I had a chance to sail my Ice Flyer in high winds for the first time (20 + mph) on Lake Sunapee on Sunday. I sailed my DN in the morning with my regular sail and it was difficult to handle in the puffs. I rigged a 6.5 on the Ice Fly and it sailed perfectly. No problem handling the puffs and I was flying. I didn't have my GPS with me, but a friend sailing behind me said we were hitting the mid 50's.

One problem I noticed. The boat pulls to the left on either tack. I assume it is plank alignment...the right side must be slightly forward. I'll check it out this week.

Roger Livingston

Extremely sad about the news of the accident at Sunapee on Sunday. My deepest regards go out to the family and hope for a recovery..

Regarding sailing in higher winds.. Wow - we really need to respect the dangers of ice boating which sometimes I dont. I hope anyone who builds and sails an ice flyer considers seat belts and a safe helmet.. especially if sailing in higher winds. And even on the use of seat belts, you will probably get 10 answers talking to 10 people as seat belts increase the risk of drowning- but that is what you should do and then come to your own conclusion.

I hope the best for the family and the ice boat community there..

wh

Wally

Thank you for your response to the accident on Sunapee. I was there and to lose one of our own is a tragedy beyond belief. Wayne Fortier will be missed and we pray for Dave Fortiers recovery.

The will be a celebration of Wayne Fortiers life at Lake Sunapee this Sunday, February 26th. Wayne loved ice boating and would have appreciated our gathering on the ice to remember him.

Roger Livingston

Hello,

My deepest regards goes out to the family too.

I would like to know what happen exactly in that tragedy? There was a collision or where they flying on thin ice ? were they wearing seatbelts?

Thanks.

Both men were sailing DN's and collided...one boat into the side of the other. No one knows for sure exactly what happened, but they were both expert ice boaters and cautious sailors. One of the problems with a DN is you cannot see very well on the leeward side. The boom sets on your shoulder and even with a window, it is almost impossible to see someone coming up on you from that direction. It was very windy that day and all of us were moving very fast over the ice.

The Ice Flyer has greater visability and therefore I feel is a safer boat to sail in these conditions. Because we sit up straight, seat belts are a must to keep you in the boat. But I'm not convinced they would help in a collision. Sometimes it is better to be thrown from the boat and avoid being hit by the other boat.

In my 40 plus years sailing ice boats, there has never been an accident this bad. Hopefully, there never will be again.

Sail safe.

Roger Livingston