National Weather Service Snowmapping Center Website

Check out:
http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/
and click on "interactive products"
You will find you can build your own map whereever you live. This website has wonderful tools to help you find current surface winds, snow depths, and many more Gee Wiz tools to find those 'perfect' sailing sites throughout the USA and parts of Canada! Just because you have snow on your lake today doesn't mean the lake in the next county is the same.

Lake Pepin Report

For Friday, Dec 17, about 70% snow cover at the SE end growing to about 90% at the NW end of Lake Pepin. The good news, it is only about 1" thick on average, just a firm, wind pack condition but not crusty. Sailable with a good wind. Should be better this weekend with the warm weather. Launching off the landing at the south end of Lake City.

4864

Lake Minnetonka Ice Report

The Main Lake is showing 40-50% ice. The snow drifts are 1-5 inches in depth. With a little sun and warm weather the ice will be great!

There is the typical pressure ridge starting at Spirit Island going to the Nothern end of Big Island. Looks like thin ice around the western edge of pressure ridge by Big Island.

Kite Skier spotted (Vojta) on Thursday afternoon (15-25 NNW). Vojta went all the way up to Wayzata and down to Excelsior and said the Ice looked good.

See you in Cottagewood Sat am.

Lake Minnetonka, MN Ice Report- Inserts by Sunday

This report transcribed from US 602:

Recent snow covers the lake in depths of 1/2" to 2", but immanently boatable. With the current conditions and forecast we propose to sail this weekend, launching off of the firelanes in Cottagewood.

602 suggests it may very well be "inserts" by Sunday...

If you don't know how to find, Email the Doctor of JD...

Think Ice

4695

FIRST complete German iceyacht film

Icesailing on Video! I sell the first amateur-film about the history of icesailing in Germany!
`Segelschwingen` - the film! It includes pictures from the 50s till now! Iceboats like DNs, XII and XV-monotype ice-yachts are shown! I know icesailing in the Netherlands is more traditional and has a longer history but there are some interesting and spectacular shots! Enjoy it for yourselve! filmlength 45min price: 18,-â?¬+8â?¬ porto (Europe) !
contact: leifbaehr@hotmail.com or tel +493050179679 (evening)

For Sale: NITE #328

For Sale: NITE #328, black hull, red interior, crisp Bowers sail, runners, plank, mast and North Sail hull cover. Boat has been stored for 6 years inside, used very little and has been very well cared for. For photo check website: www.iceboat.org under "buy and sell shop". Located on Lake Minnetonka,Mn.

Price: $5500 obo
Phone: (952)474-1728 Diane

For Sale: BOECRAFT SKEETER - B Class and NITE

Boecraft Skeeter, B Class, side by side 2 seater , 24'wooden mast, 18'runner plank, runners, sail, battens, 3 interior cushions and complete like new covers. Very well cared for and used little. Stored for 6 years inside. Located on Lake Minnetonka, Mn. Photo available on www.iceboating.org See the"buy and sell shop" for 12/02/03 on The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club website. The boat is also featured on Twin City Event Calendar for 2004 for January.

Price:$7500 obo
Phone: (952)474-1728 Diane

Tonka Bay, Lake Minnetonka MN

Nine DN's sailed nine races Saturday on Lake Minnetonka, launching out of Tonka Bay and remain setup to sail today.

Directions to launch site, From Co 19, East on Tonka Bay Rd, to West Point Rd, (should be ~ 3rd left )N on Westpoint Rd to water, park.

Launch site maps:

yahoo map

Tonka Bay, Lake Minnetonka, MN

A number of DNs, led by US 602, will attempt sailing on Tonka Bay, Lake Minnetonka MN today.

Detailed Ice Report, as well as launch site suggestions will be posted later in the day.

Think Ice
4695

MN -Lake Minnetonka is Frozen over.

12/12/03 12pm
I just spoke with some one who lives on the main lake of Minnetonka and they said the entire lake froze over last night.

Yippee!!

36" plate runners

36" plate runners are hard to find, either used or just the raw material. I am looking for two good shape 36" plates, or a source to get the steel, preferrably profiled.

Corey Hughes, NIte 341

Western Challenge - Preliminary Final Results

Andy Flying

Buffalo, Minnesota

Sunday, 06 Dec 2003



Ron Sherry wins the 2003 Western Challenge!!


The 2003 Western Challenge has to go down as one of the best challenges in recent history. With three great days, including the practice day on friday (hey, it's usually the best day), of fresh breezes and smooth ice all thirty-six participants could go home with their fill of iceboating. Novice iceboaters and some of the best iceboaters in the world, including three europeans, and the world champion, took on the Western Challenge and were rewarded with some of the best conditions for iceboating.

Here's how many races we got in;

10 informal practice races on friday

6 races on saturday

3 races on sunday

After getting three races in on sunday morning we had our nine races needed and the regatta was over. The traveling crews could leave in the early afternoon to get a jump on the long drive home.

Thanks to everyone who participated to make this regatta such a great time, and a special thanks to all of those who traveled long distances to come and sail with us.

Congratulations go out to the top four local boys:

Mark Christinsen (us4824), Third Place

John Dennis (us4691), Fifth Place

Rob Evans (us4975), Eighth Place

John Loomis (us4923), Fifteenth Place

The regatta finished with three races sailed on sunday in 16-20kts of a fresh southerly breeze. The blowing wind started to create snow drifts to keep everything interesting. With the strong puffs and the snow drifts there was a premium put on driving and trimming skils.

The downwinds were intense as competitors tried to keep a runner flying all the way down to the leeward pin to minimize snow drag.

There were quite a few photographers at the event and we hope to have a some pictures posted throughout the week.

Here's the preliminary final results.

Western Challenge, Day One

Saturday, 06 Dec 2003

Buffalo, Minnesota



Western Challenge

Day 1


Six races plus a practice race (for the RC) were sailed in a south breeze of 14-18kts. Temp was in the high 20's, partly cloudy.

The snow cover from thursday night wasn't much of an issue, and some racers were even using their quarter inch runners when the wind picked up.

We had a great turn out with 37 boats participating in the regatta. There were also a few nites..

Here are the preliminary results for the first day of the Western Challenge..

Friday, Buffalo Lake

25 DNs sailed today, on Buffalo Lake, Buffalo, MN The N NE breezes of 12-18 mph made the inch of snow recieved overnight unnoticable. Many of the front running boats used speed sails. What a hoot!

Photos will be posted

4695

Buffalo Lake, Buffalo, MN

Overnight snow accumulations in the area are about an Inch. We plan to update this site with current conditions later this morning.

UPDATE:
9:00 am local time

There is an 1" of snow on the lake and there are a few dn'ers setting up in the launch site. They are planning on sailing today with insert runners.

4695

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