
Fall River’s South Watuppa Pond Hosts Thrilling NE DN Championship Race
The weekend of January 25th-26th saw South Watuppa Pond in Fall River transform into the perfect playground for the New England Ice Yacht Association (NEIYA) and its adrenaline-packed NE DN championship race.
With the first race kicking off promptly at noon, competitors hit the thick, glistening ice for a series of high-speed sprints that tested both skill and strategy.
Mother Nature threw a curveball in the form of West winds, which kept sailors on their toes with big shifts and well-defined puffs. For those in the know, it was a day for heads-up sailing — no room for distraction with the ice skidding beneath and the wind constantly changing direction.
But despite the challenge, the event went off without a hitch, thanks in part to Nina Fleming, who worked her magic from her Maine home, calculating the participants' scores in real time as the boats whizzed past on the ice.
The Final Results
After a thrilling six races, the results were in.
In 5th place, Chris Gordon held strong with 22 points, while Jeff Roseberry claimed 4th. A close third-place finish went to Paul Chamberland, followed by Karen Binder in second. But it was James Thieler who took the top spot, finishing first in a race that saw plenty of excitement and speed.
The NEIYA didn’t stop there — awards were given not only to the top three overall finishers but also to the sailor with the "least up-to-date boat" (because who doesn’t love a good twist?).
As NEIYA put it, “Over the course of six races, several people had moments of glory and some great, fast downwind legs.” Whether it was the speed, the wind, or the icy thrill, this year’s NE DN championship at South Watuppa Pond was one for the books here in Fall River.
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