Iceboating leaves us grinning

Outside sports deal with weather, but none more than sailing. To love sailing is to accept suffering, but no sailor suffers more than an iceboater. The season is short and decent conditions are rare. But a sailors memory only retains the good, and when iceboating is good, it’s very good.

John Stanton, Commodore of the New England Ice Yacht Association, offers insight into the iceboater:

Racing the wind and each other. For iceboaters, racing and speed is not just a pastime—it’s the very essence of the sport. At every level, from casual enthusiasts to world-class competitors, the shared drive for speed unites us all.

It’s why we joined the iceboating ranks in the first place and why we remain faithful. Whether on the global stage or at local events, iceboating is a testament to speed, skill, and a unique connection to nature’s raw power.

The competitive spirit finds it’s highest expression through international organizations like the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association and the International Skeeter Association. These governing bodies oversee races that span the U.S. and the world, while local groups like our New England Ice Yacht Association keep the grassroots energy alive and feed and nurture the competitive spirit.

One of the longest-running sailing rivalries over 100 years and counting is between the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club and the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat & Yacht Club still thrives to this day. Will this be the year the Rocket gets a chance to best Jack Frost and bring the Cup back to NJ?

But at its heart, all iceboating is a race against the wind itself. Each time we push off and sheet in, we’re testing our mettle against nature. On an iceboat, powered by nothing but wind, sail, and low friction, we accomplish what the average person might think impossible – sailing faster than the wind.

With simple vectors of attack and apparent wind, we consistently beat the very force that propels us. Except when sailing dead downwind or in irons of course. Our GPS and anemometer devices confirm it every time.

Victory isn’t always measured by trophies or podium finishes. Whether we look at how close our starting position is to the center of the starting line or comparing GPS readings back in the pits, we know the real competition is with the elements and how we adjust while sailing around the plate.

Win or lose, we’ve given the wind a proper thrashing, and the sheer joy of the experience leaves us all grinning.