LATEST NEWS
January 31, 2024 Centrals Update – Mother Nature Foils Us Again – Postponed
Hi all – Warmer temperatures than expected, honeycomb/snow ice and no wind. I just don’t think we are going to have safe conditions for a regatta this weekend. I’m putting Centrals back on postponement. Thanks for your patience. I will report back when there is something to report.
Thanks!
Pete Johanson US5633 Central Region Commodore
January 30, 2024 Centrals Update: Tentatively Called ON for Higgins Lake Feb 3-4
Higgins Lake in Northern Michigan was sailed by ranked sailors this past Sunday and Monday. They found a large area of solid ice with about ¼ inch of snow on top. Ice is is about 4.5-5 inches of snow ice on top of hard black ice. Favorable forecast for the week, we think it should hold up. I am tenatively calling Centrals on for this weekend 2/3-2/4. Final call Thursday evening. Stand by for details/information.
Location: Higgins Lake Michigan, launch is West Higgins lake boat Launch.
Peter Johanson Central Region Commodore US5633
North Americans Early Entry Deadline February 4
If this has been on your to-do list, now is the time to check that off your list before the early entry deadline. Register here.
Jan 25, 2024 – Centrals Update – Postponed
We do not have a safe venue yet. Higgins Lake in Michigan was reported to be nice, but warm weather and rain in the future means we can’t make a safe call for the weekend. The Centrals remain under postponement for this weekend.
Thanks for your patience,
Pete Johanson US 5633 Central Region Commodore
2024 Western Region Championship Update – Postponed
The 2024 DN Western Region Championship has been postponed. Next update is by Thursday, February 1, 2024.
Chris Berger US5166 Western Region Commodore
2024 Centrals Update #4 – Some Potential
There is potential ice for centrals. It has been scouted and not sailed. And we have some weather systems later this week. Stand by, next announcement Thursday night.
Pete Johanson US 5633.
Youth Sailing Report: After School Iceboat Practice on Lake Minnetonka
“After-school iceboat racing practice?” Common in Poland, now in Minnesota thanks to IDNIYRA Junior Sailing Director Sam Bartel.
Wow, the last 3 days have been incredible! I’ve had the pleasure of coaching 18 high school and middle school sailors from the Lake Minnetonka Sailing School race teams as they discover the thrill of ice sailing. Some of these kids tried iceboating with me earlier this year, and others just had their first rides recently. Seeing all these new ice sailors leaving with ear-to-ear smiles is priceless.
In addition to giving some kids their first rides, I’ve been coaching the more experienced ones on racing skills. Yesterday marked our first after-school iceboat racing practice, complete with 4 scrub races and 5 DNs on the line. It’s amazing to see the enthusiasm – some of these kids are really getting into it, asking tons of questions, sailing until after sunset, and coming back for more every day. A couple of them are even asking when the next junior regatta is scheduled… we need to bring these events back ASAP!
Our local high school teams are gearing up for a training trip to Florida next weekend. Between now and then, we’re planning to hit the ice every day, running more scrub races and helping more kids get into the sport. I feel very fortunate to have such great conditions at our home venue on Lake Minnetonka!
Cheers,
Samuel Bartel
IDNIYRA Junior Director US1011
2024 Jinzhou and Panjin International Ice Sailing Tour Concludes
Link to video.
Our ice sailing friends are heading back home. Video above courtesy of the regatta organizers of Jinzhou and Panjin.
Results
Joerg, Jost, and I set a land-speed record to make the last train tonight to Beijing, but we will all make our planes home tomorrow. I had a wonderful week in China. Very fun and very eye-opening. The minute I got here, and to paraphrase Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, it was clear I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. I am glad to be heading home, and I look forward to hearing English and sailing with familiar faces.
Think Ice
Mike Bloom US321
Panjin China Regatta Update
Update from Mike Bloom:
We raced today. On a reservoir 3 hours from Panjin. Now we are driving back—long day.
The ice was pretty good but covered with sand. And it was very windy- MS1 windy. After two races, my runners were dull, as were everyone else’s. There was lots of sliding. I didn’t bring sharpening stones. Lesson learned.
It was a fun day with five races. I have not seen results, but the Anton Didenko R166 won again. I did beat him one race, but it was probably his throw-out. My best race today was a second. I was third in another race but was DSQ for sailing inside a darling mark. I don’t know if I did or not, but I do know I never saw it. We are not coming back here tomorrow because it’s just too far to drive when many of the Europeans need to catch a late afternoon train to Beijing. So, that means I’m done sailing in China.China is amazing. What a wonderful trip, making new friends and seeing old ones. It’s great to sail on Chinese ice—the first American ever(!) to do so.
I am looking forward to the Western Region Championship.
Mike Bloom US321
2024 Western Region Championship Update – Postponed
We are postponing the 2024 Westerns due to frigid temperatures and snow-related uncertainty. Stay tuned for the next update on Monday, January 22, 2024.
Chris Berger US5166 Western Region Commodore
2024 Centrals Update #4 – Under Postponement
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
The 2024 Central Region Championship is postponed. We should have ice for local scrub racing, but nothing big enough to run a safe regatta. Stay tuned, Next update January 23, 2024 by 8PM ET.
Pete Johanson Central Region Commodore US5633
Current Newsletter
DN VIDEOS
Minnesota Ice Sailing Association
- main lake sailed Minnetonka December 31, 2024
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
- Spring Meeting April 15, 2025