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Lake Waconia, MN

January 6, 2005 - 21:38 — the IceMaker

The twin cities seems to have missed yesterdays snowball.

I drove past lake waconia, waconia minnesota this morning... the lake appears covered with the same 1/4-1/2" of styrofoam grade squeeky snow as we found sunday on lower lake minnetonka.

There is enough area to sail a championship course, albeit there may be a fish house on the course someplace.

With a warmer weather forecast the snow should soften up a bit and sublime making a suitable if not excellent potential venue.

Contingent on icechecking in other areas, this venue should be explored by boat... seeking volunteers to sail and report conditions.

Think ice

4695

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January 7, 2005 - 00:05 — unregistered skipper

Hi Mark, I was just out on

Hi Mark,

I was just out on Waconia on ice skates! Practically a friction free surface, very hard and fast! No presure ridges except one right in front of the DNR launch which is easy to cross. No chance of blades sinking through the 5/8" super dense crust until it gets above 40 degrees. It is quite smooth for the most part except for the old frozen drifts which dot the surface. They range in size from 1" to 4". The drifts are not angular in shape and the crust has smoothed them some and will give the hard drifts some 'give'. The drifts get smaller & less frequent the further into the NW corner of the lake you go, there are 'lanes' to be found. Definitely a very sailable and fast surface but in heavy air it may get a wee bit wild. Waconia is a hugh, round, beautiful lake to sail on.

4975

January 7, 2005 - 00:25 — unregistered skipper

Has anyone checked Buffalo?

Has anyone checked Buffalo?

Loomer
US4923

January 7, 2005 - 01:57 — the IceMaker

buffalo

Loomer

in previous years the Buffalo ice fishing population is very large and encroaches onto the race area... feel free to check it out, it may be better ice, may have a lot more fishermen to avoid.

I imagine there's always Christina, but Sam's in Minneapolis until Saturday night so no checker there.

4695

January 7, 2005 - 00:24 — the IceMaker

TY

Rob,

Thanks for taking the time to check it out. DNing always is wild in a breeze. The drifts on lower minnetonka were very easy to see and sail around on sunday.

It's always nice to give a regatta committee some options when making difficult regatta calls.

What runners would you put on?

4695

January 7, 2005 - 01:04 — unregistered skipper

I'm not quite sure; I've neve

I'm not quite sure; I've never sailed on a surface like this. I suppose my 1st choice would be 100 degree inserts or Ts since this surface will have a bit more 'give' than black ice. I think the hard crust would provide nice 'grip' around the leeward can (although after many passes perhaps the crust would get busted up???). I think any runner will work and not sink through. This crust is the most dense I have ever seen. I think it would be fun to sail on!

4975

January 7, 2005 - 01:24 — unregistered skipper

Just checked the forecast. S

Just checked the forecast. Saturday: 30% chance of snow. SE 5 to 10 high 25. Sunday: S 10 to 15 high 29. South wind would allow us to use the smother NW corner of the lake and lighter breezes make me feel more comfortable with the bumps. hmmmm.

4975