The Western Connecticut Ice Yacht and Social Club is made up of a very unique group of hardwater sailors from Bantam & Candlewood Lakes in western Connecticut. The club was founded before you were born, but did not start accepting members until 1990. In the first few years we were thought of as a bunch of hooligans who did not want to associate with members of the other clubs on Bantam. Now that fact has been confirmed.
Our members can usually be found hanging out at the beaches of Candlewood East, Aqua Vista and Candlewood Shores while there is ice on Candlewood Lake. At Bantam Lake on any day while there is ice in the winter our motley crew can usually found socializing around the beautiful estate of John Kerr on the north shore.
We have a very diverse membership. Our Commodore, Jonn Kerr has what is known to be the most
eclectic collection of iceboats in the northeast. He has boats ranging from skimmers,skeeters,scooters,
gambits, assorted dns, and a wid front cockpit skeeter. Some of our other members are accomplished DN racers.
John Vendetti, Barry Burgess and Ron Neumuller are all nationally ranked DN competitors. Joe Kolodej and his father Big Tony
are master riggers for all types of sailing vessels and own MARFAB marine fabricators in Branford. They sail
a beautiful orange skeeter and a very quick DN. Just don't ask Big Tony for directions around Lake Winnepausakee.
Some of our members have moved into the modern era of iceboating. Lou Pascuzzi and John Borduas are
sailing Ice Flyers, a modern design front cockpit fiberglass hulled boat
powered by windsurfing rigs,that are high tech, fast and very comfortable. But for comfort, you can't beat the C class skeeter
sailed by Bruce Hoffmann, a beautiful old relic (the boat, not Bruce),that is as fast as any boat, and was originally
campaigned as the C-650 by Bill Dolittle in the 60's.
When there is no ice, the members can usually be found dungeon dwelling at the Research & Development center of the club, Ice Boat Central
or better known as Economy Signs. Feel free to drop by the lakes or the shop whenever the need for iceboating comaraderie arises. Until the, "Think Ice"
