iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

New ice has formed on the west end of Green Lake opening the door for the Nite National next weekend, January 17,18. It's so new that it hasn't been sailed, but three more days of very cold nights are in the forecast. The ice will hopefully be sailed sometime Wednesday afternoon with a FINAL CALL to be made Thursday by noon.

It's hoped for a big turnout from the Minnetonka and Bald Eagle fleets.

Of note -- the DNs are also looking for ice next weekend, and there's the possibility of rotating races on the same course. That would be cool -- and different. So be ready. Visit niteracing.org for official updates.

browner

Westerns Final call delayed until Friday at 9AM

The final call for this weekends Western Regional will be delayed until 9AM Friday Jan 9. This will allow a final check of ice on Lake Geneva, WI. Current conditions on a large sheet of new ice about 1.5 miles by 2 miles is optically clear hard black ice about 4 inches thick and growing. The sailing area would be to the north and west of Linn Rd. Snow has just started in Geneva with anywhere from 1-4 inches predicted on the various weather sites along with 20-25 SSW winds all day and into the evening. Snow should end by 9PM.

Register for the Gold Cup World Championships ( https://ice.idniyra.org/racing/registration/2015/Gold_Cup_DN_Championship ) and the North American Championships ( https://ice.idniyra.org/racing/registration/2015/North_American_DN_Champ... )

The 2015 Westerns is called on for Jan 3-4, 2015.
Primary site is Lake Kegonsa near Madison Wi. Ice has been sailed the past few days and rates a 9.95.
Lodging deals and launch site will be posted by Dec 30, 9AM.

Back up ice options in case of snow include:
Puckaway, Poygan, Winnebago, Onalaska, and Petenwell.
Lake Christina at Ashby is also in good shape, not sailed and will be considerably colder than Wi sites.
Green Lake at Spicer has been sailed and reported to have some new stiff snow covering the lake.

Only a week away from the Westerns! Keep me updated on ice conditions in your area at miller.m@mchsi.com.
Or 612-868-2949. Lake Minnetonka in Minneapolis area will be sailed today and hope the warm weather has healed it up. A permit to use the lake is being obtained so could be an option. Some snow is predicted for some of the Western Region, followed by a cold week. I expect a weekend update from Green Lake at Spicer this weekend. Pepin appears to be in a 3 inch snow band tonight!
How about Wisconsin again? Kegonsa, or will the cold arrive in time to obtain a new lake?
Mike Miller

NOTICE OF RACE
Western Lakes Regional DN Championship Regatta
Jan 3-4, 2015
North American Western Region

Organizing Authority
International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association
Host
North American Western Region

1. Rules:

No regatta.
No races. No wind. No visibility.
The highlight of the day occurred in the parking lot. 15 sailors attended the Doctor's impromptu demonstration on how to remove and install an axel hub on his iceboat trailer. Special thanks to Jim Nordhaus for having the foresight to always travel with a fully charged cordless grinder.

4:00 pm update. Done for day. No races. Tomorrow's forecast looks bad. More fog and very light air.

Sat. 11:30 am. 45 boats sitting at shore. Under postponement. Pea soup fog.
Good day for the bartenders at Springers.

2014 Western Region Championship called ON for Kegonsa

The 2014 Western Region Championship will be held December 13-14, 2014.

Apparently, all it takes to make the Western Challenge GREAT is perfect ice and lots of wind. Today's final three races were GREAT. Even better than the five races we sailed yesterday. We raced three high speed races in a strong breeze, on lightning fast ice, on a very large course. Put those factors together and it is easy to understand why today's racing really was GREAT. It was one of those days where you simply ripped to the corner and turned left. Today, tactics were not a factor. Today, the game was about speed. Today is why we love this sport. It really was a GREAT day.

Today was for the history books. 80 sailors dukeing it out on fast, fast, "cadillac" ice. Full on, pedal to the metal racing. Five races completed and nobody has any idea who is leading. All the major players scored a DNF for a variety of reasons in a day that saw an inordinate amount of very scary crashes. Still, when all was done, everyone agreed it really does not get any better than today.

Tomorrows forecast of 10 mph winds and 32 degrees temps could make this one of the more memorable Great Western Challenges.

The ice is beautiful... like Champaign! Light winds today but still managed to get some good practice sailing later in the day. Because there was no regatta quality ice in Minnesota ( yes we checked Buffallo, Green Lake and Christina, and others) we moved to Lake Kegonza just east of Madison. The change of venue to a more central location has attracted nearly 80 boats!!!! Nice to see all the east coast boys along with a dozen Canadians. Ron Sherry brought guys from Sweden, Germany and the Nerherlands. I even met three guys who drove from Nova Scotia.

Hello Race Fans,

We have two regattas coming up.

1st Regatta is the unsanctioned Great Western Challenge. This one is scheduled for best ice in Minnesota on the first weekend in December. December 5th, 6th, & 7th. Friday is always the best day and, as always, never and entry fee. Very informal. We do ask that you become a member of the IDNIYRA to help promote the sport of iceboating.

2nd Regatta is the 2014 IDNIYRA Western Regional Regatta. Mike Miller, from Minnesota, is the Western Regional Rear Commodore and you can expect updates for that regatta to also appear on this site. We tried to get it in last season, but we had too much shell ice on Green Lake to get it done. The 2014 IDNIYRA Western Regional Regatta is currently scheduled for December 13th and 14th.

In Review:
Fun Informal Great Western Challenge with special guests from our European tribe -- December 5th, 6th and 7th.

Official IDNIYRA Western Regional Regatta -- December 13th & 14th.

Think Ice!

Minnesota has been blessed with its earliest ice in years. At least 10 DN's have sailed this weekend at both Lake Christina and a small pond, Swede Lake. Both were sailable ice and thick enough. Lake Buffalo is frozen, unsailed and now has an inch of blown crusty snow from last night. A few other lakes will freeze this week with cold weather predicted. Heavy winds are forecast across MN for next two days as well.
I have consulted with a number of DN racers about calling on the 2014 Western Regional for this next weekend, Nov 22-23.

The 2014 Western Region Regatta is scheduled for Dec 13-14, 2014. This follows the prior weekends Great Western Challenge, scheduled on Dec 5-7 for the best ice in Minnesota.
The 48 racers who registered and paid for the attempt last January at Green Lake, Wi will be pre-registered.
With the next 10 days weather forecast, ice will soon be made in many locations.
Use this site for posting Minnesota ice conditions.
Official notices for the DN Western Regionals will be posted on the DN forum website.

Mike Miller
US5369
Western Region Rear Commodore