Athens-on-Hudson January 25 - 27 2025

                                                                                Ice Conditions

Monday 1-27-25

Boats are off of the River. Sailing over for now!  Skippers decided to play it safe and remove our boats from the creek today, due to the not so favorable weather forecast over the next 5 days.

Todays very brisk winds kept most boats in the Creek, though Captain Steve, Captain Frank, and Captain Sam (all actual river captains)  gave rides to a few spectators and fellow club members.  As the winds continued to gust the 3 boats dropped sails, leaving a few DNs and skimmers to sail the ice for a bit more. 

Done for the time being. 

     Captain Frank pilots Aurora, reefed and no jib. 

                         Captain Steve took over the helm of Whirlwind, 

                     whose modified skeeter sail was a good  choice for the conditions.

       Captain Sam took the Germantown Greyhound crew across the ice, challenging the tanker to a race.

         It appears to be a Cosco  bulk carrier- delivering salt mined in South America. ( as per retired River pilot Frank - from his experiencing on the River)

Sunday 1-26-25

A fabulous day at Athens on Sunday.  The brisk winds moderated and over time reefed boats shook out and there was a plate full of dancing stern steerers. Many rides for friends and first timers. Skaters, dogs, and curious onlookers made navigating  a bit tricky at times  but there was room for all.  Winds were light then gusty and we went from a slow crawl to a  screaming run.  Boats sailed non stop from 10 am till dark.  

   

      Floater, a DN, Galatea

                         Captain Kate at the helm of Floater.
   

        William in his foldable stern steerer.  youngest skipper in the HRIYC! 

       Hound,  heads upwind as the sun starts to set...

Saturday 1-25-25

                   Galatea,  Whiff, Aurora  1/25/25 

 Members & ice yachts from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club are sailing on the ice at Athens on the west side of Middle Ground Flats. Beautiful hard black ice from the Murderers Creek boat launch to the village of Athens park. No boat sailed all that far south of the Creek on this first day on the Hudson.  There was a large crowd of onlookers and for the more adventuresome, a ride from one of the ice yacht skippers.  

If you do come down to see the boats, do so with caution. The ice is always unpredictable. It is easy to slip & fall. Stay clear of the areas & routes the iceboats are coming and going through.  

On the ice so far:

Whiff - The historic Centennial Yacht.  Read about Whiff's history HERE. 

Galatea - from the Clarkson Estate in Tivoli  circa 1888. 

Orion  circa 1906  Originally from the brickyard at Malden on Hudson 

Mary Ellen- Circa 1870

Greyhound - circa 1900 HydePark boat 

Hound - Circa 1906  Hyde Park boat 

Aurora 

Whirlwind II 

Floater- Saugerties boat  so named as that's what happened when previous owners sailed her into the River