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April 2018
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Fresh Water Boats For Sale
Jeff Morton, Past
Commodore, NSIYC.
Rick Lawrence, host and
past Commodore, HRIYC.
As a grand gesture, the NSIBYC not only brought all the
food but John Gannon, their chef did the cooking in Rick
Lawrence’s front yard.
Many of these ice yachts go back before the turn of the
century! They were the hero’s of the media, promoted
as the fastest man made object in the world and usually
compared to railroad trains with much debate as to who was
the fastest.
The major iconic family’s in the
Hudson River Valley such as the
Astor’s, Vanderbilt’s, and many others
all had ice yachts which their summer
time yacht captains drove in the
winter time when there was ice on the
Hudson River or some good size lake.
The same can be said for the
Shrewsbury River, near Red Bank, N
J. The families on the banks of the
Shrewsbury River did the same thing.
Thus competitive ice yacht racing
groups were formed into clubs.
The competition became so intense
that the ice yachts were moved by
Railroad flat car from the Hudson
River Valley to Red Bank, NJ to
await the right “conditions” so the
competition could begin.
Over the years the rivalry between the two clubs
became so intense that much of the time it ensured it
outright shouting.
Fast-forward to the 80’s and the two groups began to
work hard at enjoying each other’s company, helping
one and another to be very completive, yet still sailing
hard on the finish line for first place.
Quite a few of the men who are
driving these ice yachts are third,
or even fourth generation family
members, know the tradition
well, and today are carrying the
story forward in a magnificent,
friendly atmosphere, that assure
it will continue this way for years
to come.
I have been fortunate to be “in
the game” for the last 60 years.
What a great sport that has
everything, and has stood the
test of time.