iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

is there any sailable ice any where near the twin cities ? alexandria area ? one more fix this season could make summer just a little bit shorter. plese post any possibilities. thanks,dn 904

I walked the main lake Wednesday night and the slush and standing water is gone/frozen. I would estimate 80% Ice and 20% snow cover with a light dusting of snow covering the entire lake. The old snow cover is less than one inch in most areas.

However, the ice is rough in the well traveled areas on the lake from snowmobile/ATV tracks in the slush this past weekend.

Spring Ice Boating is here depending on what happens with the snow storm coming.

I will post another ice report before the weekend.

Ice on the north shore was in excellent shape Friday nite. At 7:00 Saturday and 29.5 deg the 1/4 inch of rain did no harm to the condition.Low spots are filled in and freezing, by noon should be done.Boat covers had frozen sheets on.Most sail out of the north shore west of the Harborage condominums or the fish hatchery.Weather channel has the best forcast for 50428 zip not cold but howling! Sunday will be better yet. Come on down!

Sailed Lake Onalaska (near La Crosse, WI) on Monday. Ice near perfect. Pressure ridges flattened out Sunday night.

I live close to Lake Pepin and have a huge desire to go for a ride on an iceboat. Anybody know of an outfit that does this or can I convince someone out here to take me along sometime??

any DN gatherings going on this weekend in the central M? Is so, where and how to get there.

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!

Has anyone looked at the ice on Lake Pepin lately? I am hoping to sail Sunday, weather, snow and wind permitting.

Two of us went out for a great ride on monday afternoon. We went all the way from excelsior to wayzata and then over the pressure ridge, which you could barely see because of the snow, and did a loop on the main lake. It was really surreal, with the rose colored goggles, sun setting, perfect ice with a light covering of fresh snow and the half moon in the sky. We had about 8-12kts of breeze. It was also nice because there wasn't anybody else out on the lake. a great day.

The lake looks fast with the snow melted and nice winds on Sunday. I did not see any action Saturday. Has the ice weakened? Is anybody going out Sunday before the Vikings? If so let me know where.

Check out:
http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/
and click on "interactive products"
You will find you can build your own map whereever you live. This website has wonderful tools to help you find current surface winds, snow depths, and many more Gee Wiz tools to find those 'perfect' sailing sites throughout the USA and parts of Canada! Just because you have snow on your lake today doesn't mean the lake in the next county is the same.

For Friday, Dec 17, about 70% snow cover at the SE end growing to about 90% at the NW end of Lake Pepin. The good news, it is only about 1" thick on average, just a firm, wind pack condition but not crusty. Sailable with a good wind. Should be better this weekend with the warm weather. Launching off the landing at the south end of Lake City.

4864

The Main Lake is showing 40-50% ice. The snow drifts are 1-5 inches in depth. With a little sun and warm weather the ice will be great!

There is the typical pressure ridge starting at Spirit Island going to the Nothern end of Big Island. Looks like thin ice around the western edge of pressure ridge by Big Island.

Kite Skier spotted (Vojta) on Thursday afternoon (15-25 NNW). Vojta went all the way up to Wayzata and down to Excelsior and said the Ice looked good.

See you in Cottagewood Sat am.

This report transcribed from US 602:

Recent snow covers the lake in depths of 1/2" to 2", but immanently boatable. With the current conditions and forecast we propose to sail this weekend, launching off of the firelanes in Cottagewood.

602 suggests it may very well be "inserts" by Sunday...

If you don't know how to find, Email the Doctor of JD...

Think Ice

4695

Nine DN's sailed nine races Saturday on Lake Minnetonka, launching out of Tonka Bay and remain setup to sail today.

Directions to launch site, From Co 19, East on Tonka Bay Rd, to West Point Rd, (should be ~ 3rd left )N on Westpoint Rd to water, park.

Launch site maps:

yahoo map