by Edwin J. Schoettle
The past of ice boating, like much of history, is very obscure. It is generally believed that the Dutch were the first to indulge in the sport and that it came down to them through a long line of ice-loving forefathers. For when one thinks of Holland in winter, does not one always picture the Holland of Hans Brinker—with the ice-covered canals, and the joyous children skating to school or their more dignified elders going to work in like fashion? It is indeed not hard to visualize the same people sailing their crudely made ice boats in ancient times over their well-frozen inland waterways. It is more difficult to imagine the pigtailed chinamen sailing over the ice, but it is almost certain they used ice boats in the days of long ago. In Russia, Norway, and Sweden it is also a favorite winter pastime. The Rudder, February, 1910, published an article on Ice Yachting in Sweden, from which we take this: “Ice Yachting has taken a strong hold in Europe, particularly in Sweden—-the Stockholm Ice Yacht Club, for instance, having a fleet of over thirty-six boats, divided into classes as follows: First Class: For yachts of more than 250 feet of sail—six boats. Second Class: For yachts With 200 to 250 feet of sail—eleven boats. Third Class: For yachts 150 to 200 feet of sail—six boats. Fourth Class: For yachts of 150 feet of sail and under—thirteen boats, four of which used lateen sails.
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