iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Brrrrr,

considering the scope of the Christmas Blizzard, the ice is much better than most of you would believe.

The ice on Pepin is reported to be very good, Lake City looking better than Pepin, Bay City, WI at the north end looks like an option, with Red Wing and Hager City Amenities close at hand.

From Ed in Pepin WI,

Monday, January 04, 2010 3:05 PM

Pepin is looking OK. Had 1/2 a dozen boats on at Pepin, but too darn cold to sail this weekend. Probably 40% snow covered but no depth.

Lake City may be a better bet.

Regards
Ed

looks smoother than tuesday and woods sailed it thurs, not much snow, should be sublimated by sunday. I think it looks good to go. anyone for sailing there sunday? (if warm enough, and wind) out of regatta site. call me. meyer PS: big wind and smooth ice in la crosse wed and thurs. markham put up an old bowers sail not draft aft enough, so i beat him. i tried, but couldn't break my mast even after sanding on it. declared it good now for regattas.

Within 60 miles of St Paul, after that monster blizzard, we still have ICE! Sweet Rain near Lake Pepin.

This sailor inspected Lake Pepin at the launch site for the Great Western Challenge in Lake City this morning. It was rained on, appears to have melted all the snow, almost impossible to stand without cleats.

please post what condidtions are at pickle factory or lake city. markham says lacrosse might have ice. pepin closer drive than madison. looks like no snow this week. thanks. meyer 612-432-8124

1.5" drifts to get to it out of harrys. markham coming up. looks like good wind finally. big wind wed, see if i can break another new mast. get it in before wed nights snow. meyer

The Weather Services says we're lined up to see another Panhandle Hooker this week, she'll stay in town longer, with heavier and wetter snow. Leaving us all with one heck of a Christmas Morning Hangover...

Sailing today looks promising, there was talk of it around Minnetonka.

A good afternoon to celebrate the Solstice on the ice.

So far Lake Christina and Lake Pepin have been very sweet to us.

Right now,

Lower Lake Minnetonka is reported to be freshly frozen, ice reports should emerge,

Lake Okoboji, IA shows by web cam to be in similar condition, no reports as of yet.

Lake Pepin, South of Lake City, by Modis Imagery appears pretty clear, but Monday Sailors suggested it was drifting up a bit, no current reports in hand.

Swan Lake near Mankato, by Modis Imagery appears to be in an area free of snowfall, and appears fully frozen, no reports exist yet.

Just got the word that the main lake on Mtka is frozen as of Tuesday night, so there is NO SNOW on it. We could get a second local season on the main lake, but you just have to get past the drifts (1" - 3") out to the main lake and freshly frozen area.

Calling all ice checkers,,,,,,,,

Modis imagery is very promising for Pepin, reports to follow...

Kiefer ("the IceMaker") just called and said the launch site for the GWC has been moved to the Park Street Boat Ramp (closer to downtown, near the Marina).

We will be setting up a few Nites and DNs at Shorewood Yacht Club today. Gideon's, Excelsior and Echo bays look good. Anyone is welcome to set up and sail out of SYC.

I'd like to set up a short course close to the willows, there will be a center median which is a continous obstruction, the couse is taken to port, left turn only.

The reason is to

1. Let sailors try a short course race without an outside wall to hit.

2. Capture GPS Tracks for Course Enhancement with Plowed Tracks.

3. Give the people in Lake City a thrill.

4. Set the stage for a Great Party at the Willows.

This is an epic regatta.

One not to be missed.

4695

Initial Ice calls are very encouraging:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDoQ_vXjoBg

US 4691 "spring park bay is frozen, ready to go"

Right now we have options!

More will emerge today.

Soundtrack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6oPS_C1TKg

The weather service called her a Panhandle Hooker*, a Twisted Joyless Depression from South of here, who shows up to ruin all Icebound fun.

Followed closely by a Blue Norther, a brutish big mass of arctic air who cuts all the way to Mexico, literally sucked into the void of that unnamed Hooker with miserable cold, leaving a bite in the air that cut's deeply through any coat, numbing the senses, leaving little but pain.

These systems should have names.

It's sure to be too cold to go Up North.

Thanks Hutt for the ice report of Christina. Sunday's wind forcast looks to be about 7MPH out of the NW. Let's hope it builds to 10.
I am loading up now for an 8:30 departure, maybe. I do not want to be the only one sailing on Christina with minimum ice conditions. Please call me if anyone else heading up!

Mike 612-868-2949 cell