'Steamtech' - Herr Frederick Skoda's Ice Boat

‘steamtech’.

Herr Frederick Skoda's Ice Boat

Herr Frederick Skoda, the youngest son of the great Bohemian iron and steel Magnate, is one of the leading proponents of this most exciting new sport.

The Ice Boats, which are the size of a large racing dinghy, generally glide over the ice on three runners (skates). They are usually rigged with two sails but some have a single lateen rigged sail. Due to the lack of friction running over the ice (as opposed to through the water), Ice Boats can Achieve Higher Speeds than boats on water. A wind speed of fifteen miles an hour can impart a speed of twenty-five to thirty-five miles an hour to an Ice Boat.

Ice Boat racing is also a popular sport across the Atlantean Ocean where Dutch colonists began racing modified boats nearly two hundred years ago. Herr Skoda and his friends began racing upon the frozen River Danube two years ago and have now developed a pastime into a Fully Fledged Competitive Sport. In December this year (1874), first race for the Ice Master's Cup will be held near Prague in January. There is a prize of Ten Thousand Florins (833 Pounds sterling) provided through the sponsorship of the Skoda family.

Cost:  14 Days, at 16,800 Florins (1,400c).

Size: Medium [60 wounds].

Description: A wood and iron hull riding on three iron skates.

Operation Time: As long as the wind blows.

Controlled by: A large wheel attached by chains to a rear steering skate.

Moves with: Two small sails or a single large sail

Host’s Note:

This information was inspired by an article from the 1883 volume of Cassell's Magazine.

Not much Steam involved actually.  Somewhere in the loft, I think I still have a set of rules I drew up for a race on the frozen Danube that formed a Chapter of our Second Falkenstein Campaign.