iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

15 DN sailed Spring Park Bay today... the ice was pebbled nicely as the curlers would say... little round dots of ice over a sheet of snow ice covering the mirror we sailed on Wednesday.

In 8-15 mph of breeze 15 DNs knocked off a couple heats in a more or less perfect Christmas Eve day sail... lots of old friends and new visiting the ice.

Amusingly Santa seemed to visit 602 today, demonstrating some serious gold fleet speed with a string of thirds to 4691 and 4824.

A number of other iceboats were also getting some great rips.

Week Six begins tomorrow... it'll be great... again.

At sunset last night there was a fair amount of slush remaining on the ice surface of Lake Minnetonka.

Now that we've had a little while for that rain water/ slush to drain Lake Minnetonka, Sailors will walk the ice this morning... and post a report:

Wayzata Bay, 0815, Saturday, The slush surface is currently shell ice, that is, about 1/4 inch of matte as opposed to gloss finish surface ice, with about 1/2" of slush/water between the top layer, and the ice surface , yet to freeze. I expect it will freeze tonite, leaving us with an inch of snow ice over the wonder ice surface we had before the rain/snow on Thursday.

I'm looking to find out how bad the damage was after yesterdays little winter storm. The good thing is the predictions of 3" - 5" didn't materialize in most of the TC Metro area.

How are things looking on Spring Park Bay?

Main lake of Minnetonka even frozen yet?

Will F

I know, this is a MN site, but what the hell.

I am banished to a week at the in-laws in Saginaw, Michigan over the holidays. My wife, recognizing my dilemma says, "Why not bring the boat along". Hmm, perhaps not a bad idea...

So, could someone please comment on sailing locations and ice conditions in central Michigan? Saginaw is very close to Bay City, fwiw, and about 2 hours from Detroit. I guess I can handle a 120 mile radius for a daysail, no problem.

If anyone has plans to iceboat the week between Christmas and New Year's, please let me know ASAP. I leave Satuday morning 12/23 and if I hear from no one before then, I will probably skip the idea. Name, number below...

3 DN's sailed Spring Park Bay, just rippin in light air on perfect ice again late yesterday afternoon, now in our 5 straight week on "the good stuff" in Minnesota.

Thats before taking the boats down in anticipation of Thurday's predicted weather system.

We're pretty sure to see something fall from the sky, the current forecast discussion indicates the majority of precip will fall south of the Twin Cities, leaving a very high probability that we'll have excellent ice available somewhere in Minnesota for this weekends sailing. We just may have to go looking for it.

Wow - another awesome weekend at White Bear. Despite the fact that we had less than 40 hours of temps at or below freezing in the last week, we lost very little ice thickness. The ice is still 4 - 6 inches in most places. The surface is near perfect although slightly mottled.

Not a lot of wind Saturday, but the breeze was 8 - 14 mph today, averaging around 10 most the time. Not too much ice boat traffic as I think people were nervous about the warm weather.

CAUTION: between the Peninnsula and the Island there is a long stretch of wide open water along the pressure ridge mentioned last week. One Nite sailor lost it into the hole and destroyed his boat but thankfully scrambled to safety (broken mast went through the deck!). Many boats stopped to help in the rescue effort - never sail alone!

I spoke with US 4824 just now... US 824 sailed the Spring Park Bay sailing area last night for 90 minutes without incident... his reported observation was the ice was smoother than last weekend... and about the same thickness.

4824 fished the bay Wednesday evening, in excess of 20 whacks with a sharp chisel point spud to penetrate, 5-6" observed where he fished.

Based on this, we plan an 11:00 start tomorrow in Spring Park... if ice is unsuitable, we'll contemplate moving to the wonder ice in Waconia or Buffalo (less than 20 miles)

Alternatively, there are boats set up in the Cottagewood firelanes of the lower lake, there's a high probability they'll find the excelsior bay, echo bay areas of the lower lake to be suitable... look for a post on ice conditions there as well.

Walked on echo bay, from wekota beach park, tonka bay, mn this afternoon ~ 3:30 there's a fair amount of water standing on the ice, ~ 20-30% coverage...

The sun/water have gotten to the top 1/8 - 1/4 inch of surface, leaving it a bit opaque, cracks show about 4" of ice, without the means to bore some holes, and objectively assess the ice thickness, we opted not to sail...

Based on this observation and the forecast I anticipate setting up on Saturday in Spring Park Bay to check the ice... sailing if suitable, looking Northward if not...

think ice

4695

Been sailing South West side of Waconia for over 1 week now & ice is in great shape. A pressure ridge (marked with thin ice signs) runs from around Nancy's Landing to the South side of the Island but conditions West of the ridge are great. Aside from that it is just the fishing holes that you need to watch out for. Best launch point for the SW corner is Coney Park off Lake Street. Only seen one other boat out so far this year!

We know there are plenty of clear frozen lakes, pretty much everything along the I 94 corridor Metro to Lake Christina...

We also know its been warm...

The lakes outside the metro area have been, according to the weather sources, 5 or more degrees cooler...

Here's a plan...

Thursday we'll be checking metro lakes, (Mtka, White Bear, etc) assessing the damage the warm temps have done. If conditions warrant, we consider moving northwest until suitable ice is located.

1. Buffalo
2. Osakis 90 miles up 94/ or Minnewaska, near Glenwood. (reported 7" on 12/5) 80 miles up MN 55

Upper Minnetonka, 15 DN's sailed, a couple Arrows and other craft joined us on the ice.

Two nearly perfect days of rumbling on "light speed" grade ice, lots of rips, 4824 and 4975 set the pace, freshly issued sail numbers 5366, 5369, and KA 1 all seemed really quiet.

The most fun was had by Molly the Iceboating dog.

The Spar "Stinktier Werks" boys, Dave & Tom had three new carbon masts on the ice, they all seemed pretty happy with the spars.

Sailing continued until Sunset, changing over to angle runners in the dying, and barely perceptable breeze, KA 2, Norton, took a sunset ghost ride, sailing, not pushing in perhaps 3 mph of wind.

White Bear has near perfect ice conditions. We had something like 25 Nites, a handful of DNs and a few other craft out there today. Winds were only 6 - 11 mph or so, but some nice rides anyway.

Forecast for Sunday is similar. Best breeze may be early morning.

Dr. Lee-vil
Nite 512

Today's Forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. South southwest wind around 10 mph....

4" + optically clear ice... and a lot of it.

On Thursday's drive south from Fergus Falls, every lake from Lake Christina to Lake Minnetonka is almost perfect...or better.

At least two groups plan to sail, (upper and lower mtka) The only bad decision you could make today is not to sail.

If you're sailing this weekend, check in, post a report; how many sailed, where, how was it. We will need options for next weekend.

4695 the icemaker

I just received a call from Poachee Beach let us all know that Rat's and Allen set up their boats in Cottagewood next to Harry Allen’s house. They sailed towards Excelsior where the ice is like a mirror.
Poachee Beach (Cottagewood USA) also reported main lake is still has open water out past Big Island towards the center of the lake with the water fowl inhabiting water.

I voter for Saturday racing in Excelsior / Tonka Bay instead of Spring Park Bay.

Poachahantas (Antique Roadshow)

US 4824 made an inspection this morning, report taken by phone.

The bay was completely frozen Monday Morning. He bored several holes all were 4"+ in thickness, clear ice.

Out in the main bay it's like glass.

Caution: this bay is unsailed, has a pressure ridge which customarily develops and has gotten people wet in the past.

Sailing beginning 1100 Saturday Dec 9. Primary Launch Site, Spring Park Public Landing. Spring Park Bay Launch Site Map