iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

(click on to see picture and full version) A total of 11 Nites battled it out on Bald Eagle Lake this weekend. The ice is in top condition, except for hitting ice junk, including a rock and a license plate laying on the ice. Sailed three races on Saturday in very high winds, and there was a surprisingly very low amount of carnage, which is a credit to the durability of the Nite class. Sunday brought much lighter winds, about 10 MPH, and we got in three races around a 1 mile course.

A few brave Tonka sailors ventured out to Lake Waconia today to sail in artic cold conditions. The highest temperature anyone saw on the various car thermometers was 3 degrees. Fortunately, relatively moderate winds put the wind chill at a manageable(?!!!) 10 degrees below zero.

It was way too cold to set up marks so tip-ups and ice houses defined the course. As seems the case lately, the Doctor ruled the day followed closely by Pat Huttner and Mike bloom. And, had J.D. ever left the confines of his heated truck those in attendance suspect he too would have shared time at the front.

Greetings,
I'm a new sailor to hard water in the St. Cloud area. Just wondering if there are any other active sailors around central Minnesota.

Plenty of ice and a couple inches of snow around here. Measured 14+ inches on Grand Lake, quite a few ice houses around shore but plenty of room in the middle. Gonna give a try tomorrow (tues) as the forecast is looking quite nice, low 30s and 10-20mph.

Anyone been on Green Lake in Spicer, or Lake Koronis near Paynesville?

Tonka Sailors did well at the 2013 Western Regional Championship Regatta sailed on Lake Kegonsa, near Madison, WI. Seven races were completed over two days on sticky, snow covered ice.
Mark Christensen tested regatta Champion Ron Sherry. The Doctor finished 2nd and won the second race. J.D. finished third followed by Jim McDonagh and Mike Bloom who finished 8th and 10th, respectively.

In the Silver Fleet David Kickhafer, Mike Miller and Charlie Hurd finished 4th, 6th and 12th. Congrats to Miller for winning the last race.

Per the Western Region Commodore:

2013 IDNIYRA – Western Regional Regatta
Regatta is on! Jan. 5-6, 2013 Lake Kegonsa, just south of Madison, WI
4+ inches of ice measured last weekend and temps have been ideal for making more.
1 to 1 ½ inches of snow cover.
Wind currently projected at 12mph Saturday with temp of 30F.

Re: NOR Western Regional Regatta 2013

« Reply #1 on: Today at 07:48:03 AM »

Per Julie:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Western Regional Regatta Primary Site has been tentatively selected. After 4Lakes Ice Yacht Club held their successful Grandslam Dec. 29-30 on Kegonsa near Madison, WI and your rear commodore got to sail it as well, the decision has been made to call it our primary site. Weather looks hopefully uneventful for the upcoming week but other sites with good conditions may still be considered.

Hey gang,
Harry, Meyer and I are setting up this TV shoot at Harry's house: between noon and 2 PM on Sat if the winds get up to 7-10. The couple inches of new snow should not be a problem. If wind does not cooperate on Sat may do it Sunday.
Come on out and join us!
Harry Allen
20595 Park Place
Excelsior, MN 55331

Mike Miller
612-868-2949

Mike,

A week of quiet cold has produced 4" of black ice on local waters (Johnson County). Ice fishing tents are appearing. No serious wind predicted yet.

Little better than 4" of clear ice at Pepin on Wednesday. Some rough ice further out in the lake but still appears sailable. Landing at Pepin is fine and will hold a trailer. Got the Comet and skeeter on and hope to see a few more boats by this weekend.
Newcomb

Anyone sailing Tonka on Friday & weekend?? Hutt and Bloomer looking for sailing partners.

We sailed Bald Eagle Lake this weekend. No wind on Saturday. Sunday was enough wind in the AM, tapering down all day. About 4" - 6" of really nice hard ice. Approximately a dozen boats set up including Nites, DN's and Skeeter. Great fun with a great bunch of guys.

Great piece of ice in the northwest section of the 8000+ acre lake!

Clear smoothice (9/10) nearly 4" thick in AM on 12/24. Was clear and 4 deg F when I got up X-mas day.

Short, 2.5 hour drive from Madison, Clear Lake or Oshkosh.

Call six-o-eight, four9eight eighteen 97 for details. 4811

Pete Johns even made the trip from Ill to sail 6 scrub races on pretty damn good ice with better than expected winds. Sailed between Big Island and Greenwood shore. Harry and Dr report the main lake froze solid on Friday night. It is smooth as glass. It has been 5-20F for 3 days now so some of us are going on an adventure about 10 AM Monday to check it out! We will sail from either Harry's or Tonka Bay Marine landing. Many of us have Xmas eve plans so will be a short day for some.
I have a couple photos posted in images and still can't figure out how to post them in the body of this!

Bald Eagle has some ice. AS ALWAYS SOME BAD SPOTS. The island tips for sure!

jd is setting up his new skeeter fri am on the beach next to tonka bay marina. drive on access for trailers by the marina. other Dns set up. ice is smooth and good from there to harry's house. also can put on at harry's. with cold temp, watch out for working cracks. main lake still open, but should freeze on fri. hopefully can sail out there soon. meyer