Talking with the people that live on the Lake I camp at ,they tell me the Lake freezes over usually by the first week in November.Should be an early start to the season,maybe we can start up the Northern Challenge?How many would be up to getting some early season training in up here in Thunder Bay?
I have a DN hull cover from a recent bought DN, vintage being the '80.
It is in pretty good shape except will need to be resewn where the mast step is located as the cover is now in two pieces. I will include the original sail bag which is the same material for repairing. Please contact me at rocknrowing@yahoo.com with any questions. Located in NJ.
We our now up to three members.Just have to convince them to join the class The potential for a good fleet of DN's here in Thunder Bay is huge,lot of soft water sailors,combined with a long season of ice.Just have to keep beating the drum
Time to get the laser out this weekend.Never sailed in April before in Thunder Bay.
Spent another 3 hours on the boat today.Same short windward leeward course.Getting more comfortable in the boat.Sometimes I find when going fast(which seems like all the time) and I go to tack the boat seems to want to keep going straight.I experimented a bit with shifting my weight forward and that seemed to help a lot.
I can't wait to actually get in a race and see how bad I get my rear end handed to me.I am sure it will be a great learning experience. :)
BTW still tons of hard ice here
Sailors in Minnesota enjoyed a most delightful second season, the month of March on the ice, Calhoun and Minnetonka were extraordinary venues, capped off with a wonderful 12 gusting 20 day on ice that most people found best with Inserts over Angle, big rips, a dozen or more races, and much more.
This concludes the broadcast season of the Minnesota Ice Sailing Association...
A smart looking group of Iceboaters, (some of them) after another great day of sailing on lake Minnetonka, looking smugly thru the lens at all rest of you, who weren't sailing.
Back Row from left: 38 The IceMaker, 602 Tommy, KA2 Peter, 4811 Markham, Nik-san "strong enough to break 1/19 cable" Ogura, 2452 Harry, KA3 John, 5096 STEVE KENNEDY, 2451 Billy, 5366 Adam.
It got cold last night, the lake was hard all day, a little rumbly but smoother than last time, about noon Billy US2451 and I both assessed that we'd be racing - er sailing around buoys with a collision avoidance protocol on Saturday morning... 5 DNs and 8 sailors, (one rookie) were out today on Minnetonka, it was windy early, and it died calmly late, the ice was fantastic.
Supposed to be a little breezy tomorrow, people are sailing, it'll be a day for large and long dull runners, and big stones.
Is this a good read and relevant to the new designs.
Four DNs are set up on Lake Minnetonka, off Cottagewood fire lanes... there's an excellent forecast for tomorrow. Cool with breeze...
KA 2 and 4695 plan to enjoy the day on the ice, sail fast, and talk about next season's opportunities.
Starting early...
4695
annual easter regatta on mille lacs, 1 wk earlier this year than last with me, markham and molly. thinking minnetonka may be unsafe? 5 degrees cooler up there all week. markham is up for one more weekend, anyone else? but maybe rain on sat? so maybe one day trip for sunday only, 24 sat night, 47 sunday. just a 2 hr drive up 169, launch site on 169 at hotel and gas station, frontage rd where fishermen get on. meyer
I have a set of ice boat runner blanks. 2 are 30" X 4" and 1 is 26" X 4". They are 1/4 inch thick and made of very hard and durable AR 400 steel. When an edge is put on these it will stay sharp for many many outings. They have been wire brushed and coated with a black metal primer. If you are considering building your own ice boat or need runners these are a real bargain. I am asking $115 for the set. The shipping would be about $25
to see a photo go to the craigs list posting
walked out on tonka bay, looks great, no holes like waconia, out of harrys, bring plank to get on. as always be careful till fully checked out. tooo bad can't have regatta on tonka because we can sail all this weekend and maybe next. i'm blaming the democrats for toooooo much lake regulation. we need to get a winter permit for regattas, anyone know how do get it done? sail mille lacs on easter, fisherman today said 20" of ice, 1 week behind here. think it will be too rough there sat after freezing fri pm, could have sailed it today and fri.
At 1000 local time Pulaski Lake, Buffalo MN is in excellent spring sailing condition.
There is 18" of very nice clear ice, with a topping of about 1.5" of fractured crystal/rumbly ice.
There was no wind, hence I did not sail. Photos to follow.
CARPE DN
4695