Boats off the ice - Great day of sailing Saturday

All of the old ice yachts are off the ice at Orange Lake as of Monday. Sunday's snow, Monday's rain & the upcoming heat wave this week led to wise removal of the largest fleet of boats out since 2014.

Last week's rain and subsequent warm up worked out beautifully to polish the lake's surface for this past weekend. Saturday's morning temps in the 20s made for hard ice and we just had to wait for the wind. It arrived about 1:00 and the lake was then full of "white wings" till the first flurries of snow blew in around 5pm.
The Grande Dame of the Shrewsbury - Rocket - flew around the lake, eventually flying its windward runner on several occasions.  There were multiple races between the "A" boats of the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat & Yacht Club and the fleet yachts of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club.  Skipper Danny Lawrence and sailing master Eric Lawrence took lead boat honors in multiple races aboard Whirlwind. Georgie II proved to be the quickest yacht of the Shrewsbury boats.
Steady and sometimes gusty breezes had the entire fleet of stern steerers ( and assorted bow steering boats) out for a glorious afternoon.

That could well be the end of the season, but late February cold in the past has led to March sailing.

(following pictures courtesy of Jack Norton)

"A" boat races... lead boat hiking as it heads upwind. 

Rides for friends and spectators. Marge gets a ride with Reid on Vixen.

Georgie II - she's a fast yacht - and has been sailing for over 100 years...

Largest ice yacht of the Shrewsbury Club - Rocket.

Always good food - grilling burgers & dogs;  clams are often part of the menu.  Thanks to Rick Lawrence for sandwiches and the Jersey crew for lots more. No one went hungry...

Two Orange Lake veterans - Peter Zendt - scooter sailor from Bayport L.I. (now sailing a J-14) and Johnny Vargo. John tore up the ice here at Orange Lake 50 years ago.  Past commodore of the HRIYC; follow his publication - Boating on the Hudson  Rumor has it there will be an ice boating feature in next issue.