Happy Holidays 2022

 Happy Holidays! 

Wishing everyone smooth sailing in 2023!   Wheeee! 

some other holiday favorites...

From John A.Roosevelt's scrapbook 

Dust off Rudolphe...

More Glass slides - from Livingston Estate

 Some old glass slides courtesy of the Hudson River Maritime Museum, provide us with some new images of ice boating/ice motoring in the early 1900s.  I'm  still gathering more information on these, which were described as being acquired from "a reject pile at a house auction in the 1960s. "  Thank goodness for collectors/pack rats! 

These were noted as being from a Livingston estate, likely Charles Victor Livingston who lived in Ulster County, in a TuscanVilla-styled house on the shore, just south of where the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge now crosses.  Ricky Aldrich,  who knew Victor noted that he built both the ice yacht Rip Van Winkle and the 2 motorized ice yachts. Victor gave the Rip and another iceboat he built, Spider, to Ricky's father, in the 30s.

These first two are truly unique - a motorized ice yacht.  This is a one of a kind creation, likely circa 1910? George Buckhout was experimenting with a motorized ice boat around that time. Who knows if this ever had a chance to speed down the ice on the Hudson.  Those seats sure look comfortable!  

All images are  Courtesy of Hudson River Maritime Museum        HRMM

Clearly 2 different versions, Both bow steering;  Note the skeg that protects the front runner in first image.  

Rip Van Winkle is part of the Rokeby collection in Barrytown. It last sailed in March of 2014 off of Rokeby.  Early pictures of the Rip, and other Rokeby ice boats were subject of a previous post, Ice Yachts off Astor Point 

The Livingston slides collection has several earlier images of Rip. 

These appear to be taken on the ice just below Victor Livingston's house, on the west shore of the Hudson.

Ice Yachts  Prima,  Rip Van Winkle,  unknown.  early 1900s 

 Rip,   at Astor Point??

another unidentified ice yacht from Livingston collection. 

Rip Van Winkle (r) Aurora (L)  off Rokeby, March 2014.  (image courtesy Rueters news images)
 

Manhasset set up at Hudson Winter Walk

 Ice Yacht Manhasset was set up this past weekend for the annual "Winter Walk" festival in Hudson. It was the first full set up for Manhasset since its restoration. Rain in the afternoon and shifty winds in the evening prevented the main sail from being hoisted. She's a beauty. Always fun to talk to amazed festival attendees about the old yachts.  Lots of history to share about this 1906 George Buckhout built, gaff-rigger, double cock pit stern steerer.  Read about the restoration also.  

We hope to next get Manhasset onto the ice.  That would be its first time on the Hudson River! 

2 Pickup trucks with racks to bring all the pieces... 

Sorting out the rigging to step the mast.
Set up crew Chris, Dock, Reid, Sam, Bob & Frank.

                    Reid's Gin Pole was necessary to hoist the mast. 

                            Rains stopped just as the evening & event began.  

Happy Holidays!