iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

8 DNs drove to Spicer MN, choosing to sail on Eagle Lake, just south of Green Lake. The ice was a bit rumbly getting out to the course, with an occasional ariel launcher to be found.

We sailed a really fun short ~ 400 yard course in the gusting to 25 mph conditions... lots of left hand turns, placing a real premium on lay line decisions and mark rounding skills. Plenty of position changes...

Three boats continued on west for Sunday sailing on Big Stone Lake, Ortonville. This 26 mile long lake on Minnesota's west coast recieved less than an inch of powder snow overnight and was very difficult to stand on in street shoes.

Here's a plan: 90 scant miles west of Wayzata is Green Lake, Spicer MN... it's big, it's close, we've never sailed it... until Saturday we need another big close lake in the arsenal.

There's no snow there, an excellent forecast for Saturday...

Day trip to Green Lake... be there before 10:00 there's a public access right in Spicer, one of 5 on the lake. google map, spicer, mn
Closer than Osakis or Minnewaska, Big Fishing trourney on Gull.

It hasn't snowed in Fergus Falls, too cold to snow, :) Several local are lakes were known to be boatable yesterday. 4695 and KA 3 will be travelling I 94 from Fergus to Minneapolis later today.

A review of the last 24 hours radar and the webcam at Arrowwood Resort, Alex. Arrowwood's Live Webcam Lakes Osakis, Miltona and or Minnewaska as plausible venues.

Preliminary Ice Report: Perfect ice sailing conditions remain for Week 9 of Minnesota Ice Sailing!

Iceboats are known to be set up at Spring Park Bay, Lake Minnetonka, also at Shorewood YC, Excelsior Bay, Minnetonka; on White Bear lake; on Bald Eagle Lake; Lake Waconia; ans Lake Riley.

Saturday: Several DN's are planning to set up in Spring Park Bay with starts at 1100, presumably other active lakes will be sailing at similar times. A Drive by at 11:00 showed two boats set up, one DN out pushing, No Wind! ugh, LOWER MINNETONKA APPEARS SUBSTANTIALLY FROZEN, look forward to Iceboats sailing on the main lower lake in Week 9 of Minnesota Ice Sailing!

Sunday: 11:00 Start Promptly; Spring Park Bay, 1st boat setup should set the Weather Mark! Nite's will be sharing a course with DN's... This it the first time we've seen these "comfort" rides line up in a couple seasons, we'll work to maximize your Nite Sailing!. Would 7 rips a fleet be too much? Sharpen up those runners.

Shorewood Yacht Club on Lake Minnetonka would be happy to serve as a base camp for the Nite sailors this weekend. We have 5 Nites set up out here now.
It's a smooth sail out to south Lower Lake from here, and the club house could be made availible for the bathrooms and warm-ups. Also, Maynard's restaurant can be sailed to from here for lunch. If the powers that be would like to concider this, give Mike a call. 952-221-7387

No snow! Abundant Great Ice!

A number of DN's plan to set up in Spring Park Bay, Lake Minnetonka; We'll gladly share a course with the Nites if they want to come there. First Start, 1100 Saturday.

The biggest suitable sheet of ice close to the metro is thought to be Lake Waconia. It warrants consideration for the Nite thing as does White Bear, (due to the number of boats there).

It looks to be a little chilly over the weekend, northern lakes, e.g., at Gull or Christina. Bring warm clothes. This should set the stage for Larger Southern Lakes (Pepin) and Wisconsin area lakes to finally freeze up with forecast below the donut overnight temps.

Looking for contacts in the Brainerd/Bemidji/Grand Rapids
triangle for get-togethers and riding. Snow has missed
our area - lots of riding to do.....lets hook up!

Blackice

Week 7 was capped off by with a very successful Western Regional Championship regatta on Gull Lake near Brainerd MN... reports and pics should be up sometime today... with 7 Gold and Silver Fleet races completed, many of the DNers are just plain sailed out.

Excellent conditions are expected to continue in Minnesota thru Week 8... .. the forecast late week cold may finally freeze the sailing area on lower Minnetonka.

Lakes with known iceboaters currently sailing are:
- Minnetonka, Spring Park Bay and Cottagewood
- Waconia (Regatta Suitable)
- Prior Lake Lake
- White Bear Lake
- Bald Eagle Lake

WSSA Championship Regatta Called ON, possibly Gull Lake, MN!
Via Jeff Seeboth: "The 2007 WSSA Annual Championship is called on for January 13 and 14, 2007. Check back on Thursday January 11 after 12:00 pm CST for further information at (414) 520-1190 or (414) 559-6503. We have a potential regatta site identified at Gull Lake, MN."

Minnesota Nites To Host Fun Regatta For This Weekend Load them up! Via Scott Brown: "The Nite fleet in Minnesota is hosting a casual regatta this coming weekend, January 13/14. We have choices within the Minneapolis/St. Paul area with better ice to the north. With the Nite Nationals in postponement, it's hoped any of the southern Wisconsin Nite guys feel welcome to come up and join in. We'll try to be realistic in our conditions report so you don't find yourself driving 5 hours for junky ice. As of today, we have no current local reports, but many of us sailed Gull Lake this past weekend and it was 12" thick with big sheets of smooth ice with some shell icing. There were some cracks that required attention, but the race courses were great. We'll post a tentative lake selection on your site Thursday at noon, and a final decision on Friday at noon."

Anyone sailing on lakes in the vicinity of the Twin Cities this weekend? I've got a Nite and would like to get together with some other sailors. White Bear? Lake Riley? Waconia? Bald Eagle? Let me know where you're going. - Craig Young 651-261-3196

Thanks to US 602 (Meyer) and 4811 (chatterbox) for checking out the conditions on Lake Waconia Tuesday Jan 02. I have an excellent vantage point to watch conditions from the south shore about 40 feet above the lake. The ice is currently well frozen slush, so it not as fast as it sounds like Gull Lake would be. A very few spring holes around the lake and at least one 4" crack just north and east of the island are to be watched for. The warm temps may smooth off the top of the ice improving it. Lots of clear space with no ice houses to avoid. The lake is a great place to sail with long expanses and clear air.

We sailed Gideon's Bay, Echo Bay in front of Tonka Bay and down along between Big Island and Greenwood to Cottagewood today. There is a large area of open water about 1/2 way between the Commons and Gail Island, other than that just a few pressure ridges that you have to pick your spots to cross. The surface is far faster and smoother than it looks. Lots of big sailing areas.

Too Many Lakes, Not Enough Time!

THAT'S SEVEN STRAIGHT WEEKS ON THE GOOD STUFF IN MINNESOTA! AND THERE'S LOTS OF IT RIGHT NOW! ;)

US 4811 and 602 are leading ice checking and reporting for WEEK 7 > Ice Sailing in Minnesota!

If I understood correctly it's their intent to SAIL ALL WEEK They're currently driving to North Long Lake, Hwy 371 Just north of Brainerd, MN Launch site is right off 371 on the NW Corner of the Lake...

or if Spring Park Bay looks good, (they're walking on it now and it shows promise!) they might set up and sail there.

Suspect areas are near:

Gull lake, Brainerd Webcam This area was sailed New Years Day! Excellent Conditions, Details in Comments!

Willmar MN Webcam The trace of snow they got has sublimed!

Alexandria MN Webcam Click on the preset location: [Lk Agnes & Henry]

Tip of the helmet! We're looking for ice reports, including snow cover on: Lake Waconia, Waconia, MN; Buffalo, Buffalo MN; Green Lake, Spicer, MN; Lake Minnewaska, Glenwood, MN; Lake Osakis, Osakis, MN; and Gull and North Long Lake near Brainerd, etc.... anybody game?

INTELLIICAST FORECAST FOR SATURDAY LAKE MINNETONKA Saturday:
Cloudy skies with a few showers later in the day. High 37F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Boats continue sailing on the known current metro area lakes... I presume some guys on vaca will sneak out again today. Weather in last 7 days has us about neutral in terms of ice made.

Looking at the forecast for the weekend, there's a strong liklihood boatable conditions will continue thru into the New Year.

Weather models seem to indicate an event similar to last weekend, what precip we get will most likely be rain not snow, and significant spreads in amounts of precip across the currently boatable lakes... although the worst case scenario predicts the chance of some (nobody's talking accumulation) snowfall on Sunday. No significant new snowfall is expected

I'm wondering how Bald Eagle is looking. I hear they will try to have a Regatta (The Igo Cup?)next weekend and I am wondering about the ice conditions. Have they had the problems that White Bear has had? Any swimming? I'm thinking of sailing there if some racing is going to go off. What types of boats will be out? Where should I set up my boat if I come? Just curious.

Ice conditions are between very good and beyond description in a significant portion of the state. (we haven't been on one without hazards however)

Forecast is favorable for much of our 6th straight week of Iceboating in Minnesota.

Sailors are known to be set up on White Bear, and Upper and Lower Minnetonka, ya sure, there are probably other guys out there sailing, don't know who or where... yet.

When I look at the current snow cover map, all I'm seeing is miles and miles of boatable ice which we should be identifying and tracking in anticipation of the upcoming regatta season.

All you need is Ice.

4695