iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

This is from Bert Foster, Chairman RC, Wayzata Yacht Club.

It concerns how we can have an iceboat regatta on Lake Minnetonka, We have to work with the LMCD and the Water Patrol to make it happen. It is very nice of Bert to look into this and we should follow up with him. It could lay the seeds to a great regatta next year on the home lake!

Subject: Ice Boat Regattas on Minnetonka

Hi Ice Boaters

For years I have been trying to smooth the permit process with the LMCD and the Water Patrol for having ice boat regattas on Minnetonka. There is a new head of the Water Patrol (they and the LMCD issue the event permits for Minnetonka) and in a meeting with him this week I brought up the subject of smoothing out the process for permitting the ice boat regattas. I reviewed my plan with him, a received general approval and agreement to work out the details.

Hello Ice Racers!

I am a producer with a kids' science show on PBS channel two called DragonflyTV. We are interested in doing a segment on ice boat racing and are wondering if there are any 11-13 year olds who are proficient racers that would like to be on our show. You can check out our website at: http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/ or see segments online at: http://www.dftvpress.org/

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Harold Linde
Associate Producer
Dragonfly TV
Twin Cities Public Television (TPT)
172 East Fourth Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
TEL: (651)229-1303

TPT Mission Statement:

http://iceboat.org/hot_information.htm

http://iceboat.org/Images/ActionPhotos/03-04photos/niya/niya2004.htm

The Northwest Ice Yacht Association Regatta has been called on for Madison, Wi for the weekend of January 23, 24, 25, 2004 on Lake Monona. Launch site is Olin Park located on John Nolan Drive on the west end of Lake Monona.

Parking permits will not be needed for the Olin Park lot. The City of Madison will not be enforcing the new parking permit requirement.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

The 2004 Nite National Championship is tentatively CALLED ON for January 24-25 in Madison, Wisconsin. We are checking out suitable ice so as not to conflict with the Northwest which is also called on. Check status by either visiting the Nite web site or calling the hotline number at 262-367-1656.

The Nite Nationals are sailed under the by-laws and sailing instructions of the International Nite Class Association. The entry fee is $15.00 per yacht and the skipper must be a member of the International Nite Class Association to participate.

We will have the annual meeting at the regatta to discuss fleet issues and elect officers.

From the phone hotline:

Postponed till Jan 23,24,25th

lost Oshkosh ice because of snow,
Madison lakes - good but not thick enough (~ 5")

next update jan 18th after 6:00pm

On sunday the ice was great. Very flat and smooth, with plenty of bite. The wind had moderated a bit, so it was super fast, but not so out of control as saturday.

We got in three races for the gold, and four for the silver, so both fleets got in the full seven races.

I'll try to get the race results so I can post the final results. I can say that sunday did mixup the standings from saturday.

Poygan Lake is a great host for the 2004 Western Regionals.

The Gold fleet raced four races today, and the Silver fleet got in three.

The weather report on friday was calling for saturday to be 20-30mph winds with gusts up to 40. In the morning while setting up it seemed like the weather man was going to be right. The wind started off fresh and cold, and it was clocking around, so by the time the wind had settled in and the course was setup the wind was probably more like 15-23mph. The first race got off about 12:30-1:00. After that we quickly got through seven races, four gold, three silver.

This is a loose trascription from Couch's IDNIYRA Western Region Hotline Regatta Announcement, it is by no means official:

After two days of searching for suitable ice, having lost excellent pieces on Green Bay and access to excellent ice on Northern Lake Winnebago they are pleased to announce an Outstanding Piece of ice is located at Poygan Lake, near Oshkosh Wi. The same site as last year's Western Regional Championship Regatta... The Ice is characterized as a 9.9 with no apparent open water. The Western Rear Commodore recomments the longest, fastest runners in your arsenal to compete.

Posted by: John Davenport US4961 on December 30, 2003 at 19:20:38:

We are looking at two outstanding pieces of ice. One is the Northeast corner of Lake Winnebago launching just West of "High Cliff State Park" and the other East of the Fox River on Green Bay near the University. Both have been sailed and are large and quite good. Tomorrow they will be sailed again and evaluated. Just a note, Green bay is only 1/2 an hour farther than upper Winnebago going north through Milwaukee. Stay posted. Hotline is 414-299-9305

http://cerebus.winsite.com/DNboard/mesgRegat/439.html

This should be a hoot!

* average points recieved for not sailing and scoring the race instead

Buffalo, Minnesota

Sunday, 06 Dec 2003



Ron Sherry wins the 2003 Western Challenge!!

The 2003 Western Challenge has to go down as one of the best challenges in recent history. With three great days, including the practice day on friday (hey, it's usually the best day), of fresh breezes and smooth ice all thirty-six participants could go home with their fill of iceboating. Novice iceboaters and some of the best iceboaters in the world, including three europeans, and the world champion, took on the Western Challenge and were rewarded with some of the best conditions for iceboating.

Here's how many races we got in;

10 informal practice races on friday

6 races on saturday

3 races on sunday

After getting three races in on sunday morning we had our nine races needed and the regatta was over. The traveling crews could leave in the early afternoon to get a jump on the long drive home.

Thanks to everyone who participated to make this regatta such a great time, and a special thanks to all of those who traveled long distances to come and sail with us.

Congratulations go out to the top four local boys:

Mark Christinsen (us4824), Third Place

John Dennis (us4691), Fifth Place

Rob Evans (us4975), Eighth Place

John Loomis (us4923), Fifteenth Place

The regatta finished with three races sailed on sunday in 16-20kts of a fresh southerly breeze. The blowing wind started to create snow drifts to keep everything interesting. With the strong puffs and the snow drifts there was a premium put on driving and trimming skils.

The downwinds were intense as competitors tried to keep a runner flying all the way down to the leeward pin to minimize snow drag.

There were quite a few photographers at the event and we hope to have a some pictures posted throughout the week.

Here's the preliminary final results.

Saturday, 06 Dec 2003

Buffalo, Minnesota



Western Challenge

Day 1

Six races plus a practice race (for the RC) were sailed in a south breeze of 14-18kts. Temp was in the high 20's, partly cloudy.

The snow cover from thursday night wasn't much of an issue, and some racers were even using their quarter inch runners when the wind picked up.

We had a great turn out with 37 boats participating in the regatta. There were also a few nites..

Here are the preliminary results for the first day of the Western Challenge..