iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

From: 4695
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 6:05 PM
Subject: The Great Western Challenge Regatta & Cook Off!. 2007
Importance: High

Friday, Lake Pulaski, Buffalo, MN

Yesterday’s breeze removed a lot of snow, big drifts in close are under an inch, but it squeaks under foot, oh my kingdom for a set of skinny T’s… 

Three boats are on the ice, one from PA, one from NC, and this ice reporter. More are reported to be showing up, with a suggested safety meeting at 0930. Andy Markus is bringing the Grille!

Racing Plan: We’re looking at finding a race course with minimal snow impact, given the forecast light winds, imho, we’re looking at 400 – 500 yards, and running a single leg course until:

I am pleased to report the Western Challenge Regatta is ON of Lake Pulaski, in Buffalo, MN.

Launch Site is Griffing Park in the SW Corner of the lake.

Here's the deal, the lake is 75 clear snow ice, a bit rumbly in places and 25 % 1" drifts, it's improved dramatically since Sunday. That said, I don't want to be accused of over selling the event, or the ice conditions. It is suitable and we've sailed regattas on worse.

Given the postponement of a week and the emergence of ice in other regions, we're not expecting a record crowd this year, details will be posted tomorrow.

4695

As of now, the primary site for the 2008 Great Western Challenge Regatta is Lake Pulaski, Buffalo, MN

There isn't a lot of extra room on the ice, but there should be plenty for what we have in mind.

Additional details to follow...

It's gonna be Amazing!

4695

Kattack (www.kattack.com) is providing race tracking and replay for first ever Ice Opti North Americans being held in conjunction with the GWC. Some of the DN rock starts are doing a debrief and interactive training session at the kid's pizza party Sat. night.

I will have extra GPS units for any DN-ers that would like to give it a try - or bring one if you have one. It's great to watch the replay, relive how you smoked the competition and see who got max boat speed bragging rights. I'll try to find a place to show a replay (hopefully at the bar) on Sat and will publish the tracks to our web site so you can watch on-line at work on Monday. There's More....

The Western Challenge Retatta Committee, such as it is, invites cordially invites the world again to kick off the iceboating season in Minnesota this fall, in what's going to be the biggest fastest spectacle in sailing.

The Dates for the Regatta, are Dec 7,8 & 9 Best Ice, Western DN Region. The rationale for this weekend is simple, the Thanksgiving Holiday is very early, we've got little kids competing in the DN Ice Opti NA's concurrent with our event, and frankly, while I don't mind putting adult competitors on thin ice, I'm a bit reluctant to put somebody else's little kid on the ice we've been sailing on in recent years.

The Planning/Org Meeting for the 2007 Western Challenge Regatta will be Thurs Evening, this week, at Wayzata Yacht Club, immediately following the Thursday Evening Race ~ 8:00 PM, ... attending hardwater racers, not of the softwater racing persuasion...e.g., Visitors, please park in the visitor lot... this will be a very brief meeting, in terms of the agenda... key decisions being made are regatta dates... and introducing...

some key initiatives we've been working on for several years, (in stealth /development dialog mode) leading towards taking the story of iceboating, the best game people play, to a larger audience are in our final stages of development for the year... and will be open for informal discussion, q/a session and crit review by and for the benefit of misa iceboaters.

Which December weekend this year? Distant travelers want to know.

The Inaugural Ice Opti North American Championship will be held in conjunction with the Western Challenge Regatta this year.

Important Dates:
    Friday, Nov. 30, 2007: Junior Ice Opti sailing clinic
    Weekend, Dec. 1-2, 2007: Ice Opti North American Championship regatta

The announcement is here.

There is official information on the IDNIYRA website.

Dave Zoll just posted: "FYI favorable reports on Houghton Lake, will be sailed Friday, may be sailed Thursday, stand by."

Forecast is for a cooling trend starting now. Tonight's low is supposed to be just above 20F, with Thursday through the Saturday dropping into the mid/low teens. Daytime highs Friday and Saturday are right at freezing, with a bit warmer Sunday.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

more info is here: forum www.bojery.pl
news is here: news www.bojery.pl
here scrap of movie is with (from) US 44 - ME DN Haapslau 2007 3 dzien.wmv

RP
P-323

The final results from the 2007 IDNIYRA North American Championship are are posted on idniyra.org.

The National DN page is having some issue, but the results are available on a German page.

Gold Fleet, Silver Fleet, & Bronze Fleet

Congrats to JD on his 5th place finish. Also congrats to Adam Koller on his 3rd in the bronze at his first World Championships. Looks like Pat Hutner had a slow start, but came on strong

Menominee, MI
Green Bay, Lake Michigan

50 skippers in the gold fleet and around 38 the silver and 38 in the bronze.

Day 1
After opening ceremonies the race committee found a great chunk of ice. There was a rough spot on the right.. but it was pretty nice.

They setup a 1.25mi course.

We got in the two qualifying races. It was blowing pretty good in the morning, but when we were racing the breeze was dieing. The bronze fleet had light wind, but when the silver qualifying fleet lined up, we had to wait for awhile before we started, not a good sign. Once we started the first lap was okay, but by the end of the race the wind had died and then did a 180 and the southerly breeze filled in. The leaders made the time limit so the race was good.

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...

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.