iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

I took my DN off the car roof this morning, for first time in a month, when not sailing. They say they're having a Blizzard in the Alexandria/Fergus Falls areas right now... expecting 8-12 inches of snow, gusting to 40 mph today.

okoboji, iowa froze wed am. no snow. getting update fri on thickness. but besides that porblem, looking a little windy on sat/sun. meyer

SOUTHERN MOST EARLY SEASON REPORT:SKATED TROOPERS LODGE YESTERDAY A.M.,2'' CLEAR ICE.MAIN BODY SKIMMED OVER YESTERDAY,HOWEVER BLOWN OUT PM. FURTHER REPORTS TO FOLLOW.TROOPERS HAS POTENTIAL FOR THIS WEEKEND!

It's amazing what this event is growing into... Jan Gougeon said on Sunday, "Those people out on that ice, they are alive today".

70 or so DN's from all over (4 Countries, 11 States) came to sail in Osakis Minnesota, and it sure looked like about 20 ice opti's out banging around doing the Ice-Opti North American Championships. Most heartening was the number of new faces, in both fleets, and considering the cold temps and strong winds it was great to see all smiles.

Thursday. The travelers from Poland, Germany, the East Coast and Central Regions arrive on thursday to a cold windy day. Like 10deg F and 20 gusting to 30mph. Like true iceboaters they go out and give a very detailed ice report (they rated it as a 6-7). There's a few ice heaves going across the lake. It is black clear ice with a orange skin surface, and small drifts.

It looked like the old mile post 128 wind wasn't updating.. so I thought we would try the cam one (it's a bit further down the road, but not too much)

check out the full screen rapid fire...
http://www.wunderground.com/swf/Rapid_Fire.swf?units=both&station=KMNBRAND2

At the time of this post, we have abundant ice in Minnesota to look to for the Great Western Challenge... Today's Modis Imagery at 250m resolution clearly shows frozen lakes including Dead, Christina, the East End of Minnewaska, ect. where we know the ice is more than 5 inches in a different color than lakes that have recently frozen and have less than 4 appear to be the same color as open water.

1. We have a lot of ice, more coming soon.

Got the new hull online.

Christina, just as I'd imagined her... hours of 50 mph formation flying, just checking for flaws, and ripping ... open in seperate window

...and this farmer parks his John Deere tractor, right across the road from Milepost 8, with shitty

Today Iceboaters from Minnesota will be walking, and hopefully sailing on at least two lakes. I look forward to reporting that Lake Christina is in most excellent condition later today. I expect to hear similar reports from Swede Lake.

The weather outlook is favorable for the next two weeks, and we should start seeing other lakes kick over in the next couple days... I expect Buffalo will freeze on Monday or Tuesday, lagging Christina by a week. The lead up week to the Great Western is supposed to be quite cold with overnight lows in the single digits.

Where are we going to sail this mythical event? It just smells like Buffalo this morning... It's certainly not official, but it sure looks like it's lining up that way.

Welcome Dave, I went to school with a Dave Sturtevant in Sheffield Lake, Ohio. Could that be a relative?

Nick Vitale

Its been 23 degrees F. for the last 70 hours or so near Mile Post 8, Lake Christina, Ashby, MN.

I called Ruby's City Restaurant in Ashby MN late yesterday, Christina was still open yesterday morning. (Ruby's City Restaurant is an Icemaker's 3 Star Restaurant, one of the few places worth having breakfast between Minneapolis and Seattle, a scant 3 miles off I 94)

If my math is right, always questionable, since math is hard, and underlying assumptions are right, more suspect.

Prediction: Lake Christina, that cold heartless wet spot, will be frozen at first light this morning, though not quite completely, her pleasures await, and nobody's going to jump on her...just yet, I do expect somebody will piss on her this week.

The 23rd annual Skeeter Ice Boat Club (we sail Skeeters, DNs, Nites, and stern steerers) swap meet is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, 2008 at Sailing Specialists, inc., 210 N. Walworth Ave., Williams Bay, WI. Williams Bay is located on the north side of Geneva Lake. the time is 9 a.m. to noon with a raffle to follow.

More more info, email sailing19@charter.net.
If you get lost, phone 262-245-6242.

This is the day to swap, buy, and sell new and used iceboats and equipment. There is no fee charged for participating.

Items for sale can be set up on the black top parking area at Sailing Specialists and on the grassy area immediately to the south. Please do not park your cars in the display areas.

Looking forward to sailing lake neppissing in Lapeer, MI. Friends make it out at least twice a month during the ice season. Getting DN's varnished and re-tuned now for upcoming winter.

Please Check out Northwindiceboats.com for a good select of DN parts and accessories. New this year Euro style steering post. 11/16" diameter shaft makes it and easy replacement from a Sarns piece. Gets rid of the 1/4" pin and lowers the Hexa -ratchet on the tiller. Modified tillers also available. Limited supply.