Ice Boating on Mecox Bay, Water Mill

Esperanza and Irwin discuss the rich Ice Boating history on Mecox Bay.  According to the Water Mill Museum, the sport itself originated in Holland in the early 1600's.  The first known Ice Boat on Mecox was sailed by Daniel Hildreth and Charles Howell in 1837.  The Mecox Bay Ice Yacht Club started with 12 members and 5 boats in 1927.   Ice Boating was about speed, and the sport itself was physical, and very competitive.  The racing on Mecox throughout the 20th century tended to be about one thing: winning.   But changes in both climate and demographics has led to a decline in its popularity.   The Mecox Bay Yacht Club closed down in 1990, and an effort 20 years later met with the opposition of newer residents concerned about the noise, traffic and "pollution" the Club and its non motorized Ice Boats would bring.