Dear Fellow Iceboaters,
The official start of WC/EC is almost in a one-week reach. I hope that all of you are prepared both in your body and in your soul for a great event. Please check your gears again, update your knowledge about the rules and Think Ice!
Tomorrow we will depart for the traditional ice outing tour to find the best place to sail the 2018 WC/EC. Of course Estonia is our primary destination, but we should have reserve places as well.
Though last year we had great ice in Hungary, this year the weather hadn’t pampered us. We had plus temperatures all times and hence the lakes hadn’t frozen at all. The neighbouring countries have almost the same situation.
We have some ice on Lipno, but quality of the ice is not the best and the place available is too small for more than 20 boats.
Germany though has some ice, but too thin to sail on it.
In Poland the Nationals will be sailed this week-end on Lake Dargin. We’ll check those lakes in the neighbourhood whether they fit the criteria for alternative/reserve site for the upcoming event.
In Lithuania the Rekyvos Lake hosted the Juniors. At the end of the event there were some issues with snow, which can be melted by now. We will check this place as well.
Latvia has hard snow on ice . It is impossible to sail on it.
Finland also has plenty of snow (8-10 cm).
In Sweden there are a few places with ice, but the real condition still not reported. The monotypes moved from Sweden to Estonia two weeks ago having better conditions there. The situation may have changed since then.
In Estonia they have very good old ice (15-20 cm) between the mainland and the island, as well as in the Parnu Bay and some new ice further out to the sea.
Thus we will travel through Poland visiting Siemianówka and the Mazurian Lakes, then move forward to check Rekyvos Lake in Lithuania and finally land in Estonia for a very thorough ice check of all possible sites.
If needed we can move forward to either Sweden or to Finland.
Please keep me informed about the situation near you. I always count on the opinion of experience sailors.
Post your icereport online on the IDNIYRA website or Contact me ether via e-mail: co*******@id*****.eu, or by phone: +36 (30) 447 3688.
Facebook Messenger, Viber and WatsApp is also an option.
Think Ice,
Your Commodore
Attila Pataky
M-100