iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Wow, I'm back at work and I don't like it at all.

Sailed Monday and Tuesday (March 22 & 23, 2004) on Elk Lake, which was great. It was a little depressing to take the boat down yesterday. The sun was bright, temp 40+, and the wind died about 3pm. I Was able to get two ladies from church that wanted to sail out on the ice before lunch. The winds were laying down but were holding at about 8 mph. The gals had the time of their lives, even got some great hikes. Jackie is from Minn. and was last on a boat about 50 years ago (home made). Joyce (wife of the Doctor that got me into this sport) has never been on an ice boat and damn near hugged me to death when it was over. She was really thrilled, especially when the runner climbed over her head.

Monday we (GTIYC) had 15 boats out on bare ice and Tuesday was just me with 1" of snow. I joined in on the racing Monday and had just terrible starts. On the third heat, Skip Stauber's C Skeeter "Rush" was lined up just down wind of me. I was just sheeting in after the push off when there was a loud BANG and my boat spun wildly to port. Rush caught a strong gust and rammed me in the rear. The starting line boats were very closely spaced and Skip hadn't seen me under the boom until the last second. Although he darn near avoided me, he did ram his front runner into my starboard chock, knocking me 90 degrees to port. In trying to miss me, he jammed his steering pedal so hard that it snapped off! What a rotten break. he was done for the day and we had only been out for 30 minutes. I was sick that I didn't peel off down wind soon enough to stay out of his way when he turned.

John Russell (Photographer for the Traverse City Record Eagle newspaper)slid in with me for a double ride in the afternoon and we hit 56 mph. Without his weight I had been only able to clock 53. The gust were unbelievable, and would suddenly come at you from anywhere over a 90 degree span, sometimes going from a full acceleration burst to a instantaneously flapping sail.

After taking John, I slipped on an old pair of rather heavy 36" plates, let the side stays off two more holes, and went back out for a couple of last dare-devil runs(the DN's were all packing up, or drinking beer at the launch). The next runs were wild, with terrible wind turbulence, ice chips tearing away at the goggles and any exposed skin, and bone jarring teeth rattling ruff ice. Pressure ridges were popping up on the North and South ends of my favorite plate of ice. It felt like 75+, but the GPS read 59.8 mph! Ten to fifteen second hikes in conditions like those leave your arms spent and the legs cramped tight from playing the steering pedals.

What a great seven hours of sailing, full of enough memories to last until next season. The gang on shore applauded when I coasted to a stop at the launch. Although my racing stunk, their seemed to be little doubt who had the most fun that day.

Wow, that hot tub is going to feel great tonight! Oh, by the way, I will be retired by next season and I'll guarantee you that I won't be found under foot around the house anymore! Loretta says that my duties are trips to the recycle center and vacuuming the house. Hey, those can be scheduled around bow camp, iceboating, ice fishing, boat fishing, speed walking, and bicycling any day.

Thinking ice, Nite 341