Weeks 7 & 8 have been all about the North American Championships, which were sailed here in Minnesota.

This weekend looks chilly, but after today's and tomorrow's weather events, dry. The temperatures are forecast to reach the sailing envelope for next weekend, possibly above freezing near Lake Pepin.

At present, we have one known venue in the state with suitable ice, and a couple of suspects that may emerge.

• Lake Pepin, with about 50 square miles of ice. At present Light snow is falling there, at least one forecast says we may only see light dustings on both days, but this ice checker anticipates the 1-3 inches forecast by the NWS.Red Wing Airport Webcam
• Lake Pulaski, Buffalo needs to be checked, it could be there for us as well, an ice report is encouraged, as it looks like the snow is primarily south of the Twin Cities, and it's about 50 miles closer.This must be checked and reported

Sailing Photographer Dallas Johnson was on the ice and Shot some Spectacular Day One Photos on Pepin at the NA's, this shot shows the fleet under the legendary Maiden Rock Bluff on the Wisconsin Shore of Lake Pepin.

The fleets all proved an old iceboating legend by racing and beating trains, watching the entire DN Bronze Fleet outpacing a fast moving freight trains (visible on shore) was Epic. I saw 4 Train Races, The DN's won them all... but I think perhaps the trains may have not had the hammer all the way down.

The Indian legend of the bluff called Maiden Rock, which has some basis in historical fact, concerns a young Dakota Indian woman, Winona, who leaped to her death from the top of the most prominent bluff in the region rather than marry the brave her father, Chief Red Wing, had chosen for her.

Racing in a tough tough competitive fleet, including 7 or 8 former and current North American or World Champions, Minnesota Ice Sailing Top Sailor John Dennis, US 4691 of Mound, MN was the Second Place Finisher in an EPIC DN North Americans this Weekend, on Pepin near Historic Frontenac, MN

WCCO Coverage, Link to the wcco.com story, good interviews,

KTTC - Rochester Coverage, Gliding on Ice, good story, excellent images.

I'm looking for a used Gambit sail.
btwadey@yahoo.com

Priced for an immediate sale.
one 1/4" x 36" 440 insert steel in excellent condition first $175.00 takes it, that's about a hundred less than "retail". Very nice 19.5" crown, from a very very fast set of runners, twin broken in a violent collision a couple years ago.

email mark (at) onemorebid.com

The famous Poet, Blogging in Marble, and Iceboater, Quintus Horatius Flaccus, (December 8, 65 BC - November 27, 8 BC), one of those guys known off the ice by just one name, Horace, DN MMMMDCXCV, about 2000 years ago said it best, people have been using his words for two millennia

"Carpe DN" ; )

Follow this link for A song for you Scrapbookers

The ice awaits... but not for long.

4695

At 4:00 pm today the DN North Americans Hotline Announced that Lake Pepin at Lake City is the Primary Site for the DN North American Championship Regatta.

Details will be posted on this thread later this evening... and now a word from our sponsors...

This world class regatta is once again brought to you by the ice checkers of the Minnesota Ice Sailing Association... "Let us carry your runners down to the ice for you, if you don't like the ice, come and tell us, we'll try to do better next time"

A tip of the helmet to ice checkers here and in other regions who make this event happen, in particular:US 3433 in Oshkosh, US 5287, Jay Davis (on the ice yesterday and today without success in Okoboji IA!!!, I personally appreciate this effort; Rumrunr (Ed Newcomb) of Pepin, WI for the "head's up!"; US 5366 for getting up this morning before sunrise for all you unwashed travellers, and driving 90 miles on a lark; and to US 5369 for sailing the ice this afternoon, ... and for letting me take a rip on his yacht, it's good ice, maybe better.

Two heartening reports for week 7 in Minnesota, and for the DN NA Regatta Committee,

There's good ice on Lake Pepin!

_________________________________________

RumRunr reports by email at Pepin WI... " didn't get out on the ice but it looked pretty good at Pepin. We were about 90% clear on Sunday with a 1/2" of water on the ice. Had a couple of boats set up but no wind. I would expect that Lake City should be the same or better conditions.

Yesterday's snow missed the lake and all we had was a light mist last evening.

Few of the club members are setting up at Pepin tomorrow. Should be good sailing."

The DN North American Championship Hotline says... Start Driving to Fond Du Lac, WI!

Current Ice on Lake Winnebago,near Oshkosh, WI

Alright guys, this will be my last chance to get out on the ice before spring semester starts so where can i find decent ice? Is North East Iowa still sail worthy?

That's right... this is the sixth week in a row that Minnesota iceboaters have been on the ice with DN's...

Last weekend, thru Monday, 5 Minnesota DNers made the trip to execellent ice in Okoboji, Iowa, Iowa? OK, it's close enough to the Minnesota State Line that you can see it from the the sailing area, the "local Natl Weather Service" reporting station is in Jackson Minnesota. : ) We probably should have kept these lakes, never given them to Iowa, they get the early caucus, we get the lakes.

This weekend, we're looking at a DN Western Regional Regatta, boatable ice some place in Minnesota for six straight weeks... where have you guys been?

Several of us from northern Michigan hope to come to the Westerns. I see the IRIYA regatta has been postponed, are there any sites being considered for the Westerns or will they be postponed also.

I wonder if I can get some input on runner sharpening. I've been using a friends 72" or so belt sander and 100 grit belts (the only ones he has). I set it to 45 degrees and it seems to do a good job on my DN runners but is a little short for my Skeeter runners. I'm looking at buying or building a similar but longer set-up. Any advice? Also I have heard people mention stoning to touch up a slightly dull runner. What type stone do you use and what kind of jig do you use to maintain your 45 Degree edge? How about profile? Being a one set of runners guy, is there "standard" profile? If any

I would like to build a very cheap boat I bought a sunfish sailboat last summer for $35.00 and would like to use the mast and sail from it to build an iceboat. I have been an auto mechanic for the last 20 years and am a avid woodworker. Does anyone know of anybody doing this or any plans availible, Please help

thurs thru sunday. who is interested? where do we put on? stay with? how much snow on the ice from tue wed? more fri? anyone in okoboji respond to above questions and any interested parties in a road trip . tom meyer 612-432-8124