iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Several of us from northern Michigan hope to come to the Westerns. I see the IRIYA regatta has been postponed, are there any sites being considered for the Westerns or will they be postponed also.

thurs thru sunday. who is interested? where do we put on? stay with? how much snow on the ice from tue wed? more fri? anyone in okoboji respond to above questions and any interested parties in a road trip . tom meyer 612-432-8124

Hello All-

I'm an avid DN sailor from out east who has transplanted to Indianapolis for the winter- I'd love to get hooked up with other DNers in the Great Lakes Region for sailing, tuning and practicing.

If you and your group are headed to the ice let me know! My van is packed and ready to go. I promise not to make too much noise or get in the way... I'll bring turning marks and a case of beer.

Give a shout at 401-258-6230 or t_thieler@yahoo.com

Many Thanks! Look forward to hearing from everybody.

Think Ice!

T Thieler, DN US 5224

Minnetonka: 4691 and others may try to sail Lower Minnetonka, this reporter has no ice conditions there to report.

Pulaski: 602 has been on a roll, calling for Friday Sailing, and putting the fleet on very good ice in the face of oncoming storms now twice this season!

5 DN's sailed yesterday on Pulaski,in Buffalo, MN, at sunset the lake was wet and substantially clear of snow... As it's on the west edge of the predicted snow track we're optimistic that it will remain in sailing condition for Saturday, boats remain set up there. Sailing should begin someplace around 10:00

Both a Traditional Course of about a between the marks and a Closed "WIT" course were set on Friday, according to 602, the lake is large enough to race a 50 boat fleet. The second try at WIT Course development on Friday was about 1:15 Minutes a Lap in size. Bring your GPS. I expect both Courses will be sailed Today on Pulaski.

From what I see there are two possiblities tomorrow. Any one know of any other good sites close by?
Where do you put on on Pulaski?
Thanks!

The ice from the city point south about 4 miles is clear of snow. There are small patches of wind driven snow but the depth is minimal ~ 1-2 inches. The width of this clear area is about 1.5 - 2 miles. We ice skated and it wasn't too rough. We plan to get our DN out this weekend. The ice north of the City is snow covered. I am not sure about the depth.

Merry Christmas.

the ice directly off of the south end of Lake City looks fairly snow free, looks like frozen slush and couldn't tell how smooth on a drive by.

I got to the ice about 10:30 good breeze, supposed to build* and in that light, set the boat up for sailing in a breeze, plate runners, mast stood up, and the sides loose as they go.

Some pretty big shots were coming thru. 5366's text told me "...G25 mph!"

The lake is about 80 % snow ice with 20 % like glass, the snow ice isn't terribly smooth. There is snow covering now about 30 - 40 percent of the lake.

Did I mention the Wind Forecast, sailing out of the landing area, under the shore, the boat slowed noticibly in the drifts, thought I might have to push, A little shot came down lifting the windward runner about 3 feet in the air, I tossed the tiller hard, and barely kept the runners under the plank, Yee-Ha!

Many DN's are expected to be setting up over the next 24 hours at Lake Pulaski, Buffalo MN, the primary site for the Great Western Challenge Regatta.

A very favorable forecast for most of the week, warmer temps, dry with some breeze should see people ripping out there most of the week.

It's gonna be amazing!

The Icemaker 4695 just called in after checking Lake Pulaski Friday, Dec. 7. He reports 1/2" of snow over 3" black ice. Boats will be meeeting there at 11 am Saturday, Dec 8 for a better look and sail.

He is also calling Pulaski as a primary site for the Great Western Challenge 2007, part duex.

Map of Pulaski

Looks like a public launch in the SW corner.

Adam
US 5366

"A lot can happen in the middle of nowhere."

4691 just phoned in an ice report, Gull Lake, Minnesota, the Tuesday snow on the lake has caused the lake to flood... it's currently slush, but looks completely locked in. expect it to freeze down over the next two days... at noon 2 degrees F,

Volunteers are solicited for an ice checking expedition on Sunday.

Other ice reports from local lakes are pending at this posting.

It's gonna be amazing_g

After inspecting Green Lake, Spicer this morning... it's my sad duty to report that Mother Nature finally bested us... there are no known regatta grade sheets of ice in Minnesota, or Wisconsin or Iowa...

The Great Western Challenge Regatta, after consultation, is postponed one week...

ice checking, and potential sailing venues will be determined tomorrow afternoon for weekend club sailing, ice checking expeditions....

the First Ice Opti North American Championships REMAINS ON for this weekend, Eight Points Lake, Clare Michigan.

Details on Green Lake, Spicer, the lake is reported to have frozen on Sunday Night of this week, after the first storm, the second dumped a reported 2.5 inches of snow on the ice, it's blown around a bit, but is expected to be suitable for club sailing this weekend.

At this moment, our recent promising venues are under attack of a snow event… as of 4:00 Tuesday, Local time.

We really won’t know until morning. Intermittently we’ve had a number of locations become suitable and then immediately unsuitable,

Here’s what I see so far…
Lake Onalaska near Lacrosse, WI was reported to be boatable, right now @ 0930 , snow is forecast, contingent on that, this must be considered a primary site (under threat of snow,it will be inspected again at in late morning today)

Green Lake, Spicer MN, Froze Sunday Night, as some of those areas got less than 2" of snow, an immediate inspection is called for.

We've had encouraging inital observations on several lakes...

Clear Lake,in soon to be annexed, IA, was reported to be very attactive looking on a drive by... we're soliciting ice reports there.

Pepin, at Lake City, for no particular objective reason, Pepin, bless her, freezes in lovely sections about a week apart... somebody ranked by the fleet will drive, walk, and report tomorrow.

Central MN Lakes, e.g., Gull, Battle Lake, Ottertail, Big Cormorant, The main body of Gull was reported frozen after the snow... Ottertail, Battle and Cormorant were reported open prior to the storm.

Here's the process... I recommend we all send everybody we know in minnesota an email and ask them if their lake's frozen in the last 24 hours, we've gotten some endouraging info so far,

based on what we learn today we'll dispatch ice checkers for tomorrow, and accumulate some actionable information...

I expect we'll see people sailing on Wednesday, to check ice suitability for the upcoming Great Western Challenge Regatta!

It's gonna be amazing!

4695