iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

After a spectacular opening session the plan is to return to Lake Christina for week #2 of the 2017-18 iceboat season. The forecast looks favorable for sailing on Nov 18-19, 2017.

Check back later this week for confirmation. Also, lets us know if you pan to sail.
First boats there should check the ice. Wear ice claws and never sail alone.

Think Ice!

Lake Christina at 4 PM Thursday. 1/2” or less fluffy snow. The snow on the ice 50 feet out pushed aside with boot easily.
Drilled hole 2 3/4 “ hard black ice. With super cold tonight and below freezing should be 4” Sat. No open areas seen. The first 6 feet from shore is ice, supporting Mike R weight, but felt a bit softer. Plan is to set up Sat AM at Rylander’s property about 1 mile further from the old Mile Marker 6.

Selling my Iceflyer on craigslist. Good deal, Excellent shape. Stored indoors.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/boa/d/ice-boat/6375310555.html

I stopped by Christina this morning about 8:30. looks to be froze over and very smooth! I waked out a few feet and found about 1 1/2" of nice ice. By the look of the temps the next few days it should be good sail by the weekend!

Many of the smaller lake in the area are froze over, but most of the bigger lakes are much more open than froze.

Dirk

If you have been watching the forecast you know its been cold up north.
Sharpen your runners. Load your trailer. Be ready to go.
Saturday could be the day...but you'll need to drive a bit.
Stay tuned....

The 32nd annual Skeeter IBC swap meet was a huge success with equipment and $$$ changing hands.

The Club extends it's appreciation to those who contributed to the raffle: Door County Sails; S & R Marine; Mike Peters; Composite Concepts; Pete Barrett T Shirts; Green Lake IYC; Sturgeon Bay Maritime Museum;
Team 805/905; and John Bushey for his award winning maple syrup.

With a forecast of below freezing temperatures the iceboat season is definitely here.

Plan to attend the Sailcrafters Ice Boat Swap Meet on November 4, 2017, from 10 AM - 12 PM. Sailcrafters is located at 7450 Oxford St., Saint Louis Park, Minnesota 55426

Call Tim at 952-693-6089 with questions or to place your rigging and sail orders.

If your willing to drive these swap meets are also legendary:

WISCONSIN: Skeeter Iceboat Club Swap Meet on November 5, 2017 from 9 AM – 12 PM at Lucke’s Cantina 220 N. Elkhorn Rd. (WI Hwy 67), Williams Bay, WI.

North Sail loft owner Henry Bossett is retiring after 42 years in business. His customer base included E-scows, M-16s, A-Class Catamarans, and, of course, DN's.

Henry qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow with crew Jeff Kent only to see the games boycotted by President Carter due to Russia’s occupation of Afghanistan.

Henry was a gifted ice boater who raced DNs and Skeeters. He won three World Championships in the DN (1977, 1981, 1983) and four North American Championships (1982, 1983, 1990, and 1993).

Congratulations to Henry on a long and successful career.

Here's the project of the day. (click for more pictures) Building a set of new batten for the new sail for the year (aka. "The last Henry"). Ice is coming soon, and this is a great last project before the sailing season starts to improve your boat's performance. You don't have to spend a ton on custom battens that you could be making yourself. How important is the correct set of battens? Well, I don't know how much faster they can make you go, but I do know how the wrong battens are guaranteed to slow you down.

Our good friend Tim Carlson at Sailcrafters Loft and Rigging is once again hosting his annual Ice Boat Swap Meet on November 4, 2017, from 10 AM - 12 PM. Sailcrafters is located at 7450 Oxford St., Saint Louis Park, Minnesota 55426

Call Tim at 952-693-6089 to place your rigging and sail orders. Chances are you can then pick everything up at the swap meet...just in time for first ice!

Think Ice.

The September 2017 issue of RUNNER TRACKS, the official magazine of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association, is now available on-line at: http://na.idniyra.org/runnertracks/

Think Ice

The 32nd annual Skeeter IBC swap meet will be Sunday morning, November 5, 2017, at Lucke's Cantina, on Wisconsin Hwy 67 on the north side of Williams Bay, Wisconsin (Iceboat Center of the World).
There is no charge to participate.
New and used iceboats and equipment.
Free raffle.
more info: sailing19@charter.net

The boys at the Riley Sugarbush and Ice Yacht Club are on the podium, again!!!
The Riley Sugarbush scored not one but two MN State Fair ribbons for their amber and dark syrup.
John Bushy (US 5158) is the operation's chief cook and bottle washer. We congratulate the RS&IYC on its continued success.

Sadly, Meade Gougeon passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2017.

Jan Pagel described Meade as "[A]n outstanding leader, both in business and the DN class. When a discussion was getting “heated”, Meade would step forward and with a few words lead us in a sensible direction. A tough, but fair, competitor, Meade’s contribution to the sport of iceboating reached far beyond the race course and is much appreciated."

Meade served as IDNIYRA Commodore in 1985 and 1986.

On the race course he was a skilled competitor. His DN accomplishments include:

Another hot summer day, and I know I'm not the only one thinking about iceboating. Make that repair list or upgrade plan now! Think ice!!