iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Western Challenge Regatta is scheduled for December 3,4,5. Friday is set aside for scrub racing and is almost always the best day. Racing Saturday and Sunday. We are expecting a large turn out this year so Get ready!

First ice check is friday November 26. We will post our findings here.

Shop is insulated furnace is operational and the Skeeter is in pieces. Thanks to the efforts of John Loomis and Pat Hutner the shop is isulated. Not a fun Job but they stuck with it until complete. The regattas are gong to happen early this year so we're getting on it. The Skeeter restoration is in full swing. When I figure out the picture posting thing I will put a couple of progress photos up. Shop is open Monday and Tuesday nights from six to ten at my house if anyone is interested in stopping by.

JD
(phone)612 840 9855

About a year ago (July 7, 2003) I bought a "fixer upper" Renegade. During most of the (ongoing) rennovation/restoration project I took many photos. As I upload them here, I'll try and provide a running commentary in both the blog and in this article.

Hi all,

There's a pretty active year-round builders group here in Madison:
http://iceboat.org/images/boatshops/willy/willy.htm
http://iceboat.org/images/boatshops/nord/nordboats.htm

In Jim Nordhaus' shop there are two Renegades under construction/rennovation, along with a DN modification, a slew of insert runners, and a bunch of minor repairs/upgrades. Bill Mattison and Paul Krueger are hard at work on their Skeeters, Jerry and Greg Simon are building a new Renegade, and Doug Kolner is building a new DN.

I'm curious about what off-season projects other people are working on. Post some photos!

Summer is fun, but with the onset of humid weather, I remembered over the weekend that it was time to check the runners for rustproofing. The WD40 that I have used in the past never did a very good job of protection for anything but short periods, so I decided several months ago to try something longer lasting. Grease was the first thought, but that is to messy. After cleaning three sets of steel and one set of stainless with a scouring type pad, a coat of 90 weight gear oil was applied. Well I was pleasantly surprised this past weekend to find them all rust-free and still very well coated with the heavy oil.

The warm steady wind on Saturday took out most of the ice on the main lake however Sundays lack of wind was unable to finish it off.

Monday morning 98% of the ice was gone. I think the official ice out day will be 04/05/2004.

Until next winter.

Andy

Just checking to see if last week's warm temps did in the ice "up north". I'm especially interested to hear if there's anything on Minnetonka and the lakes around there.

Cheers,

Geoff Sobering
DN US-5156

A number of local DN sailors are launching off of the cottagewood firelanes, lake Minnetonka, MN and planning to sail.

Ice has been recently sailed and is generally regarded as pretty good spring ice.

4695

Posted by: John Davenport on March 19, 2004 at 15:14:55:

Due to ice conditions and the forecast for Green Bay, the regatta has moved to Mendota in Madison, WI. From the East, go West on I-94. Just before Madison, go straight on 30. Cross E. Washington Ave. and 30 turns into Aberg. Vear right on Packer ave. Vear left on Northport. Vear left on Troy. First left on Foster. Over/under tracks and left on Woodward. Warner park is on the right. Do what the locals tell you to do! Runner discussion with John Dennis Sat night.

From:
http://cerebus.winsite.com/DNboard/mesgRegat/513.html

Posted by: John Davenport on March 18, 2004 at 13:50:48:

The DN Western "Spring Regatta" is ON for Green Bay this weekend March 20-21. There is 20" of ice on the Bay. Saturdays forecast is the wildcard with "Warm & Wind", but Sat night will be cold, (21) and Sunday's high just above freezing. Final call by noonish Friday. Launching is from the Sailing club. Details to follow.

any shot on white bear early saturday or sunday if the temps drop as predicted? sailed crystal bay on tuesday and sailing was good until ice softened. if any chance post it. hope to see you this weekend. dn 904

An Historical Remembrance of the Past Season's Sailing:

December 2003:
Waiting on Ice... Syracuse Lake has frozen over a couple of times, very thin ice, not over an inch or so. Christmas came and went with boat sitting on front porch, runners cleaned and ready.

January 10, 2004
Took a trip to sail on Sand Lake, MI. Watched the Toledo Group race and sailed their course between races. Sailed at home Sunday on Syracuse Lake for approx. three hours. Ice was maybe an 8 or 9... Oh what fun!

January 21, 2004
Windy conditions, very gusty, potentially very fast (dangerous?) sailing. Snow drifts covering the whole lake makes for a rough, thrilling ride. DN kept trying to throw me out. Learned a lot about riding a hike. Only two other boats on the ice late this afternoon.

Now that the reigning North American Champion is in Minnesota, I'll be upgrading a lot of equipment in my program in order to compete in this new, rarified air, and hopefully grow our local fleet. I'm currently offering items on eBay. They can be seen by following the following link. More items will be listed on 3/14

http://www.onemorebid.com/Current%20Auctions

Of course all these listed items will be available for local inspection in the Minneapolis area, upon request.

Ice is Everything

4695

The GTIYC Fun Regatta has been cancelled due to heavy lake affect snow.

The GTIYC Fun Regatta is on for March 13&14. The regatta site is at the Whitewater Township park on Elk Lake. From the Village of Williamsburg, turn North on Elk Lake Road (605)and go North 3 miles to Park Road; turn East on Park road and go 9/10 of a mile to the launch on Elk Lake (coordinates N44.8166 and W-85.3854).

Friday night registration will be at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club on M2 along Grand Traverse West Bay, 4/10 mile North of the intersection of M72 and M22 on Traverse City's west side, from 7:30pm to 9:0pm. Registration will continue Sasturday morning, at the regatta site on Elk Lake, between 8:30am and 9:30am. Skippers meeting will be at 10:0am, and with skippers help, races will start at 11:0am.