Ice sailors on the upper Hudson river are enjoying one of the best and longest seasons of sailing in recent memory as arctic temperatures for much of the winter in the Northeast United States have built deep ice packs allowing sailors to launch their heavy antique wooden boats.
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Ice sailors on the upper Hudson river are enjoying one of the best and longest seasons of sailing in recent memory. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6LQ5I5AVBCDOVV5VRUQYEO5XKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3b08ea1d6e8500f7295d3028bc1769455d93d72c77a203f2eeae5c6f5dda8e6&width=400&height=225)
Brett Kolfrat from Cornwall, New York, a member of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club New York, sails his ice boat Genevieve, built in 1908, on the frozen Hudson river. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BZ2X3A7OW352ULLDPL3K5XWOSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=85ccf923a6d7b671aebf9b981371542c818907f4b367dd73a25633954906c848&width=400&height=225)
The Hudson River Ice Yacht Club’s “Jack Frost”, an ice boat at least 100 years old, is prepared for sailing. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFHRTXFR7ZFJB24BW5ZPTQ2ASM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec0f24272dd184ec825d5a9aae5c75538a674030fdc7193a5ee95a662ab16e37&width=400&height=225)
An antique ice sailboat from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club sails on the frozen upper Hudson River beneath the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge near Astor Point in Barrytown, New York. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKBVN62EED5U5KLDTLX3PAZ7HA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d96947d1d32ce14207ebf9e1ce60eaf6f67da719f3d54e18cb7b61fc1d3d1ce&width=400&height=225)
Brett Kolfrat steers his ice boat Genevieve on the frozen Hudson river. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BQCCXPVZOJ2LJR7KCPRT4R5BHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=44ba592c1e81c0892f14b1b26a8670c4694e1b37a0fb10b33f59924cc8666bcf&width=400&height=225)
Antique ice sailboats from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club’s sail on the frozen upper Hudson river. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHLAJYJ77MS7FMBBCGISJRVKVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=071f61edc9c28d33a848500a7bee34cf5504661293fd5412d345b086b0c96d26&width=400&height=225)
An antique iceboat flying the American flag sails on the frozen upper Hudson river near Astor Point in Barrytown. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ACNRC7ZAT472QI3WEDEJMM2OBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=63afbc4f88d19d8996f3f7534647d755dab2ee92cc87a2645c22dddfbe5faa77&width=400&height=225)
An antique ice boat sails behind a cyclist across the frozen Hudson river. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NBN4Q7PM3ZMOGDQYAEF2EGEHLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e0f8ed7f596b66e49ed99f341c1bdf4f328a8426a576eda61f5b689be4e8073&width=400&height=225)
A sailboat from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club’s sails across the ice as a ship passes through a channel in the ice. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UKKBY34SWVKAMHZRNKBXRP5KDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=041143b7dbdbd412a877025b39a500be5ac7f92aef116bb1e19f174b3260549e&width=400&height=225)
Ice sailors on the upper Hudson river are enjoying one of the best and longest seasons of sailing in recent memory. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6LQ5I5AVBCDOVV5VRUQYEO5XKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3b08ea1d6e8500f7295d3028bc1769455d93d72c77a203f2eeae5c6f5dda8e6&width=400&height=225)
Brett Kolfrat from Cornwall, New York, a member of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club New York, sails his ice boat Genevieve, built in 1908, on the frozen Hudson river. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BZ2X3A7OW352ULLDPL3K5XWOSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=85ccf923a6d7b671aebf9b981371542c818907f4b367dd73a25633954906c848&width=400&height=225)
The Hudson River Ice Yacht Club’s “Jack Frost”, an ice boat at least 100 years old, is prepared for sailing. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFHRTXFR7ZFJB24BW5ZPTQ2ASM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec0f24272dd184ec825d5a9aae5c75538a674030fdc7193a5ee95a662ab16e37&width=400&height=225)
An antique ice sailboat from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club sails on the frozen upper Hudson River beneath the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge near Astor Point in Barrytown, New York. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKBVN62EED5U5KLDTLX3PAZ7HA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d96947d1d32ce14207ebf9e1ce60eaf6f67da719f3d54e18cb7b61fc1d3d1ce&width=400&height=225)
Brett Kolfrat steers his ice boat Genevieve on the frozen Hudson river. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BQCCXPVZOJ2LJR7KCPRT4R5BHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=44ba592c1e81c0892f14b1b26a8670c4694e1b37a0fb10b33f59924cc8666bcf&width=400&height=225)
Antique ice sailboats from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club’s sail on the frozen upper Hudson river. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHLAJYJ77MS7FMBBCGISJRVKVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=071f61edc9c28d33a848500a7bee34cf5504661293fd5412d345b086b0c96d26&width=400&height=225)
An antique iceboat flying the American flag sails on the frozen upper Hudson river near Astor Point in Barrytown. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ACNRC7ZAT472QI3WEDEJMM2OBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=63afbc4f88d19d8996f3f7534647d755dab2ee92cc87a2645c22dddfbe5faa77&width=400&height=225)
An antique ice boat sails behind a cyclist across the frozen Hudson river. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NBN4Q7PM3ZMOGDQYAEF2EGEHLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e0f8ed7f596b66e49ed99f341c1bdf4f328a8426a576eda61f5b689be4e8073&width=400&height=225)
A sailboat from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club’s sails across the ice as a ship passes through a channel in the ice. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UKKBY34SWVKAMHZRNKBXRP5KDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=041143b7dbdbd412a877025b39a500be5ac7f92aef116bb1e19f174b3260549e&width=400&height=225)
Ice sailors on the upper Hudson river are enjoying one of the best and longest seasons of sailing in recent memory. (Mike Segar / Reuters / March 7, 2014)
In pictures: Ice sailing on the Hudson river
Rob Gurdebeke
09 March, 2014
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