iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

The word out of Pewaukee Wisc. this Super Bowl Sunday is that Scott Brown sailed his beloved Betsy (Nite #559) to his third straight Nite National Championship.

Details are sketchy but all that really matters is that the local boy did good.

Join me in congratulating Scott.

Pewaukee Lake survived this weeks storm with just rain. It's now ice with no reported problems, and Nite Nationals are a go. Looks like the first attempt at a Gold and Silver fleet is going to work. Regatta details at niteracing.org. Looking for a strong Minnesota contingent.

Nite Nationals is called on for Feb. 6 & 7 with a clever plan to overcome an expected snowfall.

"They" say a fairly hefty storm will dump a narrow path of snow across Wisconsin from the southwest to the northeast. If the storm track slips east, the regatta will be at Maiden Rock on Lake Pepin. If the track slips west, the regatta will be on Pewaukee. And if the storm gets fat and hits both lakes, then Fox Lake is the cards.

There will be a contingent of Minnesota sailors attending. This regatta features split fleets so there will be good racing for everyone.

I'd delete this if I could, but I can't.

Boats will be setting up Saturday morning to sail the Lower Lake of Minnetonka. Driving on off Lake Avenue and parking on the ice near Minnetonka Yacht Club. Could also carry on near Harry's.

Buoys will be set. Don't know if we'll be toward Excelsior or out in the main lake. Hope to start sailing at 10:30 by doing a final scouting of the ice. Friday afternoon report was flat, black ice with 30% soft snow of under 1/2". There are some remnants from fish houses that need to be marked. All are welcome. Could have two fleets -- Nites and DNs.

The ISA committee thought they had this one nailed with two lakes with awesome black ice a thousand miles apart. Both got snow, and the regatta is postponed.

It may take a few weeks for Green Lake (WI) or Geneva to ice up, or for a Zamboni to clean up Madison or Pewaukee.

With two reportedly fantastic sheets of ice in play, the International Skeeter Association has called on their championship for this coming weekend, January 29-31. Both Lake Monona in Madison and Moosehead Lake near Greenville, ME are in contention. According to organizers, small weather systems are being watched before making the final call Wednesday morning.

The ISA includes A, B and C Skeeters, Renegades and Nites sailed in rotation.

So close. A couple of workable icesheets, but the forecast is for calm winds for much of Saturday, and it's been determined that waiting for better conditions is a better bet than attempting a regatta on stiff, frozen snow. So, Nite Nationals are postponed once again.

It looks like we'll have sailable ice somewhere around Madison this weekend.
Ice-checkers will be out Friday scouting a number of lakes.
Watch http://iceboat.org/ for info. Friday afternoon.

It'll be warmer down here on Saturday! (~13F).

Kyle Metzlof on Middleton Bay (NW corner of Lake Mendota):

walked out from harrys, 2 to 4" hard drifts. 90% snow covered. so no go for DNs, larger boats have a chance to go. Friday looks like the day with plenty of wind and reasonable temp. meyer

perfect ice, temp and wind. who's in? meyer, browner and evans so far. how about Madison and green lake sailors? meyer

The Nite National originally scheduled for Jan 16-17 is postponed. The weather window is caving with Sunday's temps expected to be well below minimums. It's too early in the season to travel for a single-day event so we're postponed.

clear ice, sail out of markhams or by sailing club/park end of rd, French island by airport as usual. fri 31 deg and 12 mph NW/ sat 18 deg and 11 mph NW/ sun 4 deg so too cold. Call/text me if anyone going as I need someone to sail with fri. 612-432-8124 meyer PS Minnetonka might be boatable sat. 13 deg, 10-15 mph. snow at? 1" now drifted? so harrys an option for non drivers.

Nite Nationals are called on for this coming weekend, January 16-17. The primary location is Lake Puckaway, near Green Lake, Wi, but should a better sheet of ice firm up this week, the regatta will be moved. Other possible locations are Lake Kegonsa near Madison, Wi, the north end of Lake Winnebego, Lake Pentwell in the central Wisconsin, and Green Lake near Spicer, MN.

The plan is to post the final call on niteracing.org this Wednesday by noon. Location and hotel options will be provided.

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