No Fireside for Hardy Ice Sailors

4:42 AM Wed 10 Dec 2008 GMT

'Osakis - the iceboats are out!' .

Sailors in the southern hemisphere are right now filling the waterways and oceans with flotillas of white sails, and relishing the warm breezes and long days. In the tropics it's good ALL the time. However, in the northern hemisphere the freeze is setting in and there's many a sailor sheltering around the fireplace rather than under the dodger. But there's ONE brand of sailor who's up and loving it - the Ice Sailor!

Ice sailing is practiced in Great Britain, Poland, Norway and Sweden to some extent, and is very popular in the Netherlands and on the Gulf of Finland, but its highest development is in the United States and Canada.

Osakis icesailors - .. .

This year on Lake Osakis in Minnesota, they are claiming the 'best ice' of the year to hold their regatta - and in Minnesota they've been holding Ice Regattas for at least 15 years.

The Osakis Review claims that this isn't just a bunch of danger-mongers playing around. While they admit ice sailing is dangerous - their goal is brand new smooth-as-glass black ice - 'It is a real, genuine sport.'

The hull, runners and sail typically total approximately 120 pounds (55 kilos). Add one sailor and a good wind - 10 to 12 knots - and that machine travels about 2-1/2 times the speed of the wind or an average of 25-35 knots.
If anyone doubts the seriousness of the sport at this point, consider the participants.

Ice sailors from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Montana and Massachusetts were were to be found this week flying across Lake Osakis, with more coming from Poland, Germany and Australia.

Greta Petrich, Editor of the Osakis Review had the opportunity of following four-time world champion Ron Sherry around the ice. He began racing at age 9 and is still going strong 35 years later.

According to Sherry, 'It's easy to hit 35 knots; what's really fun is when you get over 50.'

'It's a ride you'll never forget,' he told Petrich.

by Des Ryan

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No Fireside for Hardy Ice Sailors

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