iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

A number of DNs, led by US 602, will attempt sailing on Tonka Bay, Lake Minnetonka MN today.

Detailed Ice Report, as well as launch site suggestions will be posted later in the day.

Think Ice
4695

12/12/03 12pm
I just spoke with some one who lives on the main lake of Minnetonka and they said the entire lake froze over last night.

Yippee!!

25 DNs sailed today, on Buffalo Lake, Buffalo, MN The N NE breezes of 12-18 mph made the inch of snow recieved overnight unnoticable. Many of the front running boats used speed sails. What a hoot!

Photos will be posted

4695

Overnight snow accumulations in the area are about an Inch. We plan to update this site with current conditions later this morning.

UPDATE:
9:00 am local time

There is an 1" of snow on the lake and there are a few dn'ers setting up in the launch site. They are planning on sailing today with insert runners.

4695

Off the Ice Information

Schedule:

Friday, Practice Racing, Tuning, and catching up with old friends. No formal social activities are planned.

Saturday:
Safety Meeting 9:30 on the ice, at launch site
First start: 11:00
Racing Concludes no later than ~ 4:00 pm (that would be half hour before sunset)

Saturday Night in Buffalo: Boonedocks Saloon & Grill
2448 State Hwy 55 Buffalo, MN - You should notice Boonedocks on your way in to Buffalo it's east of the hotel on Hwy 55, we've been there before, when it was under a different name... in fact they're still talking about G 107 there. :)

Buffalo Lake, Buffalo Minnesota

Dec 1, 1:30 pm local

I walked approximately 1/2 mile west from the public landing (Sturges Park) launch site.

In an effort to avoid the surplatives these conditions call for...
er... It's a 10!!! Never ever gets any better than this... WunderIce... Quicksilver...Optically Clear... Difficult to stand without spikes...

4.5" of see through ice... the top crystals are appx 18 - 24 inches in length.

Directions to the Huge Sailing Area on the lake... Sail to the center of the lake...sail 3/4 mile downwind to starting line... course shall be 1.25 miles... leaving us an ample start & safety area ...and plenty of lake beneath the weather shore...

Sunday, 30 Nov 2003
Lake Buffalo,
Buffalo, Minnesota

There is about four inches of black ice (measured at the start of the first band of smooth ice).

Ice fisherman have been going out for a couple of days.

The weather
http://www.wunderground.com/US/MN/Minneapolis.html
from the weather underground is looking good for the week. No big storms forecast and no big heat wave. Of course no big cold spells either...

Whaletail 4-5" snow ice,1/2"snow on top Swede 3-4" blackice,1/4"snow on top Buffalo 1-2"blackice no snow not safe

The word is that Pelican Lake is still frozen. At this point we don't have a report on the ice thickness. If anyone is close an ice check could result in some sailing.

Four DN's sailed 9 races Sunday on the north bay of Pelican Lake, Ashby MN, (that would be turn right at the first paved road after the Coot. The ice was characterized by consensus as "About a 10".

Sailors: 602, 4691, 4695,4824

Ice thickness was observed to be in the majority of this bay to be 4-6"... having said that, there were 6-8 former "duck holes" in the sailing area in the 2 - 2 1/2 inch thickness range (and optically clear)

picture of launch site.