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RUNNING ON THE WIND AT 110 MPH
For Jerry Maus of Oshkosh, Wis. no sporting thrill can match iceboating—a speeding splinter skittering on the wind at better than 100 mph, tipping suddenly on one razor-sharp runner, hanging a hair's breadth away from trouble. And for Jerry (shown at left) and 50 other ice-boaters last week the risk was all a part of the fun as they swept across the varishaded surface of Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago in the Northwest Ice Yacht Association Regatta.
On one superb racing day the ice skippers set their teeth and rode the bone-chilling breeze to hit 110 mph. Such days are rare in a sport subject to the vagaries of wind and ice, and therefore much appreciated. Rhapsodized one racer, speaking for all: "Like floating on a cloud."
Masked racer, Dick Nelson of Madison, Wis., protects his face from flying ice shavings.
Free-for-all race, open to all classes, was won by veteran iceboater Bill Perrigo, Pewaukee, Wis., shown approaching the finish line in his Thunder Jet.
Ready for weather is Oshkosh Sailmaker Lincoln Foster, surrounded by day's garb, which includes two sets of underwear, a vest and two jackets.
FOUR PHOTOS
NIELS LAURITZEN
