Other than the polar bears at the zoo, a couple hundred North Toledoans in Point Place might be the only ones happy about this week's frigid temperatures.
For 100 years, members of the Toledo Ice Yacht Club have zipped up and down the frozen Maumee Bay in their ice boats during the winter months. The 12-foot-long boats are affixed with large sails that allow them to reach top speeds between 60 and 70 mph.
Kent Baker started ice boating years ago and now competes in competitive racing. He's a nationally ranked racer and has competed in Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine this season.
"My wife's family all ice boated and two of my brothers-in-law got me into it," Mr. Baker said. "My brother-in-law Aaron insisted I do some racing with him even though I was scared to do it. Once I got into it, I was hooked."
Many of Mr. Baker’s neighbors get in on the action and keep their ice boats on the bay until the ice gets too thin for comfort. As many as 100 boats will be out and about when the weather is right.
VIDEO: Toledo Ice Yacht Club
Bob Foeller is former commodore of the club and started racing in 1967. He said the ride provides quite the adrenaline rush in the right conditions.
"When it's good ice and decent wind, it's almost like flying a glider," Mr. Foeller said. "There's hardly any sound, just the sail. When you turn downwind, it really picks up speed. It turns your head back."
The boats can travel up to five times faster than the wind speed. Models can vary, but most are steered from the front with either a tiller or the driver's feet. Drivers get a running start before hopping in and laying down, similar to luge.
Race boats must weigh at least 46 pounds in the hull. Boats used for leisure can be much heavier.
Wind speeds between 10 and 15 mph are ideal.
"There's definitely a limit and a lot of it depends on the ice conditions," Mr. Baker said. "It's a combination of clean ice with no snow on it. And not too cold. If it gets too cold, it's not comfortable. If it gets too warm, the ice gets too soft."
The club broke off from the Toledo Yacht Club 100 years ago. It has about 200 members who hold many social events throughout the year.
The "bomb" — an actual piece of artillery from World War I — is an award handed out each year to the member who made the biggest gaffe. Mr. Foeller won it back-to-back years in the 1980s, once for colliding with another boater.
The club is hosting Winterfest Saturday at the Ottawa River Yacht Club from 5 p.m. until midnight. Free activities for the public include boat rides, weather permitting. A cover charge is required to attend the party at the club.
Mr. Baker said ice boaters and racers have created a sense of community with each other.
"I've been in the club over 20 years, so I've known a lot of these people that long," he said. "You make friends and end up traveling together with random people. The guy I went to Maine with, we'll call each other up and talk about going somewhere to race. A lot of times we're the only ones nutty enough to do it."
First Published February 2, 2019, 2:16 a.m.
