iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

For fifteen years, the first weekend in December we've been sailing the Great Western Challenge Regatta, its the only real party I toss every year... as always, we'll have a great sheet of ice, and figure the rest out when we get there.

The Dates: December 5,6,7, 2008 (Friday is always perfect, not to be missed)

The Place: Best Ice, Western Region, (Plan on someplace in Minnesota, as we'll follow the freeze South from Milepost 8, Lake Christina, Ashby, MN)

Who's Coming: You never know. (I never know)

What are we doing: For sure we'll be sailing DN Iceboats, probably on pretty thin ice. If the ice is thicker, bigger, who knows what else might show up.

Sail with the crew of "Type-A" (W-3) as they weave through a fleet on charging A-scows on a port tack. Hang-on for the ride of your life. Experience riding aboard one of the fastest inland racing sailboats ever built. This is something you have never experienced before...WOW!!
A-Scow National One-Design Regatta
Lake Medota 2008, Madison Wisconsin

until we meet again next season

Any time one sails within a week of Ice Out on a lake, they're cheating death. We last sailed on Lake Minnetonka last nine days ago, which is still cutting it close.

Season Recap to follow later this week, the good, the bad and the ugly.

For what promises to be the last iceboating in metro Minnesota for the season, several DNs are sailing lower Minnetonka tomorrow... the lake was sailed today!

Alternate launch Sites: Shorewood Yacht Club, sailed today, and the cottagewood fire lanes, with some suggested dock section bridging if needed.

Plan to start early...

"thats what it do" (open in new window, turn it up)

Sail safe... it's going to be amazing...

4695

Minnetonka is sailable right now! Yesterday's slush froze overnight, still alittle soft around shore, but firm 100 yards out. Winds North @ 15.

We are sailing Minnetonka today, have been out since about 9:30am. Smoking wind, all of Lower Lake with zero hazards. 2"-3" slush near shore but hard ice out in the lake. Great day to play hooky!!!

04/08/08....The winter that just won't go away......the snowmobiles are back out riding again......I heard Brainerd got about 4 inches last Sunday and south of here about an hour around 2 inches which has melted. OT and DL area a no go for now.

Gave Mtka a try today. It seemed firm in the am, but by the time I broke free and pulled up the sail @ 5pm it had softened. Had a few short scoots but would hit spots where I would sink nearly to the plank and grind to a halt. Not looking good from here on out unless we drop back into the deep freeze.( maybe Sun night?) I have my boat sitting up on the dock just in case.

Anyone going sailing on Saturday in the slush??? Or is the ice not good enough for sailing??
Is there a bay or area that looks good?
I have a kitchen pass for Saturday and want to go but don't want to go alone.. Don't want to go swimming.

DN 5050

04/01/08 Hi everyone! Walked out this morning on Ottertail about 100yards 7:30am....ice hard with crunchy spots..some snow as you will see in the pics which I did not take until later about 3:00...just waiting for it to melt down a bit more and some nice cold nights..I drilled a hole and measured the thickness to about 3ft still......weather forecast mid 30's until Thurs Friday where expected highs to be 40-50.....lows throughout this week and next ranging from 18-28.....we only had a dusting of snow yesterday where as south of here got up to 6" and heard the cities got it too.....still trying to find out conditions on lake Christina and Detroit Lakes area....I will keep posting pics and conditions so keep checking back.....If you would like to call with questions....my number is 218-367-2662....hoping the ice will only get better and would like to see you guys up here on OT.....If Mike Flannigan from Minnetonka is reading this.......I bought your DN last fall and you will see it on the third pic...thanks for the boat!...Dave dave_sales@tooldesk.com

9 DN's, one Nite, and a half-dozen kites sailed the main lake from Cottagewood.

The ice from sunrise to noon was among the best I've sailed this year. There were no hazards, just a few car tracks that were of no consequence. It softened up a bit at 2pm and we quit around 4pm. We did some scub racing and superfast cruising. Wind was great, 12-16 mph early building to 15-25.

It was grins all around - warm sunny, windy, good ice, you could ask for little more. Four people took their first ride in a DN too.

8 boats remain on the ice and we will sail Sunday AM. Forecast is for 10 mph wind and 30 degrees tonight.

I kited Calhoun last night (Tuesday 3/25). 1-2" of snow remain over 20-24" of ice. FYI, there is much less snow in town vis a vis out west where they got 10+ inches last weekend. A few more circles of the zamboni and this will be a plausible place to sail come this weekend. And there is wind in the forecast.

How is WBL and other nearby lakes looking?

/Adam

We got out sailing on Sunday. The wind was perfect..Enough to go about 15mph which seemed plenty fast for the kids. They can't wait to go again. There are a couple of photos posted under action shots. If you would like more information call JD at 612-840-9855.

The forecast of 15 mph winds was off -- by about 15 mph. One race was finished Saturday morning, and a second one started but time expired.

The class meeting was short and brief. Rick Wilfert steps in as vice-commodore.

Browner
559

There's the potential of holding the Nite Nationals in Minnesota this weekend, 15th/16th. Current primary locations in Wisconsin (Geneva, Pewaukee, Madison) are becoming a bit iffy, so we're searching for back up.

White Bear is not in consideration due to another event. I walked the upper end of Minnetonka last night (Tuesday) and it is improving, but not quite there. Any news on the lower end? Bald Eagle? Buffalo? Riley@!!! Northern Wisconsin? Okoboji? Does this sound desperate?

Please respond here if you can. Decision to be made Thursday at noon.

Thanks

Browner
559