iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Browner and I walked 1/4 mile out from Sturgis Park. 3-4 inches of solid ice except one seam of 2 inches stretching N/S across lake. Stiff snow drifts up to 2 inches high and 80% snow covered. Launch ramp covered in thick ice from artesian well back up. Now corrected by us. Would need 8-10 wind to move well. Stay tuned for other weekend ice reports.

Nope, skunked again! Hard launchers, but a great easy to get to site for the future, just north of Des Moines.

The largest iceboat launch ramp in the World. Saylorville, Ia.
From this view the ice checkers Mike & Scott thought it may be possible to race the 2014 NA's here.

The ice checkers on Storm Lake, Iowa at sunset Saturday. Too rough to sail!
I slight detour from Peru, Il.
Scott, Mike, Bruce, John

A few Minnesota guys line up by Tim's boat.

Taken Dec 1, 2013. Unknown ice thickness but enough to walk on. There were kite boarders using the lake.

8 DN's and Ice Opti ripped it up on Buffalo Lake. Nice ice and no hazards seen. About 4 inches thick.

A perfect 10 as far as I could see! Walked out 100 yards and found 2" of optical ice. No duck holes found with binoculars except an area near the Waconia public beach. This lake is large and known to have early season springs! Not sure it is ready to sail just yet. I could hear cracks while walking.

The worst frozen drift I walked to.

Swede has a solid 4 inches of ice, but also maybe 3-5% hard frozen ice drifts about 1-2 inches high.
Should be easy to steer around most of them in lighter winds but 15 MPH wind jumps would be hazardous!

Spring Park Bay - Lake Minnetonka at 11 AM Nov 27, 2013
Froze like glass last night but only 1 inch thick as far as visible.
My West Arm Bay has half at 2-3 inches and most at just one inch after opening spots in the big wind of Mon-Tues. Looks rough!
I am checking Swede Lake at 10 AM on Thanksgiving Day, just to walk it and spud a few test holes. Word is that it is now 3-4 inches. I will attempt to look at Buffalo Lake on Friday AM. Meyer and I may be scouting together.
I will give updates here and Facebook-Minnesota Iceboater group.
Miller