iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

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!!

After a couple months off, it's time to start thinking ice??? Really? (click for pictures below) Not for me, I don't have any big iceboat construction ideas this summer, but obviously others do. Looks like there is some interest in the under-represented C skeeter fleet. Racers? maybe. Passionate builders? Definitely. Here's a couple boats being built right now. the green hull is an old A skeeter hull being cut down to a C skeeter by Lance Bennett of New Hampshire. He is starting with a heavy hull, but I think he has a great plan, all the right go fast ideas, and it will be a great boat.

The 2018 DN North American championships have been scheduled for January 21-27, 2018. The regatta is hosted by the Eastern region. Save the date and plan to attend. The east coast boys always put on a great show.

The 2018 World Cup and European Championships have been scheduled for February 25 to March 3, 2018. The regatta is hosted by Estonia. That would be a cool place to sail!

Think Ice.

Here is a fun video from the Canadian National Championships held in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Video courtesy of Alan Auld at Imagine Films. As you can see, the scenery was spectacular. We sailed on beautiful ice, in a moderate breeze, with clear skies and 35 degree temps. The Doctor took top honors.
https://www.facebook.com/ImaginePhotoCinema/videos/vb.521807631204926/15...

After three years with his hand on the tiller, Western Region Commodore Mike Miller (us 5369) has handed the tiller over to 4LIYC member Dan Hearn (us 5352). Commodore Miller worked tirelessly for the region and presided over many successful events, most notably, the 2017 Gold Cup and North American Championships. Commodore Miller, well done. Team Tonka and the entire fleet thanks you.

The iceboat world is all abuzz over Chris Berger (US 5166) winning the Baikal Cup in Russia. Congratulations, Chris!

Check out his interview on Chicago Fox32 News.
http://www.fox32chicago.com/mornings/244964553-video

Thunder Bay hosts Canadian Natl Champs. Great regatta. Awesome venue. Fantastic local support. 9 races sailed. Doctor won 5 of them. Then added 3 second place finishes and he threw out a 3rd. Congrats to Mark on a hard earned championship victory.

Here it is: http://na.idniyra.org/2017/03/22/canadian-championship-regatta-called-on/
I'm headed up to Thunderbay this weekend. This is a really big sheet of sailable ice, and plenty of opportunity for cruising as well as racing! Mike Madge is the contact (807) 577-2109 or themadges@tbaytel.net

The March 2017 edition of Runner Tracks, the newsletter of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association is now out and two Minnesota boys are on the cover. John and Sam Bushey (US 5158 and US 5405, respectively) along with a German boat (G-900) are shown racing neck and neck at this year's Worlds. John is the talent behind the beautiful hand made trophies featured at this year's Gold Cup. The Busheys sail out of the Lake Riley Ice Yacht Cub and Sugar Shack. Runner Tracks has been posted at: http://na.idniyra.org/runnertracks/.

Scott Brown of Upper Minnetonka continued his dominance of the Nite class winning his 4th straight Nite National Championship this past weekend in Gladstone Mi. All the big names of the fleet were there but not even the likes of Perrigo, Prange ,Frautschi , Wilfert, Hayashi or Sandford could match Scott's consistency over two days of racing. Very impressive, indeed. Congratulations Scott!

Ice conditions today: Waconia still has a relatively consistent 8-10 inches of solid ice (except the open water), but it is way too rough for any iceboat to survive. It has gotten much worse since I last sailed it. I seriously had trouble just walking. Constant 1"-2" bumps on the entire surface. Trust me, I will sail anything, and this simply just isn't possible or smart. Swede Lake has a little less ice, but still about 6"-7" in all the spots I checked. Swede is also un-sailable with the same rough texture as Waconia.

Minnesota was well represented at the 2017 ISA regatta. JD placed second in A skeeters, Scott Brown won in Nites, Pat Heppert won in C skeeters, Mike Miller had an impressive 4th for his first Nite ISA, and Jim McDonagh in the B skeeter was going fast as heck, right before the mast blew up after the first lap of the first race. Ice was rough, even for skeeters. Too much wind on Friday for the ice conditions, great day Saturday racing, then about 4 inches of snow Saturday night. Great times!!

Don't believe everything the Hammer puts on the internet. Tonka ice from harry's to excelsior is far from excellent. Way too rough for a DN. No scrub racing occurred today.

DN scrub racing is on for tomorrow and Sunday. Launch at the Cottagewood firelane. The ice looks excellent!
US 4975

Yep, there's snow on the way, but it's forecast to stay south of Battle Lake, the site of this year's ISA Championship. JD sailed the lake just this morning and said it's smooth and slick. Tonka may be mushy, but it's another world north of Ashby.

Battle Lake hosted a Western Challenge a few years back, and drew nearly 90 boats. Hoping to muster up a bunch of Nites from the Twin Cities. Name the last time the ISA Regatta was this close to home. I think the answer is, "NEVER!!!!"

Details for launching and hotel stuff can be found at iceboat.org on the ISA page.