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Sailing on ice is called iceboating. Iceboats can be used both for pleasure sailing and for racing. Both are sure to bring you fun and excitement. The sport will require you to have an extreme love of the cold winter weather. It will also require you to have fast reflexes, common sense, and a sturdy boat.
Those who are brave enough to ride on an iceboat will get a wonderful feeling of speed. Somme of the fastest iceboats have reached speeds of up to 155 miles an hour.
Iceboating got its start hundreds of years ago. It was possibly started in the Netherlands or another country that is adjacent to the Baltic Sea. It originally started as a means of transportation.
In the mid 1700's, the Dutch mounted a sailboat on runners and used it for transportation on the rivers and lakes. In Canada and the United States, iceboats were used in the Great Lakes for transporting lumberjacks and food during the winter months. The days for using iceboats for practical purposes are far in the past. The iceboat is now a pleasure craft.
Iceboats will need ice that is at least four inches thick in order to run. They will also require a lot of room because of their high rates of speed. This makes using ponds or small lakes for these pleasure rides impossible.
Today, there are tow categories of iceboats:
(1) The triangular-shaped iceboat, which has three runners.
(2) The oval-shaped, rounded-bottom boat that is called the scooter.
The triangular-shaped iceboat is then subdivided into tow groups:
(1) The stern-steerers: These have a steering rudder that is mounted at the tail end of the boat.
(2) The bow-steerers: These have the steering rudder mounted at the front of the boat.
The stern-steerers came first. They are most like a regular sailboat, as they are rudder steered from the rear. The bow-steerer did not make it's entrance until iceboating was a well established sport. In fact, it was not until after the year 1920, that the steering rudder was brought forward. This action reversed the triangle shape so that it would point forward instead of backwards. It was then that designers introduced the streamlining that is seen in the boats of today. The emphasis shifted from size and weight to strength and lightness.
Another major difference between stern-steerers and bow -steerers is that a stern-steerer must have a small sail ahead of the mast. Bow-steereres only use the single sail.
There are several classes of bow-steered iceboats. This type of boat is designed for speed an ease of handling. One of the classes is called the masquito or skeeter class. The Unites States and Canada's International Skeeter Association holds regattas every year.
Iceboats race in established classes. Each class is establish according to sail area. The following are the classes that are recognized according to the Northwestern Ice Yachting Association and the Eastern Ice Yachting Association:
Class A: 250 Sp. feet and over
Class B: Up to 250 Sq. feet
Class C: 175 sq. feet
Class D: 125 sq. feet
Class E: 75 sq. feet
There have been rules set up by the iceboating association. It is important that all these rules be followed, especially during a race. The rules will explain what to do in many circumstances. They will also explain what an iceboat that is coming near you must do. It is important to check the rules of each race because they will change according to associations and conditions.
The speeds of the boats makes the danger of a collision greater when several boats are near each other. Because of this, you must never make any changes in your direction without knowing what you are doing. You must also know what will happen to the boats that are around you. In and iceboat you must always tack upwind or downwind. You must never just run free with the wind. If your are on the starboard tack (wind coming form your right side) you have the right of way over boats on the stern tack (wind coming from the left side).
Heading into the wind is the only way to stop an iceboat. Many iceboaters will equip the boats with hand breaks. These are a bar with a metal claw at the bottom. The claws gouge into the ice and help in stopping the boat. You must be very careful when entering a parking area where there are people and other boats about. It is best if you can let the sail down before you push the boat in. Remember that an iceboat with it's sails up should NEVER be left unattended.
Iceboating is a wonderful sport. It is jam packed with fun and excitement. One must be careful, though, as it is also full of danger.
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