LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/995162
26 Summer 2018 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk The boats can be sailed aggressively because the 600 -pound centerboard usually (not always) keeps them from capsizing. The day I watched them race almost ever y boat was heeling to the point that I was sure they would soak the sail. Thanks to the skillful maneuvering by the skippers and crews, however, the sails remained dr y as they rounded Hoe Buoy and the race continued toward Pulpit Rock Buoy. Each boat has a crew of five who work together as a team, each sailor with a ver y specific job. The race mood is serious, focused, and competitive. The skipper is ultimately in charge of the sailboat. He or she is on the tiller and gives direction to the others. The person on jib has the task of letting the sail out in order to "make a point," which is the boat's direc- tion relative to the wind. The jib sail is the smaller of the two sails. The larger mainsail is where most of the power is gen- erated. A backstay is the cable that runs from the top of the mast to the stern and is usually manned by two people. How seasoned the crew is, and how well they know their boat, can certainly make the difference as to when that boat crosses the finish line. Pride in ownership is evident in the meticulous way the boats are cared for and maintained. Over the years the boats have undergone restoration as needed. This has resulted in some slight variations, but only in minor details. For ex- ample, now stainless steel screws are used in lieu of brass, as was used originally. Idems are built of oak, white cedar, and spruce. For many years the wood needed for repairs was found locally. The large 660 square foot sails are made of a fine Egyptian cotton that can be ver y difficult to replace. It can take up to two years to obtain the specially grown and woven cotton. Jim Cameron, an Adirondack local, master boat builder, and owner of Boathouse Woodworks, has been involved with the restoration and maintenance of the Idems since the early 80s. He started coming to St Regis when he was just one year old and today, along with his wonderful wife Lynn, resides year-round on a small piece of heaven on St Regis Lake. He is one of the most skilled guideboat builders in the Adiron- dacks and uses his knowledge and love of boat building to