iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

We will be inspecting ice conditions in the Ashby MN area tomorrow 11/26 (North arm of Pelican and Lake Christina)... and will post observations on this site.

Local temperatures have been below freezing for 72 hours and the forecast is favorable. Cool & dry for most of the next week. At 10:30 pm, last night we observed ice from shore, in near calm conditions and 22 degrees F, could not discern how much of Pelican Lake (Ashby, MN) was indeed frozen, Ice at the public access marginaly bears weight. Ponds in the area which freeze ~ concurrent with Christina are frozen.

Contingent on what we find, some may attempt a first sail on Sunday 11/28.

We will be checking for ice on November 26. The forcast looks colder for the next week and we are optimistic. Our ice report will post on this site.

GTIYC has a new web site and plan on keeping it active and up to date throught the year. We cover NW Lower Michigan. To get regular updates on our ice conditions, where we are sailing, and regatta information, check us out and add us to your links.

Thanks, see you on the ice,
GTIYC

So everybody can pick a fight this year... and remember how you did last year..

Here's a link to LAST YEARS Western Challenge results...
http://iceboating.net/node/view/298

The '04 Nite Nationals are scheduled for December 4th and 5th, best ice in Wisconsin/Minnesota. Final location will be posted by noon on Thursday, December 2nd. Alternate date will be the following weekend.

The '05 Nationals will be scheduled for sometime in January, but the official date has not been selected yet as we're trying not to conflict with the Northwest and/or DN worlds.

Posted by: John Davenport on March 19, 2004 at 15:14:55:

Due to ice conditions and the forecast for Green Bay, the regatta has moved to Mendota in Madison, WI. From the East, go West on I-94. Just before Madison, go straight on 30. Cross E. Washington Ave. and 30 turns into Aberg. Vear right on Packer ave. Vear left on Northport. Vear left on Troy. First left on Foster. Over/under tracks and left on Woodward. Warner park is on the right. Do what the locals tell you to do! Runner discussion with John Dennis Sat night.

The GTIYC Fun Regatta has been cancelled due to heavy lake affect snow.

The GTIYC Fun Regatta is on for March 13&14. The regatta site is at the Whitewater Township park on Elk Lake. From the Village of Williamsburg, turn North on Elk Lake Road (605)and go North 3 miles to Park Road; turn East on Park road and go 9/10 of a mile to the launch on Elk Lake (coordinates N44.8166 and W-85.3854).

Friday night registration will be at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club on M2 along Grand Traverse West Bay, 4/10 mile North of the intersection of M72 and M22 on Traverse City's west side, from 7:30pm to 9:0pm. Registration will continue Sasturday morning, at the regatta site on Elk Lake, between 8:30am and 9:30am. Skippers meeting will be at 10:0am, and with skippers help, races will start at 11:0am.

Elk Lake was sailed Wed March 10 by Dick Wollam and Bob Gray in DNs, and Skip Stauber in a C Skeeter. They launched at a spacious and fully equipped DNR public ramp at the southwest end where it's 1.25 miles across the lake to Lake Skegmog. They sailed for hours and went all the way north to the White Birch Lodge.

They're going back Thursday to see what happens after the weather system goes through Wednesday night to re-evaluate. Pesky snow forecast. Sun could burn it off in a day.
There's also ice at north Torch Lake and north Lake Leelanau. Which lake? Better ice? Better launching? Best place to throw a party?

Are many planning to head for Traverse City this weekend? I haven't seen much info on this site, and it's been a slow day for posts.
There were 146 guests online at 0900 this morning, so apparently lots of people are...

Thinking Ice!
Scott C.

GTIYC UPDATE March 4, 2004

The Michigan State Police are asking the public for any information they may have as to the whereabouts of Traverse City’s TV station 7&4 chief meteorologist, Greg MacMaster. Mr. MacMaster was abducted from the stations parking lot shortly after completing the 11:00 p.m. news broadcast. The police noted evidence of a vicious struggle in the parking lot and pieces of what appears to be sailcloth material, duct tape and sailing ropes. An unidentified source at the local Michigan State Police office said that several members of the Grand Traverse Ice Yacht Club were questioned early this morning concerning the weatherman’s disappearance, but that they stuck to their story that they knew nothing, saw nothing, nor had anything to do with matter. The club believes that they are being “set up.”

The 2004 GTIYC FUN Regatta is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7th. Although run under the protocol of IDNIYRA rules, the regatta is designed and operated as a FUN two days of racing. There will be two fleets for DNs (gold and silver) and an open class for all other boats.

Entry fee is $20.00, which covers all racing cost and food on the ice. Proof of liability insurance is required.

Registration will be Friday the 5th at the Grand Traverse yacht Club on West Grand Traverse Bay (13615 South West Bay Shore Drive, also known as M22) beginning at 7:30 p.m. , and at the race site on Saturday the 6th. Skippers meeting will be at 9:00 a.m. Saturday.

Minnesota Iceboating Assoc Founding Member and Western Region Sailor John Dennis, us4691, wins the 2004 North American DN Championship!

John Dennis, (aka JD), put his sights on the championship over 10 years ago when he first went to a North Americans, and after a few close calls he completed this outstanding goal.

The NA's turned out to be a one day shoot-out on Sandusky Bay, Ohio, home of the Sandusky Sailing Club. We waited on Friday (practice day), Saturday, and Sunday and finally on Monday racing began in earnest. Patience and Perseverance was what was needed to get through this regatta in Ohio.

This is from the IDNIYRA Web site

2004 North American Championship

Hot Line #: 248-988-0851

There are two sites under consideration for the North American Championships:
Lake St. Clair in Detroit, MI, and
Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie in Ohio.

The ice on Lake St Clair is 2 inches of snow ice on top of 10 inches of clear ice. Both locations have ice with a rough washboard texture on the surface.

Weather forecast for this week is favorable, and conditions should improve over the next few days, and local sailors will be sailing and checking ice.

I am looking for pictures of the DN Western regetta for our ( TIYC ) calender.
If you would please let me know at
dreis@pop3.utoledo.edu

Regards
George Reis