Ice sailing coming to Lake Osakis this weekend

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The 2008 Great Western Challenge Regatta should bring at least 75 ice sailors to Lake Osakis for a weekend of adventure.

Sails will begin gliding across Lake Osakis around noon Friday, December 5 and continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, December 6 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, December 7.

The event includes sailors from Germany, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Minnesota.

According to organizers, the event includes two types of races, a DN one-man ice boat and Ice/Opti children’s races.

As of Wednesday, December 3, organizers reported “almost perfect ice” on Lake Osakis, in fact, they believe this is the “best ice in the great state of Minnesota.”

According to the Web site www.iceboating.net, the best ice is defined as the sheet of fantastic suitable ice that’s closest to the Twin Cities metro area.

Currently, ice on Lake Osakis is measuring anywhere from six to eight inches thick.

For more information go to www.iceboating.net.

Tags: osakis, sailing, regatta, lake, boat