The last few days have been cold here. Nights around 0 F (-15C). Days a little warmer.
Yesterday, a friend asked if I'd like to take a ride in his iceboat. It was an incredible thrill.
The first trip across the lake, I sat on his right, with a helmet on. He had a helmet and an orange survival suit. The cockpit was like two people sitting in a pointed coffin on skates. I didn't have any room to move, not even enough to get my helmet under the boom. He said, "its a little hairy out there today".
We took off slowly, he pulled the sail in more and more, until we were doing about 40 or 50 mph. It was like one of those scenes shot from the car at a NASCAR race. Everything was a blur. I sail boats, so I understand the force that they can apply, and this was very scary.
At the end of the loop, when he turned to go again, I had to say, "could I please get off?" It was like that. I didn't want to tell him I was scared stiff. He was my host, after all.
When we came to a long, slow stop, I climbed slowly out, knees shaking.
He said, "Would you like to sail it?". I said, "uh, yes, I would...thanks".
The second time, alone, with the mainsheet in my hand, it was just plain fun. There were some moments when I made turns and skidded, or found some other iceboat sailor turning into my path and then veering off, but on the whole, it was a great moment. One of the past of the last few years.
And, I'm really glad to be alive.
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Topic: Ice Boats (Read 1805 times)