BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) The University of Vermont sailing team usually has to wait for the ice to thaw on Lake Champlain during the last days of winter before getting their boats into the water for practice. Not this year. An unusual winter on pace to be the warmest one on record in Burlington has prevented the open lake from freezing, giving them more practice time before competition, which starts in March.
The sailing coach decided to take advantage of the mild season with some early practices. On Wednesday, team members set sail during snow squalls. They wore dry suits with multiple layers underneath to keep any water out.
Although the weather is considered mild, it's still cold. The team won't go out if it's under 30 degrees and above 20 knots of wind.
