A Message From The Commodore

Once again the season had been a major disappointment for sailing at Bantam Lake. We have to blame the weather gods. I found the following info on WFSB’s website:

2008 was the wettest year on record with total precipitation @ Bradley 65.43”. Normal is 46.16”.

December 2008’s snowfall was 20.7” which was 8.8” above normal.

January 2009 went into the record books as 4.4 degrees colder than normal; ave. temps 21.3 degrees; total snow 12.9”. March has arrived and we had two days of sailing before the next snowstorm…so much for global warming.

As it turns out, the most important piece of equipment in your arsenal this year is your trailer. There has been good sailing on Webster Lake, Mecox Bay, Great South Bay and Lake Mahopac to name a few spots. Many thanks in particular to Bob Strohm for his reports from Mahopac. So, stay tuned to your email for regular updates on where it’s happening.

Membership status is good with more than half the members looking forward to a swap meet in November this year. The “clubhouse” has been outfitted with 20 sail/boom brackets; hope we get to use them. If we do, neatness will count…it’s a small space.

We’ve also looked back through the archives and begun to digitize some of the photos and articles from years past. A lot of interesting history is available and the intent is to eventually put it together into some form of handout for the membership. (Much of it comes from Fred and Sharon Clarke’s Iceboating Museum up on Goodhouse Road.) We’ll be posting some of it on the website and in the newsletter. If you have anything to add from your collection, send it to me. One thing we’ve learned from the archives is that while we’re likely to outlive our pets, our boats tend to outlive us as they get passed on to future icesailing generations. We’ll detail a few examples in short order.

I hope to see everyone at the annual meeting at 1:00 on March 28 th at the White Memorial Carriage House.

DD