The masts of more than 40 iceboats from around the country made for a spectacular view Sunday at Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

The absence of wind kept them from unfurling their sails, so families skated and visited with fellow enthusiasts, or simply browsed the latest iceboat creations.

Mike McGuire of Helena says waiting for wind is part of the sport. McGuire bought his 12-foot CN-class wooden iceboat from Lance Hassack of Manhattan.

McGuire, a retired truck driver, admits he's new to the sport, but says he has been able to get a fair number of outings this year. He said his boat can surpass sppeds of 55 miles an hour.

Chad Fitzgerald works as a pharmacist at St. Peter's Hospital, and says a difference in wind speeds of just 1 mile per hour can determine whether or not its possible to go iceboating.

Sunday's mid-afternoon wind gusted to only 3 1/2 miles per hour, and 5 mph is needed, he said.

Fitzgerald has been iceboating for 17 years, but said this is the first time he has ever been part of the gathering.

"It's East meets West," he said.

In the eastern U.S., people iceboat but in the West they landsail -- which uses a similar design but has wheels where the runners would be, Fitzgerald said.

"They are meeting in Helena to see whose got the fastest rig," he said with a grin.

Many of the boats were handcrafted, like Carl Harper's "Bird," which recently made its first launch since 1994.

Harper, 85, built "Bird" 20 years ago, and has more than a dozen other creations to his name.

Harper is credited with bringing iceboating to the reservoir. He was on hand Sunday to observe the regatta while his daughter, Hope, sailed in it.

Hope is a member of the Helena women's hockey team, but admits to being somewhat disconnected from iceboating since of the birth of her son, Will, last year.

"We can't believe this is happening," she said. "It is such an amazing get-together."

Dave Gluek, 52, of Bozeman, is one of the iceboat regatta's organizers. Gluek grew up in Minnesota, and his grandfather introduced him to iceboating. Gluek moved to Montana in 1972 and started participating in the sport about 15 years later.

Gluek and Glen Monahan, of Anaconda, own three iceboats that are also land-sailers.

"This is one of the best venues in the world," Gluek said. "It's so dry and our conditions hold for a long time."

Gluek said he loves the feeling of freedom he gets from iceboating -- not to mention the view of the mountains from the lake. But Gluek said the best part is testing his skills and pushing his boat for the best performance it will deliver.

Jack Jacobs of Elk Rapids, Mich., comes from a family of iceboaters. His grandfather built the world's largest -- Deuce, a 55-foot stern-steered craft out of Racine, Wis. -- early in the last century.

Jacobs and his wife Kelly hauled two iceboats all the way to Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

The creations are called "J-boats," and feature his newest design: a triangle-shaped hull.

Iceboating enthusiasts say Canyon Ferry Reservoir has perfect conditions for the sport -- with ice and wind but little snow.

Bob Dill, an engineer from Vermont, was in Helena for the regatta, but didn't bring a boat of his own.

"This is a phenomenal place to sail," Dill said. "Most often you have a wind and not much snow."

Amy Livezey of Helena has been an iceboater for a long time, but spent her day Sunday working on a documentary.

Livezey said iceboating is a fun outdoors activity for winter months, and is a thrilling sport.

Races will depend on wind, but organizers said they will try to get in as many races as they can over the next few days.