Good morning from Menominee in Michigan, where miles of sailable ice have summoned the tribe. The Stern-Steerers and Skeeters made the 30 minutes drive north from Oconto, WI because the fish were biting. (See WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton’s message below.) The Wisconsin Skeeter Association championships will start today. The WSSA and DN Western Regional Championship will begin on Saturday. Green Lake, WI is the Nite Nationals site, and Elk Lake in Michigan will host the DN Central Region Championships. Here are links to all the results. Thanks to tabulators Mary Jane Schalk for handling the Nites, Skeeters, and Stern Steerers and to Ann Foeller for tabulating the DNs.
REGATTA RESULTS FOR MARCH 6-7, 2021 DN Western Region Championship DN Central Region Championship Nite Nationals Wisconsin Skeeters Association Championship Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Championship
The WSSA regatta location has changed due to ice fishermen overtaking Oconto City Park. Apparently the fish are biting and today the park was so full with vehicles on both sides of the road that the beach ramp was inaccessible. Since this is a Thursday we are tentative that Saturday and Sunday will have even more vehicles parked in the way. Therefore the regatta is moved to Menominee where, if nothing else happens, we can be entertained watching DNs. The ramp is at the Watermark Bayview Restaurant, formerly Schlegel’s, on the north side of the parking lot. Permission to use their property as a drive-on and to park in the parking lot has been granted. The access is down a lumpy beach. Four-wheelers will be available to pull trailers though there is 17″ of ice near shore and 12″ to 14″ off-shore a few hundred feet. Drive on is possible. There is a working shove to be crossed to get to the racing area.
First race is now moved to 11 am Saturday, note the time change.
A few small grills will be available for anybody wishing to cook out Friday or Saturday evening. Bring your own food.
Andy
WSSA Secretary
The Black Panther vintage skeeter, built by Chris Smith of Chris-Craft comes off the lake.
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club hopes of getting a racing season for this season were dashed by the recent warm spell. Don Anderson and Jeff Russell pulled off their vintage Skeeter this week because Mendota turned into a slush pit with weakened landings. The 4LIYC has cancelled racing for the weekend.
Who wants to go to Fort Peck, Montana next year? I’m thinking a Baikal-like annual adventure open to all ice sailors. At the end of the season when the rest of our ice is typically un-sailable. Those of us in the Midwest and further left would likely still drive. And maybe we arrange for containers to go from the Central Region and the East? The town would roll out the red carpet for us and maybe even throw in some tourism dollars support. What do you think?
The recent warm weather melted the snow on Lake Mendota this week. 4LIYC members Jim Nordhaus, Don Sanford, and Grant Frautschi took advantage of the marginal conditions before the slush became too deep and the landings deteriorated. See more photos here.
Via WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton:
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Regatta has been called on for Oconto City Park which is about 2 miles south of Oconto, Wisconsin on the bay shore. The intersection to Hwy 41 is at Frog Pond Road.
LAUNCH
Ice access is from a 400′ beach with the ice close to shore frozen to the bottom. It is not recommended to drive more than a few truck lengths onto the ice. A four wheeler will be available to pull trailers onto the ice. Heavy trailers can park on the ice next to shore to off-load. The wind forecast is not great but this may be the last chance for WSSA this season. First race is scheduled for Saturday, March 6 at noon.
LODGING
There is an EconoLodge in Oconto with rooms at $70 with pool, hot tub, and continental breakfast.
600 Brazeau Ave, Oconto, WI 54153 Phone: (920) 834-5559
The ice sailing community is glad that photographer Reb Resnick keeps an eye on our doings. He was on Green Lake over the weekend during the Renegade Championship and Nite Commodore’s Cup with his drone. Check out his gallery of Wisconsin ice sailing images here.
