We had a little excitement at Orange Lake today , which led me digging back into the archives of Ice boating on the River. This goes back to 1886 and involves Archie Rogers and his prize yacht Jack Frost.
from John A Roosevelt's Ice Yacht scrapbook; Courtesy of the FDR Library and Museum, Hyde Park
During a pause in the racing, the group of ice yachts pulled up at the North end of Orange Lake, to assist in righting Rainbow II, which had flipped onto its side. All the big A boats were hiking steadily in the strong NW wind. Even with sheets loose and tiller at a 90 degree position , a puff of wind propelled the Red Bank yacht Ruth away andheaded her to the south side of the lake. Just what Archie Rogers encountered in 1886?
Several of us noticed a lone gaff rigger heading towards us, thinking one of the skippers was heading back to get help or assistance for Rainbow. What a shock to see no one at the helm. The boat was headed directly at the "pits" filled with boats not sailing or being rigged. Just before the pressure ridge outside this space, she veered east and took off, eventually veering back and running full tilt into a stone bulkhead off the neighbors house. Starboard runner, and chock and the boom took the brunt of the hit, and will need replacing. Fortunately no one was hurt. I'm sure Ruth will be made right quickly and we'll see her on the ice next winter. We think they can come up with the 100 dollars to repair....
Archie Rogers had his share of excitement at the helm of an ice Yacht: (in February 1903 he was kippering Ariel wife his wife aboard)
And, not the first time winds have had their way with Orange Lake ice yachts....
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