iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Sad to report that many areas of swimmable water are still visible from my 40 ft altitude on the south shore. They are large and wide spread, so extra pfd's should be loaded when it does firm up. I'll post if anything looks boatable after this weekends (hopeful) non-event. If any of the sailors from 30 years ago get nearby, give a hail 952-442-4741--I've retired to cruising status only.

FYI, Icemaker text says FLU recovery therapy moving to Swede lake near St Boni. Passing it on.....

Rumor has it that iceboaters all over the Minnesota area are calling in sick, with the flew, as they'll be flying all over Buffalo Lake in Buffalo this afternoon. Hehehehe.

At least half a dozen DN's are expected to meet at Sturgis Park, Buffalo MN around noon today and rip around on what looks to be a perfect sheet of ice, for now. It's gonna be amazing...

On that note, we expect most of Minnesota to get dumped on by a developing low pressure system. Ice Checkers/Observers are encouraged to check in Sunday afternoon...

WE NEED TO FIND A LAKE CURRENTLY OPEN, AND LIKELY TO FREEZE SUNDAY OR MONDAY NIGHT. Of course, this being Minnesota, there are about 100 of those in inventory right now.

anyone interested? tom 612-432-8124

Kattack (www.kattack.com) is providing race tracking and replay for first ever Ice Opti North Americans being held in conjunction with the GWC. Some of the DN rock starts are doing a debrief and interactive training session at the kid's pizza party Sat. night.

I will have extra GPS units for any DN-ers that would like to give it a try - or bring one if you have one. It's great to watch the replay, relive how you smoked the competition and see who got max boat speed bragging rights. I'll try to find a place to show a replay (hopefully at the bar) on Sat and will publish the tracks to our web site so you can watch on-line at work on Monday. There's More....

This morning Buffalo Lake, Buffalo MN appears substantially frozen... I walked out until I found ~1.25" ice, and found prudence right there (possibly a first for this sailor), based on the NWS Forecast for Buffalo, MN... I'd be thinking we'll walk seriously on it Thursday evening, after the chance of snow tonight and make a decision where to sail this weekend in anticipation of the Great Western Challenge Regatta.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8. Wind chill values between -7 and 3. Blustery, with a west northwest wind between 11 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Hello, Sailor! Ice Report, Sunday November 25th 2007, Lake Christina and Dead Lake, Minnesota!

KA 1 along with an '07 rookie racer (without numbers) and I made a quick run up I 94 to the new ice on Lakes; Christina, at Ashby MN and Dead, just north of Ottertail MN, today.

Conditions at 3pm today are: Partly Cloudy, 42 F, 8 C, Wind S 15 G over 20.

Approaching Exit 77 on I 94 the ground is barren, many of the ponds and smaller lakes approaching Ashby are frozen. The smaller bays of Pelican Lake, visible from the freeway are frozen, the main body remains open.

Pelican Lake: Two small boat trailers are parked at the Pelican Public Access along Highway 78 on our way to the Coot, we turned right at Ashby and drove along the North Shore of the North Arm on Pelican Lake, one fisherman was seen just pulling the first portable fish house of the season out on the ice. The ice looked pretty rough along shore near the Ashby Resort, and we did not stop.

O.K. you guys are heading out to scream around up north, and I'm just getting around to gluing up my new plank.
I'm following the procedure written by Paul Goodwin on the DN BBS, I have the ash and clear pine slats cut planed, joined and glued to form the skins and core, and I have a good staight I-beam to clamp them to, but I don't feel I have a good handle on the amount of camber, expected spring back, and amount (if any) gull wing.
Anyone got 2 cents?

THE SEASON IS AT HAND!

Locals report Lake Christina, Ashby, MN is COMPLETELY FROZEN OVER THIS MORNING, was substantially frozen yesterday morning, Current temp is 16 degrees F.

Additionally, Dead Lake, where we sailed last year looks substantially frozen according to local non sailors this morning.

A sailing/ice checking expedition/ is scheduled for Sunday!

As it stands right now, three sites are currently at the top of the primary site for the Great Western Challenge Regatta,
1. Lake Christina, Ashby MN
2. Dead Lake, Maine, MN
3. Buffalo Lake, Buffalo, MN

At dusk on Tuesday 20 November, I drove past Lake Christina, Significant parts of the Southern half of the lake are iced over, Ice has formed about 200 feet out from the world famous MilePost 8 launch site!

It's currently chilly, depending on which truth you check, they're thinking lows tonight will be between 15 and 20 degrees F. Average temperatures in Fergus are forecast to be ~ 20-22 Degrees F for the next 3 days... we'll see if we can get the freeze up dates locked in for both Dead and Christina when they happen, so you can all track ice making conditions and snow fall.

I doubt the lake will fully kick over tonight, but very soon. Depending on actual temperatures, and wind we see. If ice reports emerge, a sailing expedition this weekend is possible someplace near the Coot at Ashby... we may have to go Truckin up to Dead Lake... (the closest weather station to Dead Lake is in Wadena MN). It gets colder there, don't know why. It seems to average a degree and a half cooler there in the winter.

Accuweather forecast for Fergus Falls, (Lake Christina, Ashby, MN) has daily average temperatures dropping BELOW FREEZING FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS!

Look forward to minute by minute freeze up reports over the next week or so!

IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING!!!

I am interested in buying an older DN. Please email Matchracer@aol.com Thanks!

Does anybody know where I can get plans for an Isabella iceboat ?

No, this isn't some new secret go fast experiment. It's actually JD cutting up a perfectly good DN plank for use on an Opti. It's been said that he's also planning on cutting down his Skeeter plank for use on his Nite, and cutting down his Nite plank for use on his DN.

I'm new to the sport and eager to get going ASAP.
I'm in western Wisconsin but I'll travel.
Is Lake Mille Lacs popular for early season iceboating since its a bit farther north and I think shallow.
Any other places you would suggest I watch for the earliest ice?

Thanks, Steve.