"Walt" wrote in message
...
DSK wrote:

Walt wrote:

I like a polypro/dynema blend for sheets because they don't absorb
water; lines that absorb water can freeze, then they won't run through
the block, and then you capsize. I hate it when that happens.

I especially dislike the "clunk" it makes, capsizing into frozen water.

When this happend to me, the water was liquid, but the air temp was below
freezing. So no "clunk", just a splash, followed immediately by the sort
of vocalization you might expect under the circumstances.

Have you been frostbiting, Walt?

Max

Maxprop wrote:

"Walt" wrote
DSK wrote:

I like a polypro/dynema blend for sheets because they don't absorb
water; lines that absorb water can freeze, then they won't run through
the block, and then you capsize. I hate it when that happens.

I especially dislike the "clunk" it makes, capsizing into frozen water.

When this happend to me, the water was liquid, but the air temp was below
freezing. So no "clunk", just a splash, followed immediately by the sort
of vocalization you might expect under the circumstances.


Have you been frostbiting, Walt?

I'm not sure the exact technical definition of that word, but yeah, I
think so. I usually get out on the water the day the lake thaws.
Sometimes there's still ice floating around. Does that count?

//Walt

I especially dislike the "clunk" it makes, capsizing into frozen water.


Walt wrote:
When this happend to me, the water was liquid, but the air temp was
below freezing. So no "clunk", just a splash, followed immediately
by the sort of vocalization you might expect under the circumstances.


Lucky you could vocalize. Being under water changes that, as
does the near-intantaneous onset of hypothermia (paralyzes
the diaphragm & chest muscles).

I have not had sheet freeze to the block, but have had spray
freeze on the sails and winches freeze in place. Different
set of challenges. I prefer frostbiting in a small boat like
a JY-15 or Laser, in a nice warm wetsuit.




Have you been frostbiting, Walt?


Walt wrote:
I'm not sure the exact technical definition of that word, but yeah, I
think so. I usually get out on the water the day the lake thaws.
Sometimes there's still ice floating around. Does that count?


Yep.

No iceboating, up your way?

DSK

DSK wrote:
Walt wrote:

When this happend to me, the water was liquid, but the air temp was
below freezing. So no "clunk", just a splash, followed immediately
by the sort of vocalization you might expect under the circumstances.

I have not had sheet freeze to the block, but have had spray freeze on
the sails and winches freeze in place.

It didn't freeze to the block, it just froze in the coiled position and
wouldn't run through the block due to the frozen bend.


I prefer frostbiting in a small boat like a JY-15 or Laser, in a nice warm
wetsuit.

I prefer my frostbiting in something a little drier, thank you. But I
have frostbited in a JY.


No iceboating, up your way?

You mean hard water sailing, in contrast to the soft water sailing we do
in the summer.

Ever hear of the DN class? I'm sure you're aware of the fact that it
stands for Detroit News, who sponsored the design competition that
resulted in the DN. Let's just say I'm in the armpit of the iceboating
world. (c:

Our club has an Arrow (basically a 2 person version of the DN), but I
haven't tried it yet. I'm afaid that I might like hard water sailing a
little too much, and it's a damn fickle sport - you need cold, but not
snow, which can be hard to come by.

//Walt

"Walt" wrote in message
...

Ever hear of the DN class? I'm sure you're aware of the fact that it
stands for Detroit News, who sponsored the design competition that
resulted in the DN. Let's just say I'm in the armpit of the iceboating
world. (c:

Our club has an Arrow (basically a 2 person version of the DN), but I
haven't tried it yet. I'm afaid that I might like hard water sailing a
little too much, and it's a damn fickle sport - you need cold, but not
snow, which can be hard to come by.

That's the quintessential problem here--we so seldom get black ice that it's
probably not worth owning an iceboat. I once owned a Nite, which is a
two-place, side-by-side one-design racer. It would top out at around
100mph, so some claimed, but I probably never got it above 80, which is
plenty fast. The shore comes up mighty rapidly at those speeds. I sold it
after 6 years, during which we only had a brief period during one winter
which was really premier bare ice. The only other occasions to use it were
questionable, with patches of snow which have the same effect on iceboat
speed as throwing out an anchor.

Max

"Walt" wrote
Ever hear of the DN class?

Oh yeah. My one and only excursion into iceboating was in a DN.

Our club has an Arrow (basically a 2 person version of the DN), but I
haven't tried it yet. I'm afaid that I might like hard water sailing a
little too much, and it's a damn fickle sport - you need cold, but not
snow, which can be hard to come by.


Does seem like a bit of a paradox, now that you mention it.
I'm not tempted to try such a climate.


Maxprop wrote:
That's the quintessential problem here--we so seldom get black ice that it's
probably not worth owning an iceboat. I once owned a Nite, which is a
two-place, side-by-side one-design racer. It would top out at around
100mph, so some claimed, but I probably never got it above 80, which is
plenty fast. The shore comes up mighty rapidly at those speeds. I sold it
after 6 years, during which we only had a brief period during one winter
which was really premier bare ice. The only other occasions to use it were
questionable, with patches of snow which have the same effect on iceboat
speed as throwing out an anchor.


My understanding is that soft patches & snow can be pretty
bad, although the thing to *really* look out for is
port-tackers cleaning their goggles. A capsize isn't so bad
if you don't mind sliding on ice.

I had fun sailing the DN but got too cold to stick with it
for long. I also declined the opportunity to join a race,
since it was obvious I'd get badly waxed and only delay
everybody.

DSK

"DSK" wrote in message
...

although the thing to *really* look out for is port-tackers cleaning their
goggles. A capsize isn't so bad if you don't mind sliding on ice.

Back when I owned the Nite, I used to receive a six-per-year, pathetic
little iceboat racing rag that had some fair photographs. One such
photograph was of two E Skeeters that failed to yield ROW at around 90 mph.
One sliced the other in half just in front of the mast and then
disintegrated itself. Both sailors were injured, one seriously with a skull
fracture. Both survived, but probably gave up iceboat racing.

Max

"Walt" wrote in message
...
Maxprop wrote:

"Walt" wrote
DSK wrote:

I like a polypro/dynema blend for sheets because they don't absorb
water; lines that absorb water can freeze, then they won't run through
the block, and then you capsize. I hate it when that happens.

I especially dislike the "clunk" it makes, capsizing into frozen water.

When this happend to me, the water was liquid, but the air temp was below
freezing. So no "clunk", just a splash, followed immediately by the sort
of vocalization you might expect under the circumstances.


Have you been frostbiting, Walt?

I'm not sure the exact technical definition of that word, but yeah, I
think so. I usually get out on the water the day the lake thaws. Sometimes
there's still ice floating around. Does that count?

I guess so. Frostbiting is early and late season racing, generally in
dinghies, but I believe they call it that with big boats, too.

Max

Maxprop wrote:

Have you been frostbiting, Walt?

I'm not sure the exact technical definition of that word, but yeah, I
think so. I usually get out on the water the day the lake thaws. Sometimes
there's still ice floating around. Does that count?


I guess so. Frostbiting is early and late season racing, generally in
dinghies, but I believe they call it that with big boats, too.

My last day of racing this year was Nov 5th. Dinghys. I was unaware
that racing was part of the definition, but that's covered.

I wasn't sure whether you needed one of these to qualify:
http://www.capecodfrosty.org/

//Walt

"Walt" wrote in message
...
Maxprop wrote:

Have you been frostbiting, Walt?

I'm not sure the exact technical definition of that word, but yeah, I
think so. I usually get out on the water the day the lake thaws.
Sometimes there's still ice floating around. Does that count?


I guess so. Frostbiting is early and late season racing, generally in
dinghies, but I believe they call it that with big boats, too.

My last day of racing this year was Nov 5th. Dinghys. I was unaware that
racing was part of the definition, but that's covered.

I wasn't sure whether you needed one of these to qualify:
http://www.capecodfrosty.org/

That's kewl. Actually a lot of frostbiting is done in prams, like El Toros
and Sabots. Not sure what the attraction is for smaller boats--perhaps the
reasoning is that a larger dink might take longer to right after a capsize.
In 40 degree water hypothermia comes knocking at your door right quickly.

Max