Watauga Lake Sailing Club Kicks Off Year with 26th Annual Frostbite Race

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HAMPTON, Tenn. (WJHL) – In a daring start to the new year, over a dozen sailboats, accompanied by their crews, took to the brisk waters of Watauga Lake for the 26th Frostbite Race on New Year’s Day.

“It’s shaping up to be an excellent day for sailing,” remarked Dirk Wilson, the commodore of the Watauga Lake Sailing Club. “Temperatures will hover in the upper 30s, so it won’t be too cold. The wind is expected to be around eight miles per hour, with gusts reaching 20 to 25, which should make for an exciting race.”

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Wilson, who has been with the club for four years and is serving his first term as commodore, described the nearly four-mile course around Clifford Island as challenging. The race, initiated in 2001, demands skill and caution.

“If we encounter gusts between 30 and 35 miles per hour, there’s a risk of tearing your sails,” Wilson noted. “Torn sails mean a loss of propulsion, so we aim to avoid that. Safety is crucial; wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) is vital in case anyone falls overboard, as the weight of wet clothing can be dangerous.”

“We have a handicap system where all the boats have a different rating,” Quillen said. “So we’ll actually be starting in groups one minute apart. And that kind of puts the different boats that are about the same speed in different groups. And we all should be finishing at the same time, so whoever crosses the finish line first.”

Wilson said the race is about starting the year off with an event that brings the members together.

“A lot of the elders at the club started it, and it’s just a great way to start the year off,” Wilson said. “Just to get out here, and they’re going to have a potluck. Everybody else is starting to bring the crockpots in, and after the race, we’ll have hot chocolate and coffee and some chili.”