iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

I grew up in Alexandria and Dad had a gaff rig iceboat with stern tiller back in the 50's which I think we sold to some guys in Mpls in the late 50's.

I now live on Lake Ida about 12 NW of Alexandria, MN. In my 60+ years I have never seen ice this fine for iceboating in this area. No snow (and I mean NO SNOW - the full moon tonight glaring off of the ice could blind one unless you are wearing sunglasses!), extremely smooth surface, and some widely scattered, well defined fizzures on a 4500 acre lake that I estimate has over 18" of ice. Smooth sailing the entire lake with no known danger spots or weak ice.

NEAR PERFECT ICE CONDITIONS, are confirmed in the Alexandria, Minnesota Area. Lakes Ida, Miltona, etc. are completely snow free, have seen little if any snow all season.

Good ice with 1/4" light snow cover is reported on Lake Pepin off of Lake City, MN as observed from a sailing DN.

Of course it's probably too cold to snow this week. Temperatures will probably be under the sailing envelope for the weekend. Should be below zero F for daytime highs most of the weekend.

Today looks to be the best sailing day of the week, no sailing plans for the day are known, no additional updates are planned for the week.

The Aussie Iceboaters said they'd be doing something celebrating the foundation of the "prison continent", Australia Day.

As such, in typical iceboat fassion, Kangaroo Style, the initial Australia Day DN Regatta will be held today at Northcoast Restaurant, Wayzata,MN starting at 4:00 pm local time...

Note; this event will be confined to talking about sailing.

As always... sailors of all abilities

4695

Pepin-Where have you kids been? Has the lake frozen yet? Snow?
We haven't heard a word from the stern steerers all winter.

How about the Iowa guys? Clear Lake, Okoboji, Spirit, Emmetsburgh,
Anyone been there? Sailed there?

Anywhere else in the midwest have ice?

Good or bad or whatever anyone see's post a reply here please....

I have an old "Lockley" Skimmer ice boat for sale (I'm posting it on Craigslist Fri. 1/26/07). It has a 45 sq. ft. sail, basically a pipe-go-cart type 3-blade triangular hull, and steers the front runner with the pilot's feet.

This boat is well-used, and the blades need re-tuning (blade flanges need to be bent/welded to straighten rear blades out). Brown sail (Bowers), green-painted hull, vinyl hammock for seat has one grommet torn. It's an excellent starter boat to get into this sport.

I've used it once this season on Lake Minnetonka. I've reduced the $500 sale price 20% because it does need blade-straightening, and I'd like to sell it before I leave for Mexico in a week. First $400 cash owns this boat! Please call or email smiles33333@msn.com. Miles: Excelsior, MN. 952-470-9019.

Great Ice remains for Week 10 We've seen little snow in Central Minnesota... Lakes immediately around Alexandria are believed to be in "pretty darn good" condition. eg. Miltona... it however has not been checked by an ice sailor... yet.

Alex Forecast:
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 11. Wind chill values between -4 and -9. Blustery, with a north northwest wind between 17 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.... (forecast 36 mph gusts in Fergus).

Sunday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 8. Northwest wind between 6 and 13 mph. Brrrrr

January 24, 2007
Northwest Ice Yacht Association Regatta Called OFF
(Too much snow.)
Rescheduled for February 2-4, 2007
Check back on Sunday, January 29, 2007 for more information.

http://www.iceboat.org/

i'm new to this sport and this forum. i was wondering if anyone has a wind surfer for sale or if anyone knows of any shops in the twin cities area that sells them. please respond to laredoggg@yahoo.com. thanks ~ larry

8 DNs drove to Spicer MN, choosing to sail on Eagle Lake, just south of Green Lake. The ice was a bit rumbly getting out to the course, with an occasional ariel launcher to be found.

We sailed a really fun short ~ 400 yard course in the gusting to 25 mph conditions... lots of left hand turns, placing a real premium on lay line decisions and mark rounding skills. Plenty of position changes...

Three boats continued on west for Sunday sailing on Big Stone Lake, Ortonville. This 26 mile long lake on Minnesota's west coast recieved less than an inch of powder snow overnight and was very difficult to stand on in street shoes.

Here's a plan: 90 scant miles west of Wayzata is Green Lake, Spicer MN... it's big, it's close, we've never sailed it... until Saturday we need another big close lake in the arsenal.

There's no snow there, an excellent forecast for Saturday...

Day trip to Green Lake... be there before 10:00 there's a public access right in Spicer, one of 5 on the lake. google map, spicer, mn
Closer than Osakis or Minnewaska, Big Fishing trourney on Gull.

This video highlights "Rainbow" (2nd) and "Country Woman" - two fantastic stern steerers! Some great action shots from last Sunday. White Bear Lake is now home to three stern steerers... "Wrigley" (a early 1900's yacht) did not make it out on Sunday but will be ready when the snow melts.

Tip of the helmet to Julie Jankowski and Stephanie Powell, Maclean and Jake for their help in getting all this racing off during the western regionals.

thanks

it's appreciated

4695

It hasn't snowed in Fergus Falls, too cold to snow, :) Several local are lakes were known to be boatable yesterday. 4695 and KA 3 will be travelling I 94 from Fergus to Minneapolis later today.

A review of the last 24 hours radar and the webcam at Arrowwood Resort, Alex. Arrowwood's Live Webcam Lakes Osakis, Miltona and or Minnewaska as plausible venues.

Preliminary Ice Report: Perfect ice sailing conditions remain for Week 9 of Minnesota Ice Sailing!

One year ago today there were 404 registered users on iceboating.net. Today there are 628 people eligible to post in the site! If my math is right that's 55% Y/Y Growth. eBay Grade Annual Growth!

Ice is all you need!

4695