iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

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.

Deteriorating ice forced the end of the Euro Champs after 2 days and 8 races. The Pols dominated and King Karol reigned supreme.

Pos Num Name Points Pos
1 P- 36 Jablonski, Karol 2 1 1 3 4 4 1 [5] 16,00 1
2 P- 114 Burczynski, Michal 1 [13] 2 2 1 2 8 1 17,00 2
3 P- 155 Zakrzewski, Lukasz 4 6 9 4 [14] 11 4 3 41,00 3
4T P- 13 Kardas, Darek 53/DSQ] 3 8 7 16 8 2 2 46,00T 4T
4T O- 31 Alvikis, Madars 7 7 12 6 7 1 [29] 6 46,00T 4T
15T US- 5166 Berger, Chris [35] 30 18 13 33 5 11 11 121,00T 15T
19T US- 5224 Thieler, James 9 [35] 6 23 29 26 17 30 140,00T 19T

anyone willing to part with a good used nite hull with springboard ...I have all other parts

This warn weather has many of us thinking about everything except iceboating, but, it "ain't over yet!"
For the DN's, the Central Regional Champs have yet to be sailed. For other fleets, the Nite nationals, the ISAs and the Northwestern's are still looking for venues.
Keep your runners sharp as any one of these major events could still be called on. Think Ice.

The 4LIYC says racing is called ON for the weekend of Feb. 11-12!
Launching at Mendota County Park. They report 12" of ice at the landing.
I am not aware of any Tonka DN sailors making the trip down.

(click for full report) What's the difference between fun, craziness, and stupidity? Ask someone else, because I have no idea. Today was an awesome high wind day on Waconia. Started out the day by breaking the false halyard rope while raising the sail, which was really a pain to get it fished out. Then proceeded with sailing in 20+ MPH winds, and I hit 80 MPH like nothing. With the rough ice, and sailing alone, speeds like that are not good, so I sat it out for a couple hours.

What is the best bet for sailing this weekend? Unsure how the Monday snow affected the lakes, hope none of it turned into the dreaded styrofoam. Kiters report 2" fell on WBL. I have nothing in my yard in Belle Plaine, so I would be willing to bet Waconia might still be great. Any reports from Tonka? Since no regattas this weekend, any local plans??

More great photos. This time from the NA's. Looks like races 6 and 7 from day 2. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fxjzdb9d9jlspnv/AACPQAphCz0XNI2AWs1VrhgIa?dl=0

Professional Photographer Gretchen Dorian was at the DN Worlds last week. She posted some of her pictures here:

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Zfd2Kx

Sailed Waconia Saturday on the windsurfer-iceboard. Snow was 0-1" deep, no resistance, with a very occasional 3" drift that seemed to cause catapults. Ice is not perfect, still bumpy, but plenty good for the iceboard so any iceboat will not be an issue. I was all alone on a 2 mile x 2 mile great surface with few icefishermen on the main area. Sailed Bald Eagle lake on Sunday again on the iceboard. Snow was 0-1" deep, and also no real snow resistance. Ice was much more bumpy than Waconia. Counted 4 nites and 2 DN's. A great day.

The 2017 World Championships and North American Championships are in the Books. The regatta was a huge success due to the tireless efforts of DN Western Region Commodore Mike Miller (DN 5369 US). Nobody will ever know how many hours it really takes to organize, not one, but two international regattas but it was obvious that Miller put in the time as both regatta's were sailed without a hitch. Thank you Commodore Miller for a job well done. The 108 sailors from 9 countries each tip their helmet to you!

The DN Worlds and NA's are scheduled for the Western Region, January 22-28, 2017.
Here is a promo video put out by Madison Sailor Dave Elsmo. Think Ice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD9Taf5BU2A

The weekends regatta will be held on Lake Monona in Madison, Wi. Launch site will be at the Olin Park 1156 Olin-Turville Ct., Madison Wi. Same place as last years NA's, on the SW corner of the lake.
Dan Hearn and Deb have been working with the City Parks Dept for a bulk parking pass to avoid parking costs to the racer. More info by Thursday or Friday.
The ramp is suitable for trailers to back right on 12 inches of ice. Be careful of the small stream to the left side.