iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Succinctly, There are 4 lakes under observation with Big Sailing Areas That Are Currently Frozen in the general area between Fergus Falls and Perham Minnesota. The single big area without a visible hazard is the West Arm of Dead Lake... Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed...

There are two suitable launch sites, a public access, and a small resort store (open) with some ammenities, (byob) called Collins Landing... 23 miles from Fergus Falls. Today's walk out... more ice than I've sailed on in 5 or 6 venues including last year's Great DN Western Challenge Regatta. heed this, it's early, it's thin, it's subect to change.

At least two Gold Fleet Sailors shall sail from there tomorrow, the checking expedition is now forming... a report shall be posted late tomorrow night Link to map

The simple directions: Do not be alarmed by the open water you see on the trip up... I 94 to the Dalton Exit, should be exit 67... North on Ottertail Co. Road 35 about 20 miles straight north past Dalton, past MN 210, past Tingvold Lutheran Church, keep going on Ottertail 35, you'll see Dead Lake on your right... as you pass the bay, there's a resort (trailer park) on the NW Corner of the lake called Collins Landing we'll set up there.

We are considering a headquarters move to Perham, in light of the location of our back up lakes... Big Pine, Star, and Rush Lakes in the Perham area are substantially frozen... Big Pine is that, big... there appeared to be a 2 x 4 mile area without a hazard, there were hazards potentially requiring marking, a single hole was observed on Rush... Star and Dead appear subatantially frozen.

Considering the forecast, the likelyhood (90% +) Christina will come in dead solid perfect after the freeze following the passage of tuesday's front... for now we'll keep headquarters at the Fergus Falls Best Western, examine alternative headquarters facilities, keep our eyes on the weather, go sailing tomorrow, and keep you guys posted.

btw... I don't have a hitch on the new car... and would like to sail, looking for somebody local to pull my trailer, there's room for one/two more yachts inside...or some other way to schlep the yot up there

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It's gonna be Epic... C'mon up here and I'll kick your ass.

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