Ice Sailing Season is On

The ice sailing season kicked off at the Great Western Challenge held December 5-6 on the best ice in Minnesota.

The event was held on Lake Christina near Fergus Falls, MN. Fifty miles from the mythical Fargo, ND in a region occasionally referred to as ‘East Dakota’.

Sixty-three sailors from five countries and at least a dozen states showed up and got a head start on the season. For those that practiced on Friday, good breeze and light snow cover provided champagne sailing – high speeds, bending masts and all of the things DN sailors crave all summer long.

When racing started on Saturday, with lighter wind and slightly softer ice, the Western sailors showed the way with John Dennis winning all three races. Sunday dawned with surreal fog and frost on everything but no breeze and none on the way. The fleet packed up and headed for home in a (for DN sailors) bizarre display of group common sense. Final results – Photos

Safe to say the fun-meter was pegged! Great to get out sailing, plain and simple. The rookies all had a ball and there were some good battles in both Gold and Silver fleets. Put this one on your calendar for next year- veteran or rookie, fancy boat or old clunker, you will have a blast!

If you are interested in getting involved in hard-water sailing see the “Getting Started” sections at www.iceboat.org or theneiya.org.