iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

The Nite Nationals were held last weekend sandwiched between the Northwest Regatta and the DN worlds. It was a rare event with nearly 200 boats in six different classes sharing a sheet of ice that was, (sorry about this) EPIC. Three different courses all sailing at the same time.

The winds both days were about 15 mph gusting into the 20's. Terry Erwin of Minnetonka fought it out for the championship only to fall a few points back of the eventual winner, Tom Sweitzer of Pewaukee. Scott Brown was third, and Tom Nordlie fourth, both from Minnetonka.

But the big news of the weekend was the participation of the gang from Bald Eagle Lake lead by Tom Austin. For their first regatta, they sailed extremely well. It was the talk of the annual meeting Saturday night.

Looking to buy a set of slush runners for a DN. Please contact Ben Shaevitz at basmoss1 at hotmail.com if you have a set to sell or know somebody who does. thank you

Ben Shaevitz
DN US 5395
Harrisville, PA

Do any of u know of a mast for sail.... broke my old wood one and now I'm lookin' for a new one!?

From Dave Zoll's DN-America Forum posting:

The Menominee Ice has been sailed and is rated awesome! 12 inches clear ice for miles. Drive on access about 6 miles northeast of Menominee, Michigan.

Steve Orlebeke told me it is the best big ice he has ever seen. Mike (Not Dave!) Derosha is in the running for ice scout of the year, thanks Mike!

Final call still will be tomorrow (Wed. night) at 9 pm. Hotel info pending.

Oh yeah, and the Northwest regatta will be Friday-Sunday...

Superior Bay, Duluth MN was sailed sunday by a stern steer, there is a reported 2' of ice in the sailing area...

Lake Superior is frozen fast for a large area out from Duluth, local fishermen report 8" of ice observed several hundred yards from shore.

photo from a slightly higher altitude

From Dave Zoll's post on the DN Forum this morning:

Unofficial ice update from Central Lakes Region - Winter Storm Warning has been posted for Maumee Bay with accumulations 8 - 12 inches and blowing and drifting.

Exciting ice report from Dave Durosher of excellent conditions at Menominee, Michigan on Green Bay. (yes it is still in the Central Region!)

Ice will be carefully evaluated and thoroughly sailed today.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

DN World and North American Championships Hotline: 1-248-988-0851

Report from the World Commodore, John Harper...

There are Two Sites being considered as primary sites, they are:

Maumee Bay, Toledo OH

and

Green Lake, Wisconsin

Other Sites in all the regions are being evaluated but were not Suitable as of Sunday.

There is a snow event developing which may impact the region later Monday and Tuesday, the path of this event will influence the final site selection.

PLEASE CONTINUE CHECKING ICE IN YOUR AREA AND INFORM YOUR REGIONAL REAR COMMODORE.

Our party/regatta is on for the weekend of the 17th and 18th of February. Launching will be mostly from our house, 3rd street or White Birch Lodge (all within walking distance of each other) we already have boats arriving a week early, by Monday there should be over a dozen boats with 6 days still before the party starts (doesn't include the local club sailing out of White Birch). Everything is free. There will be door prizes, trophies for Jboat and sportsman racing and food.
As of this morning we have 4-6" of hard ice. 90% clear with the other 10% being up to 1/2" deep of light fluffy stuff. The temps are low enough this week (single digits and below zero) to build alot more ice before the party. We already have trailers on the ice at our house and White Birch lodge.

This is the year we send a Minnesota contingency from Minnetonka, and White Bear and Bald Eagle AND LAKE RILEY! And why stop there? We know there are Nites on Dead Lake and Pepin and others as well.

Watch the Nite website for updates. Most likely, they're looking at Green Lake and Lake Geneva. If you've never been to the National, this is your year.

Scott
Nite 559

World Commodore John Harper left the following message on The IDNIYRA World Championship Phone Hotline Report:

6 possible sites currently under evaluation for the DN World Championships.

East: 2 on Lake Champlain.

Central: Anchor Bay, Lake St. Clair, Detroit, MI Lake St Clair Webcam and Maumee Bay, Toledo OH Maumee Bay Webcam (a relatively short in iceboat regatta terms, 650 - 700 mile drive from Minnesota)

In the West, two fresh frozen lakes; Geneva Geneva Webcam and Green Lake in WI

Ice Tender II for sale $450.00
See Ice Tenders on the web at www.cherrywoodmedia.com
This is a boat rigged for use with standard windsurf sail, mast, boom &
foot. (not included) just add your windsurf rig, or with a simple
modification, a sunfish or similar sail rig, and sail away. Located in S.E. Michigan
Call (734) 457-5084

2007 Nite National regatta to be held February 10-11 on Lake Geneva. Launch will be from Fontana, WI. See Nite website or call Regatta Hotline at (262) 367-1659 for further details.

Ten Days til the DN World Championship Regatta! Lot's of preparation going on during the recent chilly weather. There's at least onemore new DNer in Minnesota this week. Expect to see at least two KA sails on the line at the biggie.

The weather pattern we've seen for the last couple weeks is now changing, temps will finally start moderating a bit. Minnesota's "second ice season" is about to begin.

Currently 40% of the State has less than 2" of snow depth... The NWS interactive snow map shows an area touching Nimrod, Wolf Lake, Menahga, Park Rapids and Akley with No Snow on the ground.

Checked out Pepin on Saturday. At Pepin the fishermen report 12" to 14" of ice........some vehicles on.
Lake is 40 to 50% snow covered but the snow is only 1 to 2" and not too hard. No major heaves or cracks. Lake looks sailable. We plan to get a few boats on at Pepin this weekend if the temperatures moderate a bit.
E.C.Newcomb
LPIYC

2007 Eastern Regional DN Championship is ON for Feb 3 and 4
Site: Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Launch Site: Ellacoya State Park off Rt 11 near the town of Gilford (west side of the lake near the Broads and Rattlesnake Island)

Directions: Rt 93 to exit 20, follow Rt 3 east to Laconia and then pickup Rt 11 to Gilford and to Ellacoya State Park.

Race Info: Registration starting at 8:30am at the launch site

Skippers meeting at 10:30am at the starting line and first race immediately following the meeting. IDNIYRA rules apply.

See Notice of Race on IDNIYRA website for more detail.