Bay Sea Scouts explore new winter sport
Bay Sea Scout Nate Cullinan receives instructions on sailing a Snowfer on Sandusky Bay. Photo by Richard Gash
On Sunday, Feb. 24, the Sea Scouts headed to the Sandusky Ice Yacht Club (SIYC) to meet the Commodore, Nick Vitale, and several other iceboaters. The purpose of the trip was to check out the ice conditions first hand on Sandusky Bay and to learn about iceboating.
The rain the previous day washed out the snow mounds on the bay and the cold temperature that night resulted in a bumpy but almost perfect sailing ice surface. There was an ice thickness of 16-30 inches. This depth of ice assured us that it would be safe and would be in place for several weeks to come.
Dennis Butts, an avid iceboating enthusiast, brought his Snowfer and instructed Sea Scout Nate Cullinan on its operation. A Snowfer is a snowboard with sharp steel runners and a windsurfer sail. Nate, once equipped with a helmet, knee and elbow pads received a push and was soon flying over the ice at speeds approaching 25 mph in a 12 mph breeze.
Sea Scouting is open to all youth 13 years old and over who wish to “Live the Adventure, Navigate the World.” For more information on Bay Sea Scouts, contact Richard Gash at 871-6106 or by email, skipper@seascoutship41.org.
Richard Gash
Adult leader with Sea Scout Ship 41.