iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Having had my DN for only a week now, I notice a
small amount of play in the steering, and it seems
to be in the shaft the tiller handle attaches to.
It's not much of a problem until you hit 30-35 MPH,
then every little dimple in the ice wants to shift
you right/left. I can imagine that at 50 it would
be a BIG problem. How is this steering shaft put
together, and is this repairable or not?

Any comments welcome....Blackice

I'm looking to buy a pair of 26 or 30 inch runners and chocks. (preferably 26 in ) Anyone have an old pair laying around for my ice-board project?
John

I just posted 120 pictures that Mike Bares took at the regatta.

This is probably the nicest set of pictures of a western regionals regatta that we have ever had access to.

You can click on the 'view original' and save the picture in high res so you can print it out yourself.

It's really great of him to go up and take the pictures and then let everyone have access to them.

Sorry there's no prev-next-slideshow feature, but nothing's perfect.

think ice
us5214

Week 7 was capped off by with a very successful Western Regional Championship regatta on Gull Lake near Brainerd MN... reports and pics should be up sometime today... with 7 Gold and Silver Fleet races completed, many of the DNers are just plain sailed out.

Excellent conditions are expected to continue in Minnesota thru Week 8... .. the forecast late week cold may finally freeze the sailing area on lower Minnetonka.

Lakes with known iceboaters currently sailing are:
- Minnetonka, Spring Park Bay and Cottagewood
- Waconia (Regatta Suitable)
- Prior Lake Lake
- White Bear Lake
- Bald Eagle Lake

WSSA Championship Regatta Called ON, possibly Gull Lake, MN!
Via Jeff Seeboth: "The 2007 WSSA Annual Championship is called on for January 13 and 14, 2007. Check back on Thursday January 11 after 12:00 pm CST for further information at (414) 520-1190 or (414) 559-6503. We have a potential regatta site identified at Gull Lake, MN."

Minnesota Nites To Host Fun Regatta For This Weekend Load them up! Via Scott Brown: "The Nite fleet in Minnesota is hosting a casual regatta this coming weekend, January 13/14. We have choices within the Minneapolis/St. Paul area with better ice to the north. With the Nite Nationals in postponement, it's hoped any of the southern Wisconsin Nite guys feel welcome to come up and join in. We'll try to be realistic in our conditions report so you don't find yourself driving 5 hours for junky ice. As of today, we have no current local reports, but many of us sailed Gull Lake this past weekend and it was 12" thick with big sheets of smooth ice with some shell icing. There were some cracks that required attention, but the race courses were great. We'll post a tentative lake selection on your site Thursday at noon, and a final decision on Friday at noon."

This coming weekend, January 13th and 14th, we're getting the Nite boys together for some racing. No entry fees. It's been a long time since this fleet has lined it up, and we all know it's eventually going to snow -- so let's sail.

So talk it up among the local Nite owners. There are many more than just the White Bear and Tonka boys. Everybody is encouraged to participate. Look for a posting on this site Thursday noon, with a final decision Friday noon. It'd be nice if we can all setup together and help out anyone who may not have their boat program complete. Of course, we'll look for a location with food, etc. Please post all scouting reports.

For Sale:

Boehmke B-Skeeter 2 seater Iceboat, complete, Includes covers 2 sets of skates, 3 sails and pillow block chocks. Completely restored, really nice and ready to go $5,500

Arrow Jet Iceboat (springboard) complete nice boat ready to sail $3,000

Historic Johnson Stern Steerer Snowbird III. Beautiful boat. New sail. Comes with several sails, couple sets of skates, covers and trailer. Everything you need and more. Ready to go! $10,000

3- A-skeeter sails.
1-new squarehead $650 (rear seat skeeter 24' luff )includes battens
2- 15 yr old (used only 3 years)includes battens $400

Anyone sailing on lakes in the vicinity of the Twin Cities this weekend? I've got a Nite and would like to get together with some other sailors. White Bear? Lake Riley? Waconia? Bald Eagle? Let me know where you're going. - Craig Young 651-261-3196

Thanks to US 602 (Meyer) and 4811 (chatterbox) for checking out the conditions on Lake Waconia Tuesday Jan 02. I have an excellent vantage point to watch conditions from the south shore about 40 feet above the lake. The ice is currently well frozen slush, so it not as fast as it sounds like Gull Lake would be. A very few spring holes around the lake and at least one 4" crack just north and east of the island are to be watched for. The warm temps may smooth off the top of the ice improving it. Lots of clear space with no ice houses to avoid. The lake is a great place to sail with long expanses and clear air.

OFFICIAL NOTICE: ON Rear Commodore Isabell's Post

2007 Western Regional Regatta

The regatta site for the 2007 DN Western Region Regatta is Gull Lake, Minnesota. Although it is a little further drive than previous regattas in our region, the ice and facilities available will make for another wonderful event. Check out the website for more information. Gull Lake is a vacation destination and offers us an unparallel regatta venue! I truly hope you will make the drive and participate.

See you soon!

Mark Isabell
Western Region Commodore

Details>>>>

We sailed Gideon's Bay, Echo Bay in front of Tonka Bay and down along between Big Island and Greenwood to Cottagewood today. There is a large area of open water about 1/2 way between the Commons and Gail Island, other than that just a few pressure ridges that you have to pick your spots to cross. The surface is far faster and smoother than it looks. Lots of big sailing areas.

Great sailing on White Bear Lake. December 19th 2006.

Too Many Lakes, Not Enough Time!

THAT'S SEVEN STRAIGHT WEEKS ON THE GOOD STUFF IN MINNESOTA! AND THERE'S LOTS OF IT RIGHT NOW! ;)

US 4811 and 602 are leading ice checking and reporting for WEEK 7 > Ice Sailing in Minnesota!

If I understood correctly it's their intent to SAIL ALL WEEK They're currently driving to North Long Lake, Hwy 371 Just north of Brainerd, MN Launch site is right off 371 on the NW Corner of the Lake...

or if Spring Park Bay looks good, (they're walking on it now and it shows promise!) they might set up and sail there.

Suspect areas are near:

Gull lake, Brainerd Webcam This area was sailed New Years Day! Excellent Conditions, Details in Comments!

Willmar MN Webcam The trace of snow they got has sublimed!

Alexandria MN Webcam Click on the preset location: [Lk Agnes & Henry]

Tip of the helmet! We're looking for ice reports, including snow cover on: Lake Waconia, Waconia, MN; Buffalo, Buffalo MN; Green Lake, Spicer, MN; Lake Minnewaska, Glenwood, MN; Lake Osakis, Osakis, MN; and Gull and North Long Lake near Brainerd, etc.... anybody game?

The bug has bit me bad. I just gotta ice boat, that being said, I've got all the skills to build a boat out of any material that the rules allow and intend to start with a DN. What I am not is a sailmaker. Where do most go to buy sails? There doesn't seem to be a glut of used out there and if it comes to it I'll have to go with a new one. Like everyone else I'd like to keep it cheap, but the sail just might be the most expensive item. I'm guessing that there are good sailmakers in the TC area, I just don't know who to trust.

Thanks in advance, Kent

INTELLIICAST FORECAST FOR SATURDAY LAKE MINNETONKA Saturday:
Cloudy skies with a few showers later in the day. High 37F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Boats continue sailing on the known current metro area lakes... I presume some guys on vaca will sneak out again today. Weather in last 7 days has us about neutral in terms of ice made.

Looking at the forecast for the weekend, there's a strong liklihood boatable conditions will continue thru into the New Year.

Weather models seem to indicate an event similar to last weekend, what precip we get will most likely be rain not snow, and significant spreads in amounts of precip across the currently boatable lakes... although the worst case scenario predicts the chance of some (nobody's talking accumulation) snowfall on Sunday. No significant new snowfall is expected