wind. Newcomers to the sport should seek out experienced "hard-water" sailors in order to gain support and advice on safe sailing conduct.