2019 ISA on Lake Pepin in Lake City, MN Photo: Steve Brown
Mayor Mark and AmericInn Host, Justin are rolling out the red carpet to have us back this weekend for what we’re dubbing the Pepin “Pop-Up” Regatta…unscheduled, unsanctioned, unscored…and undeniably among the best ice sailing venues anywhere!
Does it have a sail? Does it have runners? Does it have a loose nut at the helm? You’re in! Just show up and have fun. We’ll scrub race, trade secrets, tell stories and test the ice for a possible ISA and/or DN North American Championship. If the stars aligned like that, wouldn’t that be unbelievable!?
Here are some pictures and a description of the ice conditions yesterday, January 7, 2020.
“Ramp could use more ice, but 15 feet out 5-6″ thick. At 50 – 100 ft. out, 8-9″ thick. No pressure ridges as far as I can see. Pretty smooth. I can bring the 4LIYC ramps and Deb can bring the DN Western Region ATV and trailer.”
It’s subzero there right now, so the landing will be even better and the ice even thicker. Small amount of rain in forecast for Thursday, which should help Zamboni the decent ice we have already. Temps. in mid to upper twenties Saturday and Sunday with winds 10 – 15 mph.
Justin has even offered an under-the-radar rate of $75/night at the AmericInn just down the street from the Lake City Launch. So pack your long undies and call the hotel at 651-345-5611 and book your room.
Doesn’t this sound like one that would be unfortunate to miss?
Joe Terry V36 at the tiller of his Class D Stern Steerer LACINDA MAE at the 2019 Northwest Regatta on Lake Pepin in MN Photo: Pat Heppert
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 23 and 24, 2019. The next update will be Sunday, February 17. Check back here at that time. Too much snow, shell ice, and roughness.
The Skeeters are back on Lake Pepin this weekend to bring it on for the Northwest, including this boat, Jim Gluek’s A Skeeter Merlin. A Jim McDonagh video production.
It took a cooperative effort to make the ISA a success. Thanks go to the following:
John Dennis & Jim McDonaugh: Ice checking, course setting, race starting Steve Schalk: ISA Secretary/Treasurer, course setting, flagging, and anything else that needed doing. Jason Thompson & the rest of the SIBC sailors who helped in any way asked. Mary Jane Schalk: Off site tabulation. She published race results at a blazing speed, even before the sailors had a chance to walk over to look at the line up sheets to see how they finished! She also contacted the hotels and arranged the banquet. Julie Jankowski: Facebook video and photo updates which were much appreciated around the world. Steve Brown: Lake City resident and licensed drone pilot who shared his videos and pictures with all of us. Don Sanford: Flagging, race starting Wayne Schmeidlin (Wayne’s Automotive on Cottage Grove Road, Madison) and his son, Adam, who not only tuned up our ATV but made sure my car was in good shape to haul it. We would not have had as many races without an ATV in good working condition. The people of Lake City, Minnesota who welcomed ice boaters for the second weekend in a row. It’s heartening to see them come to the landing to see what we are up to, ask questions, and take pictures. All four fleets for always being lined up and ready to race as soon as the last boat crossed the finish line.
Lake Winnebago stern-steerer sailors Andy Gratton and Mike Kroll might still be on the search for ice so that they can add to their 1000 mile season. Ice is rare this time of year but they did drop in to visit with an iceboater from Lake City, MN.
“Mike Kroll and I were in Rochester and stopped to see Bruce Eggenberger, a long-time stern steerer sailor at Lake City. He had this photo from his uncle who used to ice boat there.
The story is that most of these boats were all stored in the same barn. Some irate wives of the iceboaters burned the barn one night. Silly them, they didn’t realize the boats were keeping their husbands out of the bars. I bet it was Bob’s wife because he didn’t name the boat after her”.
Back of photo
In a related story, a few years ago, Harry Allen sent a link to this Lake Minnetonka Magazine article written about the iceboating scene on Pepin and Minnetonka in the 1890s. The story details a race between the Pepin and Minnetonka stern-steerers with the winning skipper of the race being a 17 year old girl, Nancy Bassett.
