The Legendary Ice Yacht "Icicle" and Its Storied Legacy

John Aspinwall Roosevelt, uncle to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, holds a unique place in Hudson River history. As the first Commodore of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club, founded in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1885 (note: the PYC was founded around the same time), Roosevelt combined prestige with innovation in the exhilarating and exclusive sport of ice yachting. Among his many achievements, one stands tall—both literally and historically: his immense ice yacht, "Icicle."

At nearly 67 feet long and boasting over 1,000 square feet of canvas sail, the "Icicle" was an engineering marvel of its time. Constructed specifically for Roosevelt in 1869 for the purpose of racing on the frozen expanses of the Hudson River, the boat was so large and magnificent that it required a railway flatcar for transportation. This colossal ice yacht continues to hold its place in history as the largest ever built, as certified nearly 140 years later by the Guinness Book of Records.

Racing Trains and Making History

In 1871, the "Icicle" made headlines by defeating the "Chicago Express," a train traveling between Poughkeepsie and Ossining. At the time, ice yachting clubs frequently found themselves pitted not only against one another but also against the steam-powered trains of the era, a captivating competition that captured public imagination. Propelled by even a modest breeze, top-performing ice yachts could reach staggering speeds of 75 miles per hour, leaving locomotives in their frosty wake.

Although the "Icicle" dazzled audiences, its immense size ultimately sidelined it from official competition due to non-regulation dimensions. Acknowledging this, Roosevelt commissioned a smaller version of the yacht, measuring 50 feet in length and featuring a sail area of 750 square feet. This smaller "Icicle" met the specifications for sanctioned races and allowed Roosevelt to dominate the Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant of America—a competition considered the iceboating counterpart to the prestigious America's Cup. With this vessel, Roosevelt claimed the Pennant an impressive four times.

The Golden Era of Ice Yachting

During ice yachting's heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the sport symbolized wealth, ingenuity, and fierce rivalry among New York's most prominent families. The Roosevelts and the Rogers families embodied this spirit, with the coveted Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant exchanging hands between them four times between 1887 and 1902. According to FDR historian Mr. Bielenburg, these matches often came down to a glamorous and expensive game of "keeping up with the Joneses."

Yet, the allure of ice yachting began to wane as societal and environmental factors reshaped the landscape. The early 20th century saw a shift in elite recreation, with many affluent families relocating to coastal hubs like Newport, RI, and dedicating themselves to other pursuits. Additionally, the 1930s brought regular icebreaking efforts on the Hudson River, disrupting the expansive stretches of frozen water that had once been the lifeblood of the sport. In more recent decades, regional warming has further limited the consistent formation of ice thick enough to support ice yachts, which typically requires at least ten inches for safe passage.

The Legacy Lives On

While large-scale iceboat racing on the Hudson River is no longer common, the sport continues to thrive in a more limited fashion on smaller, frozen lakes such as Orange Lake, Greenwood Lake, and Saratoga Lake. Occasionally, regattas are held in Tivoli Bay along the Hudson, where enthusiasts gather to celebrate the sport's rich history and its enduring appeal. Today, these events are less about fierce competition and more about social camaraderie and rekindling the magic of a bygone era.

The Roosevelt family's love of ice yachting endures in symbolic form, with artifacts and records preserved for future generations. Photos of the "Icicle" and stories of its glory days continue to inspire boating enthusiasts, while the restored yacht itself occasionally reappears, such as when it was showcased by the Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, NY.

The legend of John Aspinwall Roosevelt and his monumental "Icicle" serves as a testament to the spirit of innovation and adventure that characterized ice yachting's golden age. Nearly 150 years later, it remains a captivating tale of rivalry, elegance, and the unmatched thrill of slicing through frozen landscapes at breathtaking speeds.

Sources:

• New York Times

• Iceboating.org

• Wikipedia

• Roosevelt Library

– Michael Quick