So far Lake Christina and Lake Pepin have been very sweet to us.
Right now,
Lower Lake Minnetonka is reported to be freshly frozen, ice reports should emerge,
Lake Okoboji, IA shows by web cam to be in similar condition, no reports as of yet.
Lake Pepin, South of Lake City, by Modis Imagery appears pretty clear, but Monday Sailors suggested it was drifting up a bit, no current reports in hand.
Swan Lake near Mankato, by Modis Imagery appears to be in an area free of snowfall, and appears fully frozen, no reports exist yet.
Just got the word that the main lake on Mtka is frozen as of Tuesday night, so there is NO SNOW on it. We could get a second local season on the main lake, but you just have to get past the drifts (1" - 3") out to the main lake and freshly frozen area.
Calling all ice checkers,,,,,,,,
Kiefer ("the IceMaker") just called and said the launch site for the GWC has been moved to the Park Street Boat Ramp (closer to downtown, near the Marina).
We will be setting up a few Nites and DNs at Shorewood Yacht Club today. Gideon's, Excelsior and Echo bays look good. Anyone is welcome to set up and sail out of SYC.
I'd like to set up a short course close to the willows, there will be a center median which is a continous obstruction, the couse is taken to port, left turn only.
The reason is to
1. Let sailors try a short course race without an outside wall to hit.
2. Capture GPS Tracks for Course Enhancement with Plowed Tracks.
3. Give the people in Lake City a thrill.
4. Set the stage for a Great Party at the Willows.
This is an epic regatta.
One not to be missed.
4695
Initial Ice calls are very encouraging:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDoQ_vXjoBg
US 4691 "spring park bay is frozen, ready to go"
Right now we have options!
More will emerge today.
We would like to have reports for Buffalo, Waconia, White Bear, Hudson, and Pepin by noon on Thursday. This is going to be a challenge so please help if you can. Post reports here or call 612 840 9855
JD
The McDonagh Brothers Annual Holiday Party is tomorrow, Thursday night.
It's also a celebration of my brother, Jonathan's 50th Birthday.
See the new Silver Fleet World Champion Cup, donated by Leon before it has to go back to Europe.
Iceboaters are invited to come by to eat, drink and discuss where we are going to be sailing this weekend.
McDonagh Brothers
2205 California Street NE
suite 101
Minneapolis, Mn
Soundtrack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6oPS_C1TKg
The weather service called her a Panhandle Hooker*, a Twisted Joyless Depression from South of here, who shows up to ruin all Icebound fun.
Followed closely by a Blue Norther, a brutish big mass of arctic air who cuts all the way to Mexico, literally sucked into the void of that unnamed Hooker with miserable cold, leaving a bite in the air that cut's deeply through any coat, numbing the senses, leaving little but pain.
These systems should have names.
It's sure to be too cold to go Up North.
Thanks Hutt for the ice report of Christina. Sunday's wind forcast looks to be about 7MPH out of the NW. Let's hope it builds to 10.
I am loading up now for an 8:30 departure, maybe. I do not want to be the only one sailing on Christina with minimum ice conditions. Please call me if anyone else heading up!
Mike 612-868-2949 cell
Buffalo Lake is substantially frozen as of sunrise this morning!
As it wss 3 degrees at Milepost 8 this morning, the ice checkers there may find suitable sailing ice. Certainly Sailing Sunday.
The way this sailor sees it, we're shaping up for a fantastic weekend in Buffalo for the Great Western Challenge.
For sale, plywood hulled D.N, 10 ft plank ,for information please call(952)431-7108-"ask for Dave Wodrich" please do not reply to this e-mail."Boat is sold 12/5/09"