iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

We tried. Forest Lake thinned out substantially this week. And the colder weather coming in today is ... just not that cold.

The hardest part of blowing this off was just looking at the ice. Waconia and Forest Lake LOOKED great. But once you get on the surface -- not so safe. West Arm and Bald Eagle both had fleets of 12+ boats racing last weekend, but are just too small for 25 Nites.

Third weekend of January is targeted for the 2012, a three-day event.

Browner

Western Challenge
December 2-4, 2011
Final Results
Saturday was a great day of racing.
Moderate breeze and temps
Great Ice
Sunday was light and variable and we were only able to get in one race for the Gold and Silver.

Gold Fleet

	
						Saturday, 03 Dec 2011				Sunday		
pos	points	Sail	Skipper			1	2	3	4	5		6
1	5	44	Ron Sherry		1	1	1	1	1		4
2	14	4824	Mark Christensen	4	8	3	3	2		2
3	15	4926	Steve Orlebeke		6	2	2	2	6		3
4	19	4691	John Dennis		2	6	4	4	3		9
5	34	5214	Jim McDonagh		3	11	8	6	9		8
6	36	5014	Mark Isabell		10	7	14	DNS	4		1
7	43	G737	Jorg Bohn		13	14	6	5	5		26
8	46	G666	Torsen Siems		12	10	5	12	7		DNS
9	47	4257	Jim Gluek		5	13	13	8	8		19
10	49	216	Rich Potcova		15	12	9	9	12		7
11	59	2545	Mike Derusha		16	17	7	13	11		12
12	63	2000	Leon Lebeau		30	21	12	11	13		6
13	63	G597	Wolfgang Butlger	33	5	19	16	18		5
14	64	4961	John P Davenport	17	4	10	17	16		25
15	68	G55	Andres Seegers		32	18	11	15	14		10
16	68	5219	Kent Baker		21	3	20	10	19		16
17	72	H467	Diedric Van Riemsdjk	8	15	25	14	20		15
18	77	4811	Markham G Chatterton	7	29	31	18	10		13
19	87	5	Skip Dieball		14	9	16	DNS	DNS		11
20	92	3283	Bruce Williams		28	16	23	7	25		21
21	98	551	Christian Seegers	20	23	15	19	21		DNS
22	99	5298	Scott Brown		9	31	21	22	17		DNS
23	100	602	Tom Meyer		11	20	22	27	30		20
24	101	5432	Mike Bloom		22	19	28	21	26		14
25	109	G600	Uwe Dieckmann		18	26	26	28	15		24
26	110	4882	Richard Wollam		31	22	18	30	23		17
27	122	3271	Mike Jankowski		24	34	29	20	27		22
28	126	2170	John Creigh		29	24	27	24	22		DNS
29	128	5435	Jody Kjoller		19	27	32	26	24		DNS
30	140	294	Loue Loenneke		23	28	17	DNS	DNS		DNS
31	145	4137	Ken Smith, Jr		35	35	35	25	32		18
32	146	445	Bob Cave		25	32	30	31	28		DNS
33	146	2360	Pete Johns		DNS	25	33	23	29		DNS
34	146	5393	Ryan Lashaway		27	DNS	24	DNS	DNS		23
35	154	4868	Julie Richards		34	33	34	29	31		27
36	164	5366	Adam Koller		26	30	DNS	DNS	DNS		DNS

click the Read more to see the results for the Silver and Opti fleets.

Deb Whitehorse from Madison is providing on site update at the Four Lake Ice Yacht Club's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/328443737171874/

She posted a short video from a couple of hours ago. It looks windy!
All the airports near Ashby are reporting pretty brisk winds.
The 11:15am reading at the closest weather station (Elbow Lake, about 13 mi SW of Christina) was 26kn gusting to 31kn (30-35mph).

That sounds even more dramatic than the truly epic 2006 Dead Lake event!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhTrcSycSjk

How do we measure it? What is the ultimate iceboating experience?

Given the Weather Forecast - this weekend looks like a new level might be set.

Milepost 8 will be the center of the world in sailing this weekend!

CARPE DN

The IceMaker

The Great Western Challenge Regatta is ON, for DEC 2,3,4 2011.

Primary Launch Site: Mile post 8 County Road 78 just North of Ashby Mn. Take 94 West from Alexandria to exit 77 and go North to mile marker 8.

Regatta HQ Holiday Inn Alexandria, Minnesota

Call 320-763-6577 for reservations.

Other Hotels:

Country Inn 320-763-9900
Super 8 320-763-6552
Days Inn 320-763-1171
Americinn 320-763-6808
Viking 320-763-3534
Hampton 320-763-3360

The best sailing conditions imaginable!

Nine boats were up sailing on Lake Christina on Sunday morning. It was a terrific time out sailing. It was a balmy 32degF. The ice surface was melted snow ice, but it was smooth and clear of any hazards. The breeze was fading from the wind blowing 40mph on Saturday. The first few ice-checking runs had the most breeze.

Day two, week one, Minnesota Ice Sailing, the saga of the voyage to Epicity continues.

Expedition to Lake Christina's Magic Milepost 8, sailing today in Minnesota, top sailors are reportedly going to clean the dust off their runners.

http://www.iceboating.net/node/3517#comment-7820

A milestone on the road to Epicity, the Epic City on Ice, Accuweather's 15 day forecast has no mention of the "S" word, Courier and Ive's Christmas is a real possibility.

My Bad...

The IceMaker and I measured 4 inches if solid clear ice on Christina. Excellent ice. Osakis had 2-3 near shore but less further out . We dared not walk further. Unsuitable.
Big Detroit smooth ice out 100 yes but 2.5 inches. Little Detroit had 3.25 inches and somewhat more texture. Set up, wind at 3-8. Covered most of the little Detroit. No observed hazzards. Clocked 40 mph on GPS during an hour of sailing. Kiefer took a run too and lifted the runner a few times. Some areas had a rumble and a few chips flying. Stopped and checked two other local lakes, both with similar ice at 3-4 inches.

To Epicity, and Beyond! (tm)

In another Quixotic adventure for intrepid ice checking/reporting Team known sometimes as "...and fools we are not", 4695 and 5369 (the same guys who brought you the epic ice on Pepin for the 2008 NA's,) the guys who know when to quit, and write a story that gets ripped by the Wall Street Journal, even when we can't go ripping.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870335710457504581100396482...
And boy do I have a bone to pick with Barry Newman, when I have a little time.

We're off of find something off the charts!

I'm expecting several updates during the day from Turkey Trotters in West Central Minnesota, the ice will be thin, be safe out there, check in with your observations.

A scouting trip with Lucky Mike DN 5369 is planned for Friday morning, Christina, Dead and Detroit, we'll go until we find Epic...with a boat on the roof.

Expeditions are forming, JD is leading one on Saturday, most likely to Christina, unless we find a higher grade of perfection. Ignore the snow in the forecast, it will be of no consequence.

Not that there has ever been any doubt, we're looking at testing the limits of Epic once again at the Great Western Challenge Regatta of 2011.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/fergus-falls-mn/56537/month/333830

Something to be thankful for this weekend.

It looks like a very favorable weather pattern... it looks like we'll find what we're looking for on Friday!

Cape DN

For sale,Locksley skimmer,newer sail,two sets runners, please call (715)795-2359 for info

reports of good ice all over the Thunder Bay District,out at White Fish lake they where skating on it sat and Sun.I will be busy out scouting all week sailing as much as possible

There's talk of sailing this weekend, checking the primary Great Western Challenge Regatta sites, I expect the Ice will be EPIC.

A thorough ice checking trip prior to the weekend is planned if there is support for this trip and ice report it will happen for sure!

If you find value in these Ice Reports, or in the Great Western Challenge Regatta You may if you wish, contribute to support the IceMaker's efforts to tell the IceBoating Story to a larger audience,

The 2011 Nite Nationals weren't sailed last winter (drifted out) but that means an attempt will be made to get the regatta in this December -- right here at home. With the DNs Western Challenge the first weekend of December, the Nites will race the second weekend, the 10th and 11th. Location is as always -- best ice available. Announcement to follow on this site.

Special arrangements are being made for first-time participants. Beg, borrow or steal one and be there.

Browner