iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

New England Ice Yacht Association Commodore James "T" Thieler reports "She's Sung."
IDNIYRA Executive Secretary Deb Whitehorse says "That's all Folks."
JD didn't say anything, but he did take his B skeeter and trailer off the ice.

These three know more about iceboating than I ever will. If they say it's over, it's over. I'm putting my boat away.

Here it is April 20th and Tonka is still frozen solid and covered covered with lots of snow.Last night in front of my house I measured over 7 inches of snow on the ice, although I think there is some wind load on my side of the lake. With a little bit of luck there is a chance we might have ice on May 1, 2018. If so, I say we go iceboating. Who's in?

With an ice depth on Tonka not heard of since the ice ages, it's going to be a while before the fat lady sings. In front of my house on Crystal Bay we still have over two feet of ice. Unfortunately, it's been covered with snow since December. And today's forecast is only going to delay the onset of spring. The National Weather Service has announced a Severe Weather Advisory for the entire state. They predict a powerful Winter Storm that could bring up to 5 to 15 inches of snow.

Sorry folks, but the spring sailing season, for all practical purposes, is over. Yes, we still have ice and yes, a few hardy sailors (read Drifter, JD and Kennedy) might get one or two more days, but mother nature is flexing her muscle. If you need proof the end is near, the International Skeeter Association Championship followed the lead of the Northwesterns and pulled the plug on the ISA's.

While Drifter continues his quest to extend the spring iceboating season, the U.S Coast Guard has different thoughts. The Coast Guard announced Friday that its huge ice cutter named ALDER will begin spring ice cutting operations out of the Port of Duluth on Tuesday. The ALDER is a 225' multi-mission buoy tender homeported in Duluth. ALDER's primary missions include ice breaking, law enforcement, and search and rescue. With the ice gone, the Soo Locks, connecting Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes, are set to open March 25. Oceangoing ships will arrive in Duluth shortly thereafter.

Waconia is the place to be. I just drilled holes 18 inches deep and never hit water. Fishermen report 25 inches. Surface has improved, and there is a substantial sailing area larger than any other lake around. Still rough but perfectly sailable. There is no snow and the ice is fairly hard considering the time of day i looked at it. The DNR launch on the North side works fine. Best to carry on in the area where the kites rig. The snow prediction is now almost nothing. I will set up the skeeter Saturday morning. Great chance for some warm spring sailing.

A sure tell-tale sign that the season is coming to a close is when organizers of the Northwest Regatta pull the plug and announce this year's regatta is canceled. Coincidentally, the same day, I thought I heard a certain lady singing in the background. I'll let you know if her voice gets louder.

checked ice some 1” drifts. somewhat marginal for dn but ok for nites etc. forecast for sun temp and wind favorable. meyer. ps. dn still hoping to be in madison for west reg

We sailed the Western Region Championship regatta on Minnesota’s Green Lake in Spicer, MN., back in 2012. For that one weekend in January the sleepy town of Spicer was abuzz with excitement as “those crazy ice boaters were racing around the lake at freeway speeds.”

Here's the video, pretty tough conditions today, but had a blast!!!!! Ice was awesome, snow was super sticky. I made the mistake of bringing my short runners, and there were way more 3" drifts than I thought. The new high wind blade sail was perfect to keep it safe today.
https://youtu.be/eV9WLUqJp4c

(click for picture and more) I went ice skating this morning (-5F) on Lake Minnetonka from Minnetonka Yacht club. As you already know, the snow is about like Styrofoam, but in the sailing area of the main lake the snow covered areas were generally less than 0.75" with very occasionally up to 1.5", and I was able to skate through most of it with some effort. I don't see any reason why this plate isn't sailable, especially with warmer temp tomorrow. I plan on setting up the Skeeter on Sunday 1/7/18. Should be a good day, so come out and play.

miller and i found 1.5” drifts wed. wind and temp up for sun. might be boatable. anyone up for it. sail out of? harrys. behind light house island. tonka nay. meyer

since west postponed. if. if green lake west end freezes tonight? + and quite cold. sail there mon tue wed before snow? thurs. then regatta? whos in. looking for someone retired or iceboat flu. to travel with. tom meyer

The 4 Lakes IYC's Grand Slam Fun-Regatta scheduled for December 30-31, 2017, has been called OFF due to "frostbite inducing temperatures."

The actual air temp this morning in Cotton Minnesota was a negative 41 degrees. International Falls, the nation's ice box, was a mere negative 36. Minnetonka was a balmy negative 4.
But, to quote the old adage, it's not the heat its the humidity. Erie Pennsylvania received a total of 34 inches of snow on Christmas Day shattering the city's previous single day snowfall record. Erie then picked up another 24.5 inches of snow on Tuesday, bringing the two-day tally to a record breaking 58.5 inches.