Take time to make sure you have a great ice sailing season by reviewing the Sailing Safe page of this website. You’ll find articles on “High and Dry Iceboating”, “Sailing Smart and Safe”, cold water survival videos, a link to “Think Ice Safely and Rules of the Road”, gear recommendations, and much more. Racers should review the right-of-way rules.
Google Translate sometimes misses the mark: “All You Need to Know About Sailing Cars Gliding On Ice” though it does seem fitting considering the guy in the Skeeter, Paul Krueger’s other speed passion is open-wheel racing.
Ran across this in-depth article via Facebook about iceboating from “The Power of Wind” a Russian sailing website. The MARY B even gets a mention! Google’s translation could be better but if you are interested in the history of the sport around the world and in Russia, it’s worth taking a few minutes to read.
In the minds of most people who first heard the word “iceboat”, there is absolutely no association. Yes, and the description that it is a boat, put on skates, also does not particularly clarify the already confusing picture. Paradoxical in this situation is that the iceboat is not a newfangled entertainment and not the pampering of amateur designers, but a real sport with all the attendant attributes: international competitions, division into classes, clearly stipulated regulations and, most importantly, its long history.
Continue reading. (Links to Google’s English translation.)
Just as I was editing the previous entry about Montana’s first ice, received this photo from Minnesota ice sailor, Mike Bloom, who has his DN rigged for the first ride of the season on Lake Christina in Minnesota, the site of many Western Challenge fun regattas.
5 PM UPDATE:
Christina provided smiling faces on Opening Day!
Our western friends check in with their first sail of the 17-18 season. Patrick Dillon sends this beautiful Montana landscape with Dave Gluek at the helm of a DN.
Photo: Tim Stanton. Lars Barber and Doug Kolner taking away what is not needed for the new Nite plank.
Planers and sanders are making dust as iceboat parts are being produced in shops around the Four Lakes region. After a trip to McCormick Lumber yesterday for some Sitka Spruce, the guys at the Belle Isle Boatworks – Stanton Campus began working on a new Nite plank for Lars Barber.
DN sailor Mike Madge opened the North American ice sailing season in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada today. He reports on his Facebook page:
First sail of the year. Went from using FO1 in the morning to a Speed Sail then just skating.Fun day but really windy,almost had my first out of boat experience as the gusts were huge. Nice hard black ice with less the a cm of snow cover.Too windy to film sailing using an IPad.
The Ice Maker is working overtime tonight in the Midwest with temperatures of 8F tonight in western Minnesota!
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
Location: In person at the Elks Lodge 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Time: 6:30 PM
YOU ARE SKIPPER NUMBER
TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
