UTS Barrytown hosts 7th Season of Ice Boating on the South Tivoli Bay

This weekend members of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club and other ice boat enthusiasts returned to the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) to enjoy the thrill of sailing on the South Tivoli Bay. This marks the seventh year the Seminary has invited the ice yacht club and the public to take advantage of the natural beauty of the Tivoli Bay in winter. Besides ice boating, it is a chance to ice skate, or just walk on the ice and take in the breathtaking Hudson River, Catskill Mountains, and the winter wildlife.

It has been a few years since just the right conditions have come together for this exciting sport. The temperatures have been below freezing and there isn’t an accumulation of snow on the bay which would prevent sailing. And it looks like the cold weather is here to stay for a while. Now all we need is a good breeze!

On this first day of sailing, it has been sunny, with a slight wind blowing, marking a good start to the ice boating season. Temperatures have been in the mid-twenties, but with the warm sun shining, it almost feels like summer!

The Tivoli Bay is at the north end of Father’s Trail—a New York State Greenway Trail. Visitors to the Seminary can park in the Seminary’s parking lot beside the main building, and walk down to the trailhead through the west field across from the parking lot. There is limited parking by the red barn near the north trailhead, which is reserved for those who bring ice boats. Please do not park along side the apartment building at that end, on the entrance to Father’s Trail, or in the field. Enjoy!