Ice Conditions

until we meet again next season

Any time one sails within a week of Ice Out on a lake, they're cheating death. We last sailed on Lake Minnetonka last nine days ago, which is still cutting it close.

Season Recap to follow later this week, the good, the bad and the ugly.

For what promises to be the last iceboating in metro Minnesota for the season, several DNs are sailing lower Minnetonka tomorrow... the lake was sailed today!

Alternate launch Sites: Shorewood Yacht Club, sailed today, and the cottagewood fire lanes, with some suggested dock section bridging if needed.

Plan to start early...

"thats what it do" (open in new window, turn it up)

Sail safe... it's going to be amazing...

4695

Minnetonka is sailable right now! Yesterday's slush froze overnight, still alittle soft around shore, but firm 100 yards out. Winds North @ 15.

We are sailing Minnetonka today, have been out since about 9:30am. Smoking wind, all of Lower Lake with zero hazards. 2"-3" slush near shore but hard ice out in the lake. Great day to play hooky!!!

04/08/08....The winter that just won't go away......the snowmobiles are back out riding again......I heard Brainerd got about 4 inches last Sunday and south of here about an hour around 2 inches which has melted. OT and DL area a no go for now.

Gave Mtka a try today. It seemed firm in the am, but by the time I broke free and pulled up the sail @ 5pm it had softened. Had a few short scoots but would hit spots where I would sink nearly to the plank and grind to a halt. Not looking good from here on out unless we drop back into the deep freeze.( maybe Sun night?) I have my boat sitting up on the dock just in case.

Anyone going sailing on Saturday in the slush??? Or is the ice not good enough for sailing??
Is there a bay or area that looks good?
I have a kitchen pass for Saturday and want to go but don't want to go alone.. Don't want to go swimming.

DN 5050

04/01/08 Hi everyone! Walked out this morning on Ottertail about 100yards 7:30am....ice hard with crunchy spots..some snow as you will see in the pics which I did not take until later about 3:00...just waiting for it to melt down a bit more and some nice cold nights..I drilled a hole and measured the thickness to about 3ft still......weather forecast mid 30's until Thurs Friday where expected highs to be 40-50.....lows throughout this week and next ranging from 18-28.....we only had a dusting of snow yesterday where as south of here got up to 6" and heard the cities got it too.....still trying to find out conditions on lake Christina and Detroit Lakes area....I will keep posting pics and conditions so keep checking back.....If you would like to call with questions....my number is 218-367-2662....hoping the ice will only get better and would like to see you guys up here on OT.....If Mike Flannigan from Minnetonka is reading this.......I bought your DN last fall and you will see it on the third pic...thanks for the boat!...Dave dave_sales@tooldesk.com

9 DN's, one Nite, and a half-dozen kites sailed the main lake from Cottagewood.

The ice from sunrise to noon was among the best I've sailed this year. There were no hazards, just a few car tracks that were of no consequence. It softened up a bit at 2pm and we quit around 4pm. We did some scub racing and superfast cruising. Wind was great, 12-16 mph early building to 15-25.

It was grins all around - warm sunny, windy, good ice, you could ask for little more. Four people took their first ride in a DN too.

8 boats remain on the ice and we will sail Sunday AM. Forecast is for 10 mph wind and 30 degrees tonight.

I kited Calhoun last night (Tuesday 3/25). 1-2" of snow remain over 20-24" of ice. FYI, there is much less snow in town vis a vis out west where they got 10+ inches last weekend. A few more circles of the zamboni and this will be a plausible place to sail come this weekend. And there is wind in the forecast.

How is WBL and other nearby lakes looking?

/Adam

Two DN's; US 5369, Ensign 1525 in his DN and some Niteesque Craft are currently sailing the 1.0 mile oval on Gideon Bay... The track is wide enough for two boats abreast, and comfortable passing.

In today's breeze with a thin coating of dense snow the lap speeds were running about 2:15 per lap... the straits fast enough for some runner flying, but the narrow 40' course doesn't allow much turn downs in the puffs, rather sheet control is the way to keep the runners under the sail.

Ice Sailing is happening, a short video will be posted later, along hopefully with 5369's observations, he was sporting a big smile!

Ensign768 and I just plowed a 1 mile x 30' - 40' oval track on Minnetonka's Gideon's Bay.
The course lies In an East-West direction to be abeam of our spring south winds.
We were able to get through the frozen drifts and down to bare ice. It is still a little rough but sailable. I think a day of sun or a little rain will do wonders. With the frozen drifts gone it should be fairly easy to clean off any new snow. the course is near the North shore and can be driven to from Excelsior's access or the Shorewood Yacht Club.

A very good looking forecast, Warm, Windy & Rain today across much of Minnesota, some areas expect no snow. May Zamboni several lakes in our area which are just outside of the sailing envelope from snow. Cooler temps to follow this week and a forecast very pleasant upcoming weekend.

We're currently looking at several lakes which may emerge as suitable for sailing!

Ice reports will be posted on the more promising venues later today.

As of Now, THE PRIMARY SITE FOR THE WORLD ICERACING TOUR'S 2008 CLOSED COURSE CHAMPIONSHIP IS LAKE SHETEK, NEAR TRACY, MN The launch site is ~ 150 miles WSW of Lake Minnetonka.

TEST YOUR STEEL THIS WEEKEND!
THE World IceRacing Tour, CLOSED COURSE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 ... a for TV Pilot with real racing... (it's a big lake, those who wish, may indeed set up a tradional course, join us on the ice)
LAKE SHETEK (about 2 hours WSW of Lake Minnetonka, it's closer than ya think!)
Tracy, MN
March 1 & 2 2008

DETILS & SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AT:
World IceRacing Tour
We are sailing a new course format, more friendly to covering the story of IceRacing, and invite all DN Sailors to test it.

The Lake will be sailed today, Ice Report and Final Call will be at or before 7:00 pm Minnesota Time.

Lake Pulaski, Buffalo, MN – Ice Report:

The lake is 5-10% clear of snow, balance has 2-4” hard drifts, underlying ice is Rough, i.e., 36 Grit Rough… without some grooming, (no system in place yet), this is not an option. -

_________________

Lake Shetek, Tyler, MN – Ice Report.

Local non-sailors report the snow substantially melted in yesterday’s 55 deg F temps, and is smoother that he thought it would be, & will send pics this afternoon, they are willing to plow/groom a "short course" if needed, & we come and drink in their bar! Details tomorrow!

With the permission of: © 2008 World IceRacing Tour, Milepost 8, MN, All Rights Reserved.