Nite News 12/08/03

Getting Closer???

From Mike Bloom (#535) 11/25/03:
With the Thanksgiving holiday just a few days away, I am pleased to report that the Tonka Nite fleet is thankful that, for once, Tonka is not frozen. Had the lake been frozen, the 6 to 8 inches of snow that fell this weekend would have definitely put an early end to this year's iceboat season. The lake is ready to freeze any day now. I will let you know the minute we have ice.

From Larry Pearson (#83) 12/2/03:
I believe that I am the only Nite owner in West Central Minnesota (Alexandria). Some of the smaller lakes in our area have frozen with a beautiful coat of ice. Our city has a couple of lakes on the North end of the main street that really look great. I am going to check the ice thickness and hopefully will get some sailing in this weekend. These lakes are shallow and have been frozen for several weeks.

From Mike Bloom (#535) 12/8/03:
The Tonka Nite fleet enjoyed its first ice of the season December 5, 6 and 7, 2003, out on Buffalo lake. The lake is about 40 minutes west of Minnetonka and is about the biggest sheet we sail on, with the exception of Winnebago and Mendota.

The first two days of sailing the conditions were awesome: smooth ice, covered with about 1-2 inches of very fluffy snow and plenty of wind. By Sunday, however, the sun and warm weather was starting to turn the snow into Styrofoam making for tough sledding. Downwind, if you did not stay powered up and in the breeze, you would quickly come to a grinding halt.

The usual boats all spent some time on the ice this weekend. Erwin raced the DN regatta with son Graham but Slocum, Buesing, Kresbaugh, Brown, Nordlie and Bloom all were on the ice.

The highlight of the weekend was welcoming John Smith of Upper Tonka to the Tonka Nite fleet. John bought one of Terry Erwin's boats and sailed it on Sunday for the first time. It was great to his smile as he jumped in the cockpit for the first time!

We are still "a go" for the Unofficial World Championships. Buffalo, Tonka and White Bear are our primary locations. Look for updates later this week from Regatta Chairman Scott Brown. I am sure he will make a decision by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. We would love to see Wisconsin boats for this event.

Sail safe. THINK ICE!