Ice Report 2006-2007

Sunday,  March 11,  2007

The Ides of March have rendered a beautiful sheet of ice too dangerous by putting some occasional Drain-Holes out there.  Most are small enough to pass over and feel just a bump, but the one or two we saw that had runner-swallowing potential were enough to pull the plug on all sailing activities for the weekend, and possibly for the year.

Les and Ryan Lashaway, Kent Baker, Randy Baumker and his nephew, Al, Jason Hall, Bill and Joe Jockett all helped in pulling the ramps from the  125th street launch site. 

At this point we will wait to hear from Glen Betzoldt regarding Sand Lake, and of course from our Own David Zoll, The Central Lakes DN Commodore on if the Central Region Regatta Will be held.  It is scheduled for next weekend, and it is safe to say we will be headed north to find any good ice.

Friday,  March 9,  2007

Maumee Bay is still Sailable !  We had some sailors out on the bay today.  Wind died late afternoon, but they had some good rides before that.  They are saying that the snow is insulating the ice from thawing, and also smoothing out some of the rough stuff.  I would say it is about 3/4 inch of slushy white snow.  So get yer boats out and sail while you still can!  We will be sailing Saturday... probably scrub races... If its raining early it should stop by early afternoon and become sunny.   Then Sunday its on for the Neumann Race fair skies and sunshine winds may be light though!  - showdown of front-steered boats.  10 laps - many may not make it all the way...  but should be fun to watch!

Sunday- Neumann Brothers Race Skippers meeting at 11AM , NOON START.  Might be a good Idea to have your boats already on the ice Saturday if you plan on racing.

Saturday,  March 3,  2007

Maumee Bay - Started with 5 DN's and sailed the Meilnk race today.  One sailor had back problems and went in before the start.  Harold Hoffman suffered some sort of catastrophic hull and/or plank failure so then we were down to three.  Wind was blowing 15-20  gusting into the low 20's somewhere.  Ice is pretty good, but there is rough snow/slush so it slows you down and makes for a lot of work to keep  your speed up.  DN's completed 3 races, Skimmers had 2 boats and completed 3 one-lap races. 

15 meters sailed around but did not race today.

Skippers meeting at 10 AM Sharp.  125th street ramp   will be DN races, double handed races and whatever else the race committee can get going.  DONT MISS!! THIS COULD BE THE LAST DAY OF LOCAL ICE!!

ADVISORY - Going Around the horn from the bay to the river is NOT SAFE.  One sailor went through and caught his tiller on the mouth.  We did not check the river for sailability, but with high river levels in the region, there may be enough current there to erode the ice from below.  So we don't recommend sailing on the river for the rest of the season.

Friday,  March 2,  2007

Maumee Bay - Race Committee is calling for Pan-AM, Meilink, and Double-Handed Worlds on the Maumee Bay This weekend.  Ice looks pretty good.   Temps only expected to hit 32 for highs this weekend.  Saturday Wind Forecasts are on the heavy side, Sunday winds sound perfect.  9:30 Skippers meeting at 125th street Access.

If the bay doesn't prove safe or raceable, Sand Lake may be a possibility for Sunday.

Saturday,  February 24,  2007

Maumee Bay - The "Burrzurker" , a couple of 15-Meters, a DN, A skimmer,  and the A-Frame now or formerly known as the "Roast Beef" sailed.  A small fleet headed around the horn and up the river successfully.  Ice was rough and the "Burrzurker" reportedly suffered a nearly catastrophic steering post failure with 6 adults on board.  This may have been Ryan Lashaway's Girlfriends first - and last ice boat ride.  Report from the commodore last night said that there is still black ice on the bay, but there are lots of frozen slush piles, making it sailable, but not raceable.  The Race Committee is eyeing next weekend for more club races.

Wednesday,  February 14,  2007

Maumee Bay - No Valentine Present - Lots of Blowing Drifting snow dashed all hopes of more sailable ice.  While the ice was very thick and smooth beneath the snow, the drifts are going to require some help...  high winds and low temps or high temperatures and light wind...  

Menominee, MI - This is on Green Bay.  Here... A picture says it all... http://www.iceboating.net/node/2071   DN Worlds Starts Sunday, Feb. 18th

Monday,  February 12,  2007

Maumee Bay - Dusting of snow last night and much more to come.  I recommend pulling all small boats off the ice and large boats need to be at least 40 feet from shore and on extra high risers to prevent getting froze in as the water will come up over the ice as the weight of the snow pushes down.  This eventually freezes and makes for a difficult time chipping your boat out!

Sunday,  February 11,  2007

Maumee Bay - Had a Fantastic Day Saturday.  WE had Tons of DN's, 5+15 Meters, 3 10 Meters, 2+ Arrows, 3+ A-Frames, Lots Of Renegades, A couple Skeeters, 2+Skimmers, And a few assorted others.  Will have a count of boats by class done this morning.

Come on out!  This ice is fine.  The wind is forecast to be a little heavier, so the ability to give rides to the public may be limited.

Friday,  February 9,  2007

Maumee Bay - Skippers Meetings for Both Saturday And Sunday Club Races will be at 9:30 at the 125th street ramp.  Saturday we will race the Greiner Open, in between Renegade Races.  Sunday we will finish the Greiner open then race the Reno Race. 

Ice conditions are good - some snow cover.  Ice is nearly a foot thick at this point.

Anyone wishing to go "round the horn"  the race has been canceled due to deep hard snow conditions at the lost peninsula point area.  Use caution if sailing around that area...  keep is slow, and also look out for possible soft water near the shore!

 

Tuesday,  February 6,  2007

Maumee Bay -  this report was submitted by Dave Zoll to the DN forum:

Date and time of report:  February 6, 2007
Ice Location:  Toledo, Ohio
Ice thickness:  Report thinnest ice checked!  6 inches + and building
 

                   The Maumee Bay was sailed today by me and Glenn Betzoldt.  We logged about 20 miles, sailed from Point Place launch to Grassy Island, then north into Michigan up to North Cape, then back west to Lost penninsula and back.

    Rating: 7.5

about 40% of the ice is smooth clear green ice.  There is about 30% snow cover, none deep.  We sailed til dark.

Snow cover:  How deep: most snow was less than 1/2inch, some an inch, rarely more.             30      % covered:                   Drifts:  a few may have been 2 inches.

Tell us more about the snow:  Snow was sticky cold.  But there were open lanes and you could sail through the snow.  Wind was about 7 - 9 while we were out there.  There is more snow cover near shore.

Ice quality:  How smooth, how hard: Ice was 40% smooth, 30% pebbly to rough, 30% sticky, although there were large areas of smooth ice with little snow cover.

Known hazards and dangerous areas:  We sailed out to the ship channel (1.5 - 2 miles).  We did not sail the mouth of Ottawa River.

How big:  1.2 miles or more in some directions

Where to get on the ice:  125th street for now.  Go to TIYC web site for specific directions.  Other access is at Lost Peninsula Marina.

What is nearby:  How far to a hotel, food, drink or hot tub?  Motels 5 - 10 minutes away.  Party this weekend at Ottawa River Yacht Club.  Club racing on Sunday. What town?  Toledo.
 

Sunday,  February 4,  2007 7:45 PM

Maumee Bay -  Yes, it was cold.  But not too bad as long as you could cover everything up.  We had two 15 meters, an arrow, and A-frame, a Skimmer and 3 or 4 DN's set up today.  Sailing happened mostly in small bits as long rides produced cold hands and feet and very cold faces.  Channel 13 was down and taped some footage as well as a photographer from the Toledo Blade.    A couple of us sailed "Around the Horn" successfully.  Also a few guys sailed into Shantee Creek - both finding some water.  Luckily they live close by and was able to go home and dry off.  

Ice conditions  Hard green ice, spots of which are healed with bumpy white ice.  The snow coverage is now down to 60-70% but the cold weather makes it feel like you are driving through sand. 

The Ottawa river has some nice ice, but deeper snow.   The widest part of the river near ORYC is not too bad. 

 

Sunday,  February 4,  2007

Maumee Bay -  Many boats were launched yesterday.  Several brave ones sailed DN's, an Arrow and an A-Frame (the Roast-Beef now has a new rig!)  Racing was called due to 1. High winds gusting to 30  2. Low Visibility (intermittent white-outs)  3. COLD!  our Weather Station here on the bay recorded a high of 18 degrees.  Not bad but when you add in the wind chill factor...   It came down to survival sailing.   Good news is there was a large potential course.  The snow was sticky, but beneath is real nice hard smooth green ice.  This morning it appears that the wind has polished the ice.  Overnight lows of -4 degrees means our ice is getting thicker and stronger. 

I am going to brave the extreme cold and bundle up and attempt to rig the boat.  Winds are forcasted to be 15-20 this morning, possibly increasing in the afternoon, so if you want to sail do it early and be prepared for extreme cold!  If there are any others out there and we can sail slow enough we might see how far east we can sail (to Ottawa River?)  otherwise maybe do some scrub races to practice for the big DN regatta on the 18th-25th. 

Saturday,  February 3,  2007

Maumee Bay -  Greiner Open  Scheduled.  Skippers Meeting at 10AM at 125th street ramp.  Sailing likely wont start until about noon.  Expect high winds, cold temps.

Friday,  February 2,  2007

Maumee Bay -  Great Reports.  Race Committee checked today and found no less than 4" inches.  Dynamite dock is invisible under the ice and a good course can go from 145 street to 119th street based on what has been observed so far.    Race Committee has called for the Greiner open to be raced on Saturday.  Expect high winds - if no races the Radar Gun will be employed to see what speeds we can get to.  Sunday expect extreme low temps.  Might be good sailing in short bursts (with a warm cocoa or hot-toddie in between).  More information possibly after the Meeting tonight.

Centrals Report -  Indian lake  POSTPONED

Sand Lake - No new reports.  Should be sailable with drifting snow 1-3" ???

 

Thursday,  February 1,  2007

Maumee Bay -  Maumee Bay has 2-1/2" to 4" of nice green ice.  It is smooth and has about 75% snow coverage.  Most of the snow is about 1/2"-3/4"  with Max drifts 1-1/2" to 2" deep.  Snow is the styrofoam type stuff.  We walked more than halfway to Man-made island but ran out of daylight.  Ice made no noise and is solid.  Cracks are well healed and were less than 1/2" inch.  This is about as good as I have seen Maumee Bay.   Someone still needs to sail this to check the limits of a potential course.  Chris Frederick will have his 15 meter set up...  anyone else care to join him?  Don't think the shoreline ice can support ATV's quite yet.

Centrals Report -  Indian lake (in the Wapakoneta & Lima, Ohio area) Is on for Central Regional Regatta this weekend.  To see a map click: Indian Lake Map  Detail of the launch site: Captains Point

Sand Lake - Sailed this afternoon, about 2" of snow on the lake. The Zoll Hole has frozen over and that area is marked with two black barrels so you know that was the thin ice area.  (from Glen Betzoldt)

 

Sunday,  January 28,  2007

Sand Lake - There is thin ice in the vicinity of 2 Barrels just south of the center of the lake. 

On Saturday, Our own Dave Zoll personally tested this ice and has deemed it unsafe...   races were called off and a safe course for recreational reaching was established allowing sailors to get some sailing in.  Racers also got a chance to change the tuning of their rigs.

Maumee Bay - Blew or melted out Friday night.

Friday,  January 26,  2007

Sand Lake - 9:00 AM Skippers Meeting at the Public Launch Site

Meanwhile back on the homefront -  Maumee Bay has frozen nicely with single digit temperatures and Calm air Thursday night.  Appears to be about an inch thick with 20% snow cover.  Drifts appear to be less than 1/2 inch deep.  There is the usual open area at the channel,  some discoloration at dynamite dock, and a possible bird hole just a little east of dynamite dock.  This ice is probably 2-3 days away from being scouted for sailing.

Thursday,  January 25,  2007

Glen Betzoldt reports good ice on Sand Lake.  4 inches of ice.  1 inch or less of snow.  1 goose hole easily seen since it is full of waterfowl.  single digit temps tonight may seal that up and thicken the ice for us. 

Race Committee Randy Baumker has made the call for the Greiner Open on Saturday, AYC counter races on Sunday. 

Check here or the hotline for any new updates that may come along Friday night.

Friday,  January 19,  2007

Rob Linden reports great sailing and smooth ice on Lake Lansing.  Snow drifts are no more than 3/4"  Ice is black on the thin side, but elastic rather than brittle.  Rob has his boat rigged and ready and will be on the ice at 9AM Saturday.     He says the North State Park DNR access is the launch site, though the sailing club might possibly be open.

Wednesday,  January 17,  2007

Got a call from Rob Linden.  The home ice of the Michigan State Spartans now has 2-4" of ice and making more each night.  Lake Lansing is a great place to sail and has a friendly local club that likely will put on scrub races.  Rob will keep us updated as conditions change.

Currently there is no ice on the Maumee Bay - I am sure it is waiting for that perfect calm night to freeze up nice and green.

We will of course update you on Sand Lake and other local ice as reports come in. 

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