iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Been sailing South West side of Waconia for over 1 week now & ice is in great shape. A pressure ridge (marked with thin ice signs) runs from around Nancy's Landing to the South side of the Island but conditions West of the ridge are great. Aside from that it is just the fishing holes that you need to watch out for. Best launch point for the SW corner is Coney Park off Lake Street. Only seen one other boat out so far this year!

We've been sailing Gudien's bay since the wind came up. It's so smooth it makes the weekends ice seem rough!

New to the Twin Cities from Michigan and looking for an introduction to iceboating. I saw the recent post on SailingAnarchy and would like to see what it is all about. i have sailing and kiteboarding experience and spent the summer on a j22 on minnetonka if that helps. willing to travel. Thanks!

Peter Cornue
734.645.9537

I read the notes from the Nite annual meeting last year. I think the discussion missed the boat by bringing up carbon for a mast material. If a change is made to the Nite class rules it should be with a standard glass spar. It could be made to fit in the existing rules with the addition of a weight requirement. It would not be very expensive. It would solve the duribility issues and not make all the existing masts obsolete.

We know there are plenty of clear frozen lakes, pretty much everything along the I 94 corridor Metro to Lake Christina...

We also know its been warm...

The lakes outside the metro area have been, according to the weather sources, 5 or more degrees cooler...

Here's a plan...

Thursday we'll be checking metro lakes, (Mtka, White Bear, etc) assessing the damage the warm temps have done. If conditions warrant, we consider moving northwest until suitable ice is located.

1. Buffalo
2. Osakis 90 miles up 94/ or Minnewaska, near Glenwood. (reported 7" on 12/5) 80 miles up MN 55

Photo of boat can be seen on Nite Website (http://www.pyc.org/nitephoto.htm. )under link to photos.

I'm looking for a used F01 sail. I'm not a small guy, so the speed sail isn't exactly what I'm looking for in a sail. It seems the F01 is the thing to have for me.

Thanks,
Will Foster
612-804-9019 mobile

Upper Minnetonka, 15 DN's sailed, a couple Arrows and other craft joined us on the ice.

Two nearly perfect days of rumbling on "light speed" grade ice, lots of rips, 4824 and 4975 set the pace, freshly issued sail numbers 5366, 5369, and KA 1 all seemed really quiet.

The most fun was had by Molly the Iceboating dog.

The Spar "Stinktier Werks" boys, Dave & Tom had three new carbon masts on the ice, they all seemed pretty happy with the spars.

Sailing continued until Sunset, changing over to angle runners in the dying, and barely perceptable breeze, KA 2, Norton, took a sunset ghost ride, sailing, not pushing in perhaps 3 mph of wind.

The ice was so sweet today. I had some great rips until a spin out ended my day.The first thing I noticed was the mast slowly going down. Then I looked to the side and the plank was gone! I was about two miles away from my launch spot. I lashed the broken piece of the plank to the remaining plank with the mainsheet so I could push it home. Then Andy and Rats came by and we were able to fashion a tow by putting my front runner on Andy's plank and I straddled the bow of my boat and held onto the side stay of his. Pretty slick and it saved a long walk home.

Cool Story, Good Pics.

On Line Copy: On Line Copy:

I followed the link but had to search "iceboat" to find the story

4695

White Bear has near perfect ice conditions. We had something like 25 Nites, a handful of DNs and a few other craft out there today. Winds were only 6 - 11 mph or so, but some nice rides anyway.

Forecast for Sunday is similar. Best breeze may be early morning.

Dr. Lee-vil
Nite 512

Today's Forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. South southwest wind around 10 mph....

4" + optically clear ice... and a lot of it.

On Thursday's drive south from Fergus Falls, every lake from Lake Christina to Lake Minnetonka is almost perfect...or better.

At least two groups plan to sail, (upper and lower mtka) The only bad decision you could make today is not to sail.

If you're sailing this weekend, check in, post a report; how many sailed, where, how was it. We will need options for next weekend.

4695 the icemaker

I just received a call from Poachee Beach let us all know that Rat's and Allen set up their boats in Cottagewood next to Harry Allen’s house. They sailed towards Excelsior where the ice is like a mirror.
Poachee Beach (Cottagewood USA) also reported main lake is still has open water out past Big Island towards the center of the lake with the water fowl inhabiting water.

I voter for Saturday racing in Excelsior / Tonka Bay instead of Spring Park Bay.

Poachahantas (Antique Roadshow)

US 4824 made an inspection this morning, report taken by phone.

The bay was completely frozen Monday Morning. He bored several holes all were 4"+ in thickness, clear ice.

Out in the main bay it's like glass.

Caution: this bay is unsailed, has a pressure ridge which customarily develops and has gotten people wet in the past.

Sailing beginning 1100 Saturday Dec 9. Primary Launch Site, Spring Park Public Landing. Spring Park Bay Launch Site Map

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJeEjWfbNOE

Shep
KA-1