Deb's DN World Championship Updates
February 3, 2012
4LIYC Club Races are ON for Feb. 4, 5
Launch Site: The Lake Street landing near Capt. Bill's
Greg Simon and Jim Nordhaus report the ice thickness and surface both look good with no drain holes.
February 2, 2012
4LIYC Ice-Check Friday 10:00am at Mendota County Park.
Chief Judge and CIO (Chief Ice Officer) Greg Simon will be checking the ice for possible weekend 4LIYC racing.
Fleet Captains and other interested parties should help out!
DN Worlds Results:
Via Deb Whitehorse: the provisional results of the 2012 DN World Championship have been posted.
The European Championship is next on the schedule.
Check Deb's regatta-blog for more details on the event.
More Photos from Last Sunday on Mendota
Peter Fauerbach has sent in a few more photos from last Sunday's racing.
Frebruary 1, 2012
Nite and Renegade Regattas Have Been Postponed.
Next update Sunday, Feb. 5th
January 31, 2012
Conditions on Area Lakes Appear to be Deteriorating
There are reports from around the region that the warm weather has seriously affected the ice.
Many people who left boats on the ice this weekend are removing them.
The planned weekend regattas are actively looking for venues that are not being hit by the spring-like temperatures.
DN World Championship Reports
The first two days of the regatta have had no wind.
Gareth Rowland, K-11, has posted a gallery of photos.
4-Lake's own Deb Whitehorse continues to post about the regatta on her blog here.
January 30, 2012
The Nite National Championship Regatta is called ON for Feb. 3-5 for Southern Wisconsin.
From Nite Commodore Don Sanford, "Ice inspectors and weather prognosticators are doing their thing. More news on this soon."
Sunday's Results, Photos, etc.
Preliminary race results are here.
Peter Fauerbach's photos from last Sunday are here.
January 29, 2012
The Renegade Championship Regatta is called ON for Feb. 3-5 on the Madison-area lakes.
Next update Wednesday, Feb. 1.
The ISA and Northwest Regattas are postponed.
Next update Sunday, Feb. 5
4LIYC Club Racing:
After too much wind on Saturday, Sunday brought much better conditions. The Reneagde, Nite, and DN fleets sailed four races each in winds varying from 8 to 15 mph with occasional intervals up into the upper teens. Areas of new snow and crusty drifts made for challenging racing in the lower wind strengths.
January 26, 2012
DN World & European Championship News:
Deb Whitehorse had a one-word post on Facebook this morning: "Sweden".
She is posting more information her blog.
January 25, 2012
This Day in NIYA History
Wednesday, January 23, 1974, Wisconsin State Journal
Here's Twin Beds, the boat Bill McCormick sailed in 1974, at the 2002 Northwest on Lake Kegonsa skippered by Pete McCormick.
Stern Steerer Kid: Cure for Most Depressing Day of the Year
Some travel marketing web site came up with a pseudo-scientific equation proving that the first Monday on the last full week of January is the most depressing day of the year. "The date was calculated by using many factors, including: weather conditions, debt level (the difference between debt accumulated and our ability to pay), time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling of a need to take action." Here's a favorite video of the stern-steerer kid taking action.
January 22, 2012
WSSA Postponed
Via WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton, "The WSSA has been postponed to Feb 4 and 5. Check back on Sunday, Jan 29, for further updates. We need more ice thickness."
NIYA Postponed
The Northwest Ice Yachting Association is postponed until February 3,4,5,2012. Check back on Sunday, January 29, 2012 for more information.
This Day in NIYA History
Monday, January 22, 1951, Wisconsin State Journal
Slide from the Carl Bernard collection, Elmer Millenbach, 1951 NIYA champion, sails his Renegade. This slide may date from that particular regatta
.
January 20, 2012
Frozen Tundras
No 4LIYC Racing for January 21-22
(No,sadly,not this kind until next season, enough said.) Received a couple of reports that despite the sub-zero temperatures, large gooseholes were still keeping parts of Middleton Bay open on the west end of Mendota. Peter Fauerbach writes ,"Among the waterfowl keeping areas of some lakes open were more than 300 tundra
swans that have been on Lake Mendota for a couple of weeks."
Greg Simon has canceled the usual Friday ice check given that currently lakes are snow covered and unsailable with another forecasted 3-5" of snow for today.
Behind the Scenes
Here's some behind the scene footage shot on Green Bay at Menominee and Canada last season from the production of Sail Racing International's catalog. . They came to North America the last week of January 2011 to photograph Skeeters sailing and were lucky enough to make it to Menominee to see Tom Hyslop, Buddy Melges, and Bill Dale sailing the day before 4" of snow fell on the ice. (The snow also caused the IDNIYRA Gold Cup regatta to be relocated to IL.) Here's the catalog which features some nice photos of Skeeters on Green Bay and in Canada.
Another Geneva Lake Webcam
Keep on eye on Geneva Lake from the Eleven Gables Inn & Cottage from the city-side of the lake. Click here for webcam.
This Day in 4LIYC & NIYA History
Thursday, January 20, 1965 Capital Times
"ENTER REGATTA
These three local skippers will have boats in the Northwest
Ice Yachting Regatta on Lake Geneva (his weekend. They are,
left to right: Bill Mattison, Dave Rosten and Jack Ripp.
3 Locals in
Ice Regatta
Three Madison men will skipper
boats in the Northwest Ice
Yachting Regatta on Lake Geneva
this coming weekend. The
competition will center off the
Abbey at Williams Bay.
Jack Ripp, a four-time winner
1957, '58, '61 and '62, defending
champion Dave Rosten, and
Bill Mattison, who has won just
about every other race in competition except the Northwest
will make up the local entries.
Only two lakes in the Midwest
are furnishing excellent ice for
ice boat racing at the present
time. They are Green Lake and
Lake Geneva, both of which froze
after the recent snowstorm. Lake
Mendota, here, froze before the
snowstorm and the surface is
rough."
January 19, 2012
Roaming Charges
On Tuesday, January 24, the webmaster is flying to Germany to attend the 2012 DN World Championship regatta. Many thanks to Goeff Sobering who will continue to update iceboat.org while I'm standing on the ice somewhere in Europe. Follow along on the DN Worlds page here.
They Are Experienced
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Via Cabbage Patch Communication Director Todd Knop,"Preparation continues of the DN experience. Sideboards are marked by Jimmy and Rick and table jig is assembled."
A comparison between the Cabbage Patch's flagship, the Deuce, the World's Largest Ice Boat, and a DN.
January 18, 2012
Nite Nats Posponed
Via Nite Commodore Don Sanford, "We (Scott Brown, Rick Wilfert and I) have decided to postpone the Nite National championship. However, expect to see some sailing in the Twin Cities area and perhaps Pewaukee."
Help the Young Guns!
Dave Elsmo (Rick Hennig's nephew) is successfully recruiting
college age sailors into the sport of ice boating. In an effort to help his gang raise money for gas and repairs, he is making and selling customized runner bags.
"Each bag is a three-fold padded system that can be enclosed with Velcro, cinch or clip systems. I will customize each bag to sail numbers (large or small, Red or blue). These will not prevent edge damage from a fall like a hard case will, but they will do a good job in transit and out on the ice. $70 each. Please email to order or if you have any questions."
Dave's efforts are separate from his role as head of instruction at Hoofers and head sailing coach at the University of Wisconsin but his ties to the Midwest Collegiate Sailing association and young sailors through Hoofers makes it easy for him to find enthusiastic sailors.
"I have a list of 15+ college sailors from the team alone who have expressed a deep desire to try this. Sailors who are highly competitive and safe. My problem will never be finding bodies, it's always finding boats.
Iceboating fulfills all my wants and needs for excitement travel and camaraderie.
The deal I made with my uncle was he wanted more guys and girls my age and younger to get into the sport, hence the reason he bought me Jane Pagels old trailer.
Since then I have traveled with a full load of boats and a crew of my college sailors. I have every intention of continuing this trend as it breaks down my cost and makes the trip more fun!
Currently we have a loaner boat, a dormant DNer from 4LIYC. If you know of anybody send them my way. I will store it on the trailer covered when not in use. Not looking for anything particularly fast either. I have an extra carbon spar sail and runners (can build a boom) to get it up to speed.
I can't say enough about the DN fleet in all seriousness. I have been sailing competitively around the United States since I was 12 and no fleet comes even close to the level of togetherness and helpfulness that the DN fleet shares. Heck, we broke down 4 times [at the DN Western Regional] this weekend and people pitched in to get our boats up and sailing again before the next race........every time!"
January 17, 2012
This Day in 4LIYC & WSSA History
Sunday, January 17, 1965, Wisconsin State Journal
Zinn in Deuce Wins Twice, Tops Class A
Ed Zinn of Pewaukee skippered Deuce to a pair of firsts Saturday and leads the field after the first days action in the Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association ice boat regatta.
Deuce twice beat out Ferdinand the Bull, piloted by Bill Mattison of Madison, in the competition off Conklin park on Lake Mendota.
Tied for third are the Mary B., title hope of the the host Four Lakes Ice Yacht club, and the Flying Dutchman of Green Lake.
Three more races are scheduled today for the big Class A ice boats, at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m.
Madison Leads Class C
Glidy Gerber of Lake Geneva won two races and was third in another for the Class B division lead. Second are Lincoln Foster Sr. and Jr., Oshkosh sailmakers, who won one race and placed third twice.
Dave McCormick of Madison beat DAve Butler of Madison twice for top honors in Class C. The B and C boats will have two more races today.
Running with the bigger boats Saturday were the Madison club's DN 60s and skeeters in their regular weekend competition.
John Ripp won the DN 60 race followed by John Fish Jr. and Glen Christensen. Fifth was Urs Lochen, a University of Wisconsin graduate student from Switzerland in his first season of ice boating.
Mattison Fills In
Dave Rosten, winner last weekend of the International Skeeter Association (ISA) regatta at Pewaukee captured Saturday's skeeter event, followed by Mattison, Jack Ripp, John Bluel Sr., and Paul Krueger.
Terry Leatl and Jerry Rorke, both of Pewaukee, served for Zinn in Deuce, which is owned by 1964 ISA champion Bill Perrigo.
Mattison was filling in on Ferdinand for Olympic sailor Bud Melges, who was unable to be here Saturday. Hank Morgan of Lake Geneva, Ferdinand's owner, was Mattison's crew.
Jim Payton, former Mallory Cup sailing champion, is commanding the Mary B in this regatta. Mo Cleland served as Payton's crew for Saturday's first race, then let the skipper handle the swift-moving craft himself in the second.
Olympic sailor Pete Barrett is expected to join the crew for tomorrow's windup races.
Fail @ 3:34
Here's a video of another anatomy of a mast failure. (Remember this one from 2009.) "Ice sailing on Friday 13th, practice before regatta in Sweden on Lake Storsjon. P-155 (on board) Lukasz Zakrzewski and P-36 Karol Jablonski. P155 broken mast. Wind 12-15 m/s."
January 16, 2012
Tanzende Kufen (Dancing Skates)
Via the North Shrewsbuy Ice Boat & Yacht Club Facebook Page who saw it on the Chickawaukee Ice Boat Club website. Here's a German ice boating video from 1938 featuring among many other cool details, an early wing mast. These are Monotype-XV ice yachts "designed in 1932 by the legendary Erik von Holst of Estonia". Read more about them here.
Minnetonka Sailing Continues
UPDATE: Cool video of these boats here.
Via Mike Bloom, "As our ice gets thicker the boats get bigger! Another epic weekend on Tonka. Too many Nites, DN's and Stern Steerer's to count but everyone had an awesome weekend!"
"This stern steerer called 'Excelsior' was seen sailing Minnetonka on Sunday and dates back to the early 30s."
January 15, 2012
This Day in 4LIYC History
Friday, January 15, 1965, Wisconsin State Journal
January 14, 2012
This Day in Hearst History
Saturday, January 14, 1928, Capital Times, Madison, WI
Photo of Fritz Jungbluth & Joe Lodge dates from 1937
[Imagine a time when local sports columnists wrote opinion pieces about the state of ice boating. The 4LIYC has worked out the Mendota/Monona issue. However,the columnist's opinion about runners and sails is eerily familiar. For some classes, it was as true then as it is now: How fast you wanna go....?]
"Hank Casserly Says" (A sports page opinion column)
With the Hearst Cup Trophy
races now being staged on Lake
Mendota, interest in ice yachting
is at fever pitch here in Madison,
especially as it appears that the
Deuce II, Joe Lodge's beautiful
Kalamazoo Yacht club challenger
has an excellent chance to lift the
trophy, which has been retained
here In Madison since 1914 by the
Princess II.
In conversation with the Kalamazoo enthusiasts, and several from Oshkosh, who are in Madison to witness the races for the world's championship for boats carrying 450 square feet of sail or less, the visitors cannot understand why Madison has not a boat club, as have the other cities.
To be perfectly frank, there is an unfortunate division among the iceboat enthusiasts of Madison, the division line apparently being Lakes Mendota and Monona. Some of the yachtsmen favoring the larger and almost an equal number being strong for Third lake. This dissension crops out during the races, perhaps not enough to spoil the races, but enough so that the two cliques are not pulling together for the best interests of the sport.
This is indeed unfortunate, for Madison with its two lakes, both of them superior for iceboating than most of the other cities have (the Kalamazoo races are sailed on a lake where it is impossible to sail more than a mile on a leg) that such childish wrangling is out of order and it would seem to the writer that some sort of an amiable agreement could be entered into, with the result that everyone would pull for Madison and the Madison boats rather than have any division of sentiment.
The Deuce II, owned and piloted by Joe Lodge, Detroit millionaire sportsman, is the last word in iceboat construction. It would be but natural that this boat should win, as it cost more than all the other three boats in the Hearst Cup races together, and has the latest innovations known to the builders of ice racing craft, with Marconi rigging and solid steel runners weighing 180 pounds apiece. It is a modern racing craft, built for extreme speed and there is little question that it is superior to the Princess II and other Madison boats, which didn't cost one-quarter as much, and which are old boats.
The Princess II, gallant old boat, which won the trophy back In 1914, is beginning to show signs of wear and tear and it is a remarkable tribute to this staunch old craft that she stood the test for as many years as the former Fauerbach boat did.
While watching the first race yesterday morning, Perry Fess, one of Madison's true iceboatlng enthusiasts and who has at various times owned a number of boats, related how he, Hinrichs, and Andy Flom practically rebuilt the Princes II one night at Oshkosh. The Princess had needed repairs and at the conclusion of the day's race was in no condition to race. The boys got together and worked all night, getting the boat in trim and finally finished the task at ten o'clock the following morning. Andy Flom was designated to keep a fire burning, but he feel asleep at the post and the lantern was broken by coming in contact with. Hinrich's head, so that most of the night, the boys toiled by the light of the stars, with the thermometer way below the freezing point.
Iceboatlng has become a wealthy man's pastime. That is the racing end of the game, for the time has come when the high priced Hudson River types are being built for the rich owners and the ordinary man cannot afford to spend the amount of money necessary to compete with the well heeled followers of the sport. A good racing boat costs as much as a high priced automobile and few people are willing to sacrifice the benefits of a car to have a speed craft that isn't much fun as a pleasure boat, but which is used solely for the racing end.
Then, usually a new pair of sails and new runners are essential after a few years and both these articles cost a fancy sum, and the upkeep on an ordinary iceboat is considered too high by most people for the short length of time that good ice is available for the sailing of the boats. With the wealthy patrons of the game building faster boats, the cry is for extreme speed, and comfort is forgotten in the chase to get the maximum amount of speed out of the beautiful playthings turned out for the amateur sportsmen who can stand the gaff financially.
As one well known lover of the ice yachting game stated yesterday, the only way to have fun racing boats is to have a number of boats of the same size, and more or less the same construction with the competition so keen that the winner one day is the loser the next, and that this sort or sport would be the only thing that will save the ice boat game, save in a few instances where a few men are willing to spend and send to keep the game going, and remain in the chase for national ice yachting honors.
January 13, 2012
Super
Even the man of steel likes ice boating.
Tip of the Helmet: Jeff Moll
January 12, 2012
DNs in the 'Patch
Rick Hennig & DN Sideboards
Via Todd Knop from the Cabbage Patch in Racine, WI (home of the World's Largest Ice Boat, the Deuce), "With the new year comes new projects. With nephew, Dave Elsmo sailing DNs, Uncle Rick said let’s build a new hull and plank. Enough said, now we have side boards for six hulls and plank material for three planks. You know how those DNers like to carry extra parts. Pictures are side board and the drops from the cutting the side boards. We will keep the progress photos coming." 
IN A WORLD...WHERE BOATS SAIL FASTER ON ICE
Eric Rogers Tobias is a UW Madison student who has discovered the addiction of ice boating. Via 4LIYC Facebook page, "I put together this overly-dramatic video of my first season of iceboating; the footage is from Winnebago, Christina and also Green Lake this past weekend. I just wanted to thank all of the DN fleet for being so welcoming into the sport of hard water sailing and getting me thoroughly addicted."
This Day in Ice Boat History
Sunday, January 12, 1992, Wisconsin State Journal
Click to see larger image.
January 11, 2012
Gretchen Dorian Westerns' Photos
January 10, 2012
DN Western Regional GPS Track
Geoff Sobering's GPS track captured his racing on Saturday at the DN Western Regional Regatta sailed on Green Lake in Minnesota.
Flying Ice Monkeys
Fritz and Meta Simon's first
time Ice Optimist sailing on Lake Wingra on Sunday, January 8, 2012.
"Catching On in High Country"
"At the Dillon Marina, the boats are in dry dock, wearing their white winter plastic coats and an 8-inch layer of ice now covers the Reservoir. But Dan Burnett's short and sweet sailing season has just started."
Story and video here.
January 9, 2012
Just a Tease..
Via RJ Bangs,"Andy Gratton and friends sailing the thin ice of Winnebago." Photos from Saturday, January 7.
"Capt. Mike will appreciate the "For Sale" sign in front of his house."
January 5, 2012
DN Western Regionals Called On
The 2012 DN Western Regionals are called on for Green Lake near Spicer, MN. Another contingent from Madison is headed west again. Look for photos and reports here.
January 5, 2012
UPDATE: Now Online
SAIL: A Unique Mindset
UPDATE: See it online.
Be sure to pick up the December issue of SAIL Magazine which should be at your local bookstore any day. Nice photos by Gretchen Dorian and an article written by me.
Many thanks to all who took the time to talk or correspond with me during the writing of the article; Henry Bossett, Dan Clapp, John Dennis, Greg McCormick, Jim Nordhaus, Jane Pegel, Steve Schalk, Ron Sherry, Greg Simon, and Geoff Sobering. 
Life Is But A Dream
From Wisconsin's west coast,
"Here's how we (ice) boat on Lake Pepin (Jan. 2), Ed Newcomb."
January 4, 2012
"Riding the shirttails of Mother Nature"
"Bald Eagle Lake is a magnet for local ice boaters. Novices to accomplished racers converge at the lakeshore home of Bill Reed, one of the lake’s first ice boaters who’s now commodore of the informal club." Continue reading.
Dat's Da One
4LIYC skipper Bob Kau has the decking on his latest Skeeter creation.
January 3, 2012
Arms Falling Off Sailing
Via MN skipper Pat Heppert, "[On Bald Eagle Lake in
MN] Saturday we had two races, and a total of about 10-15 boats out sailing. Sunday was not sailable due to high winds. Monday we only had 6 boats out due to suspected rough ice, but it turned out to be a great day with gusty winds that made for an exciting ride. I think this makes a total of 4 straight weeks of sailable ice on Bald Eagle. My arms are tired now, so I must rest………
Pat Heppert
“Drifter” I291"
January 2, 2012
35 Square Miles of Near Perfect Ice!
Via Canyon Ferry sailor Dave Livezey,"
We started the season with a huge expanse of great ice. We've had some warm weather, a little rain, and some more cold. We now have 35 square miles of near perfect ice. No one remembers this much great ice, this late into the season. We had a huge turnout at the Silos, New Years day. With a steady 5-8 mph south wind, sailors had a delightful recreational day. The skating is amazing. The best fun was skating as far south as possible, turning down wind, and then with two strides, gliding the 2 miles back! Many of us stayed out there until darkness forced us off. This week is suppose to be a bit on the warm side, but with 10-12 inches, the ice should survive. A slight chance of snow later in the week."
December 31, 2011
DN Centrals
Looking for the results of the 2011 DN Centrals?
Right here.
Lake Noquebay Update
A few boats set up on Lake Noquebay near Crivitz, Wisconsin yesterday but the wind never came up. Menekaunee skipper Ken Kreider reports 1/4 -1/8" of wet, soft snow over 8" of ice and a good landing. They'll probably try again today hoping for better wind.
December 29, 2011
Gretchen Dorain Photos: DN Centrals
First day of the 2011 DN Centrals were sailed today on Lake Missaukee near Lake City, Michigan. See all her photos here.
Ace of Spades Waits For Ice
Via Andy Burdick at Melges: "These are new C Stern Steer Sails for Mike Peters boat, Ace of Spades.
Sails coming from Jim Gluek and North Sails Zenda with help from Henry Bossett and the North Sails Team. Kevlar sails for this fast and fun yacht!"
December 26, 2011
ISA & NIYA News
Here's a pdf file of the 2011 International Skeeter Association annual meeting minutes, 2012 Regatta Notice, and 2012 Dues Notice.
Here's a pdf file with the same information for the Northwestern Ice Yachting Association.
December 23, 2011
NEW! 4LIYC Patches
Now you can customize your red blazer, jacket, hat, vest, and more with this 2 1/2" diameter high quality embroidered patch with the new 4LIYC logo. It's only $6 which includes shipping to US addresses. Order yours today with Paypal. You can use your credit card if you don't have a Paypal account.
December 22, 2011
Sharp Tip of the Day
Via Oshkosh skipper & WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton:
"
I found sources for metal golf spike replacements, $0.25 each. The loggers on the West Coast use them in their boots. I ordered 20 of them for $7 from Hoffman Boots, Idaho, 208-784-8153. They are the same thread as the metal golf spikes, and they look like golf spikes except for the nice tapered point. Also, the backing plate is smaller in diameter. Spiked (caulked) boots are also available as are other styles of spikes. They are called caulks, pronounced "corks".
I thought other iceboaters may be interested."
Super Icebirds
Members of the Long Branch Ice Boat Club and the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club have teamed up to build 12 Icebirds this summer and fall. Henry Bosset of North sails is completing the sails in time for Christmas.
Click here to read more.The Birds are not just Icebirds but Super Icebirds. They are both wider and longer than the original with sportier sails. And the boats are also not just for kids or light adults anymore, in that they can hold pretty much any skipper.
Jake Clapp in an Icebird
Past NSIBYC Commodore Dan Vought remarked that they can be the first boat on the ice due to how light they are and the last boat off. They are easy to set up and can be sailed in real strong winds due to their low center of gravity and small sail.
The intent is to provide both a trainer ice boat for club members and to have regattas in the class. Last year the first Unofficial Icebird Worlds was held on the Navesink River. Plans this year are for at least three races if ice permits. Contact fleet captain David Hoder Of the NSIBYC at djhoder@comcast.net for more information.
December 21, 2011
This Day in Skeeter History
December 21, 1936 Wisconsin State Journal
This is one of the earliest mentions (1936) of Skeeter class ice boats that I've come across. Interesting to note that only Skeeter Ice Boat Club members (organized in 1933) sailed and there were no Madison 4LIYC Skeeters competing in this regatta, most likely because the club was still focused on Stern-Steerers. Jack Vilas Jr. won the first International Skeeter Association regatta which was sailed in 1940. See all ISA regatta records here.
UDATE: SIBC member Jane Pegel provides some more background: The Skeeter Ice Boat Club is a not-for profit corporation registered in the state of Wisconsin in 1933. Of particular note, that was the year I was born.
The original name was the Beau Skeeter Ice Boat Club The original members owned Skeeters built by Beauvais Boat Company in Williams Bay. Harry Melges, Sr., sailed a BeauSkeeter as the first Class E boat in the Northwest regatta. Subsequently Palmer Boat Company in Fontana built some boats. Thereafter the name of the Club was changed to the Skeeter Ice Boat Club. All these events occurred prior to Mead Glider building any boats and prior to there being an International Skeeter Assn.
When Club members started a DN fleet in the late 1950s, consideration was given to changing the name to the the Lake Geneva Ice Boat Club. The decision was made to keep the name Skeeter Ice Boat Club because it has a place in the history of the sport of iceboating. Over the years the Club has sanctioned racing for A, B, C division Skeeters, stern steerers, DNs, and Nites. The Club's current membership application requires the applicant to acknowledge that he understands the Club holds racing for A Skeeters, BoeCraft Skeeters, stern steerers, DNs, and Nites. All interested iceboaters are welcome to join the Club, with the understanding that if they want to race, they must race in one of the Club's sanctioned classes. A novelty boat might initially race in the Skeeter class, or perhaps as a stern steerer. If the novelty boats increase in number and race regularly, the novely class can apply to be a Club sanctioned class.
In the past the Club held the Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant. Currently the Deuce, the largest boat on the ice, hails from the Skeeter Ice Boat Club. Club members have raced all over North America and in Europe and brought home honors in Skeeters, DNs, Nites, Stern Steerers. Children and grandchildren of members are being introduced to iceboating in Ice Optimist boats.
There are approximatley 100 Club members,. Over 75% of the members have registered racing boats. Races are held on lakes Como, Delavan, and Geneva. Weekend racing is both Saturday and Sunday, starting in mid morning and extending to 30 minutes prior to sundown. Wednesday racing starts at 2;00 p,.m. and extends to 30 minutes prior to sundown. The season begins as soon as there is ice and ends on March 15th.
December 20, 2011
Area 311 Skunkworks Update
Via Jay Yaeso, "These 2 rock stars are building parts for a unidentified coming attraction."
December 19, 2011
A Coming Attraction for 2012?
If you guessed that this was 4LIYC Skeeter skipper Bob Kau's formerly top secret latest A-Skeeter creation, you are correct. Bob writes, "my new boat is a combination of my 'malt tempered thinking', Elmer's [Millenbach] dream boat,
Charlie Miller's old boat, and Jay Yaeso's skills and help."
December 16, 2011
The Way It Was On Pewaukee Lake
Pewaukee Ice Yacht Club Skeeter skipper Tom Hyslop forwarded this photo of Skeeters on the line from a regatta on Pewaukee Lake. I would guess the photo dates from the 1960s. UPDATE: I35 is Skeeter Ice Boat sailor Lou Lonnecke and he believes the photo dates from the early 1970s.
Sunset DN
Stern Steerer skipper Mike Peters sent this 41 second video shot on Clark Lake in Door County, WI last weekend. Mike reports that the ice is gone now because of the warm termperatures. The sailing footage is unremarkable but the beautiful sunset on the wet ice makes this video worth watching for a little slice of heaven.
December 15, 2011
NEW! 4LIYC HATS IN STOCK
Just in time for the gift giving season, a new shipment of 4LIYC baseball style and knit caps have arrived with a new logo designed by Greg Whitehorse. Both baseball and knit hats are $25 and include shipping to US residents. You can buy with Paypal either using your Paypal account or your credit card. UPDATE: Yes, the logo and text are embroidered!
6 Panel Twill Baseball Hats with Embroidered Logo
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Knit Hats with Embroidered Logo
Black not pictured
Rocky Mountain Speed High
Photo: Summit Daily / Mark Fox
Not everyone in Colorado is unhappy about the lack of snow where they are having a great ice boating season on Dillon Reservoir near Breckenridge.
Ice saiing: for the thrill of it
Ice boaters among few enjoying lack of snow
By Janice Kurbjun
summit daily news
"Ice boating is a popular sport in Wisconsin — which happens to be where the newly retired Greg Gary Kastorff* lives when he's not spending the season in Summit County."
Read more.
*Update: Gary Kastorff lives in Monona, WI and is a regular at the Bell Isle Boatworks on Belle Isle.
December 11, 2011
Renegade News
The 2012 IRIYA Newsletter has been mailed and is
also available online.
Big Boat News
WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton forwarded the The Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Newletter.
Read it here.
December 7, 2011
A Tale of Three Masts
BY HARRY ALLEN DN US 2452
10 years ago I received an interesting call about “some old iceboat masts”. As it turns out, three old iceboat spars were hanging in the rafters of a building in Minneapolis. The owner asked if I was interested in them however, the catch was that the building was to be demolished the next day! I made a quick phone call to my friend Alan Lizee who immediately came to my office. We jumped in my red Suburban and off we went.
Ice boats on Lake Minnetonka in 1890
When we arrived at the building, we used a ladder and ropes that we had brought with us. We lowered each extremely dirty spar with the ropes and upon inspection concluded we had a mast, boom, gaff boom and 14 hoops form an Old Ice Boat. As the owner of a 1927 Class A stern steerer myself, this was an exciting find.
The building’s owner told us that his Grandfather had long ago purchased part of a Lake Minnetonka estate named Cedarhurst. In a barn on his new property he found the old spars. He moved them to his warehouse in the late 1950’s, where they were forgotten - until now.
Cedarhurst was the lakeshore estate of Russell M Bennett, an early member of the Minnetonka Yacht Club. I knew a younger Russ Bennett from racing A scows and ice boating so I gave him a call. As it turns out, he referred me to his nephew Frank Bennett who was the Grandson of the older Russell M Bennett. Frank talked with his father and confirmed that the spars were in fact from a Hudson River Ice boat named “St Nicholas” In 1949, his father was sailing the boat and hit a pressure ridge. The hull was damaged and never sailed again. The spars were put in the barn and then to the building where we found them 50 years later. This was a fun discovery.
The Minnesota Historical Society has a 1964 publication with the famed iceboat Northern Light on the cover. The article reads in part: “The year 1902 saw the end of ice boating on the Hudson River because, at that time, it was decided to keep the river open all winter for commercial navigation. Thus the sportsmen who owned the magnificent and gigantic iceboats there had no place to sail them. It was then that Norman Wright introduced these boats to Lake Minnetonka. Representing the Hudson River owners, he sold several to local sportsmen. Ward Burton purchased the Northern Light and the Zero; Theodore Wetmore the Reindeer; Russell M Bennett the St Nicholas; Alfred Pillsbury, the Avalanche; and in 1910 Wm F Peet, the Quickstep.”
Today I loaded the original St. Nicholas mast on a double deck trailer headed for the E Scow Nationals in Torch Lake Michigan. From there it will be transported to New Jersey, with Dick Wight and Henry Colie as coordinators. The plan is for this mast to go back on a restored Hudson River ice boat owned by Fred Thorpe of North Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club.
Fred advertised last spring on the Four Lakes web site for a mast like this. Alan and I saw it and responded. Fred, we hope to see this mast on your boat at the 100th anniversary of the Northwest Ice boat regatta in the winter of 2013.
December 6, 2011
How Do You Spend Your Weekends?
Watch Minnesota skipper Joshua Bone's first attempt to sail a DN on Lake Christina at the Great Western Challenge. He really captured the essence of the event.
December 2, 2011
"You Don't Take Chances, You Take Chapstick"
"Part of the concept that had gotten our client so excited was the idea of a customized ice boat with a black sail emblazoned with the ChapStick logo flying across the ice. In light of this, two additional challenges immediately presented themselves. Who was going to design and build the ChapStick ice boat and who was going to take it to Finland and race it?" Read more about Henry Bossett and that iconic Chapstick commercial.
December 1, 2011
It's On
The Great Western Challenge, a DN fun regatta, has been called on for Lake Christina in Ashby, MN December 2,3,4, 2011. Information here. Phase 1 of Team Madison leaves this morning with the rest arriving late Friday. Look for photos and reports here.
November 28, 2011
New DN Western Region Hotline
Make note of the new hotline established for the
DN Western Region: 608-313-5156.
NIYA Updates
2012 Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta Notice is posted on the Regatta page along with the 2012 NIYA annual meeting agenda, and 2011-2012 Notice of Dues for clubs.
ISA Updates
Lots of updates on the International Skeeter Association page including 2012 Regatta Notice, 2011-2012 Notice of Dues, and 2012 ISA annual meeting agenda.
November 23, 2011
Missouri Nites
At last week's meeting, the 4LIYC welcomed two ice boaters who came all the way from Kansas City, Missouri to pick up a Nite that they had purchased. Terry Haug writes, "Eric and I had a wonderful time visiting Madison and attending the Four Lakes IYC meeting.....
Read more.Our Lake Lotawana is near 25 miles SE of downtown Kansas City, MO. Our lake is private with around 700 acres counting all the coves and bays... We have one of the largest MC fleets and one of the largest C fleets in the country. We host an MC Regatta , now 30 plus years running, and a C Scow Regatta older than that.
As far as ice boating our, season could be a few days or none at all. In years past before that global warming we had a record 2 months of sailing hard water. I have counted the following iceboats here: 13 Arrows, 11 Nites, 3 Skimmers, 1 E Skeeter, 1 Boehmke Skeeter, 1 Melges M80 and 3 DNs. We look forward to the jet stream dipping to southern TX. This gives us the cold Arctic air needed for our winter sport of sailing.
This just might be the year we head north to your area for our ice boating adventure."
Check out some Youtube videos of Lake Lotawana ice boating.
November 20, 2011
First Regatta of the Season
Photo from the DN Finland Website
Via the DN Euro forum, the Finland DN Vikajärvi Memorial Regatta was sailed on Lake Jerisjärvi over the weekend. Results here and photos here.
November 17, 2011
State of the DN Western Region
Super Cool New Graphic for the DN Western Region.
Daniel claims that for an extra $20 donation he'll give you the model’s phone number.
From Daniel Hearn and cross posted on the DN Forum:
"Much has happened in the Western Region since the ice melted last spring!
Equipment:
The WR is now the proud owner of a late model ATV complete with hitch, cable winch, rack system and floats. Also, an aluminum trailer with ramps for towing the vehicle to events, and for moving regatta equipment about the ice. Team Madison will be responsible for managing this equipment and making arrangements to have it at all regional events.
Graphics:
A super cool new logo has been developed for the WR. It's already gracing a flag that will fly on the new ATV. By the way, the ATV was purchased at an incredibly low price, and it's fully paid for. The trailer, however, is not. A voluntary fundraising effort is underway to offset the expense of the trailer that was purchased with private funds. Here's the deal--donate $75 or more to the cause, and you'll receive a hat that will be sure to make you a chick magnet. The black fleece hat (cleverly selected to go with any "outfit") features embordery of the WR logo on front, and your very own sail number on the back. Sales were brisk at the annual Lake Geneva Swap Meet, but you can still order yours for delivery at the Western Challenge. If you'd like one delivered to you with your sail number on it at the Challenge, email danielhearn@tds.net right away. These hats are "Limited Edition," so don't delay. 
Juniors:
Maybe as many as five ADDITIONAL Ice Optis will be on the ice of the Madison Lakes this winter. Among them are children of multigenerational ice sailing families, so there's great pedigree. Further north in the state, the Green Lake Ice Yacht Club has as many as six Ice Optis under construction. Area kids and parents are sharing in the building process, so there's great enthusiam for getting out on the ice this winter.
The WR now also has brand new, lost cost components available for purchase to support the Junior efforts. Beautiful Ice Opti sails (heavy fabric, cut for ice sailing) are available with bag for just $250. Full sets of mini Ice Opti runners (steering and two sides) are also available for just $150. These runners are short for exceptional maneuverability and thin to easily go through snow--important features in particular for newbies. To purchase, contact danielhearn@tds.net
The Missing Link: 20 Somethings
We're making great progress filling the participation pipeline loading from the top new Ice Opti sailors. Let's keep it up! Also very exciting is a new link established bring in to the WR an infusion of enthusiastic 20 somethings. A new relationship has been formed with the University of Wisconsin Sailing Team and the Hoofers Sailing Club. The head coach of these groups has a full crew of college-age peeps who are bustin' to get out on the ice. They know how to sail, they know how to race, they can't wait to get started. A 6-boat DN trailer has been purchased and several entry-level DNs have been secured. We're looking for more, so please donate anything you can to the cause. The coach, who is a new DN'r himself, has a truck to tow the rig, so the plan is for our Frozen Facebook generation to be at all events in the Madison area, as well as the regional events, and possibly the national event. To level the playing field, the college kids will all be racing on plates. If you got any DN stuff you can donate, please contact daveelsmo@gmail.com.
I'd say this is a pretty good list. What do you think?
November 16, 2011
First Pond Sailing!
Jamie Smith of Saskatchewan Canada sent these photos and message, "Found some ice last weekend. On November 12 my brother Dave Smith and myself Jamie R. Smith sailed on a frozen pond by Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada. Winds were brisk, however the ice became unstable as the day progressed. That ice needs some colder weather to make it more acceptable for sailing. The next day winds were light. We were able to find a pond in the same area just right for the kids and their ice boat. On November 13th Jessica and Jenna Smith were able to get their pink ice boat out for some runs."
November 1, 2011
SIBC Swap Meet
SIBC's Jane Pegel talks DN rigging.
The rain held off for another successfull Skeeter Ice Boat Club swap meet with a huge crowd and many ice boats and parts for sale. Ice boaters from Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin gathered for this annual event.
UPDATE: Geoff Sobering sent in a couple more photos. After the swap meet, Geoff, Kyle Metzloff, and Wayne Schmiedlin took their Blokarts for a test sail at the Lake Geneva Kennel Club. Photos here.
August 30, 2011
Sail Racing International Fall/Winter Catalog: Skeeters
"We went to the United States and Canada to test the limits of the fastest forms of sailing on
ice, Formula One Skeeter."
Sail Racing International is a Swedish sailing apparel company. They came to North America the last week of January to photograph Skeeters sailing and were lucky enough to make it to Menominee to see Tom Hyslop, Buddy Melges, and Bill Dale sailing the day before 4" of snow fell on the ice. (The snow also caused the IDNIYRA Gold Cup regatta to be relocated to IL.) Here's the catalog which features some nice photos of Skeeters on Green Bay and in Canada.
Champions of Ice Boating
Posters Series
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Via Peter Fauerbach: "Jack Ripp posters orders are coming in... $120 donated to the Ice Opti’s – junior sailing group in the first few days ! Take a look at all the posters. You might need all 3!
Click here to read more.
Posters Available – Funds got to Support the junior sailing program.
When you purchase an autographed poster you will be contributing $20 to the junior iceboating group – Ice Optis.
Please consider ordering an autographed poster to help support and encourage the youth of our sport.
Ordering options:
All iceboaters receive a special poster price of $5 for an un-autographed poster
Un-signed poster #3 – Jack Ripp $5
Add an un-signed poster #1 – Ron Sherry $5
Add an unsigned poster#2 – Bill Mattison $5
Autographed Jack Ripp poster: $25 ($20 of which is gifted to Ice Optis)
Add a black aluminum frame kit without the 11 x 17 glass - adds $12
We do have a few remaining signed posters for poster #1 Ron Sherry
and poster #2 Bill Mattison.
Additional costs:
Shipping print(s) only in a tube adds - $5 to 48 States.
Shipping print(s) with a frame kit in a tube - $10 to 48 States.
Ways to order:
Contact me email request a total & then send a personal check
or use my Paypal account: Fauerbach@ameritech.net
Thank you for your help and support!
March 9, 2011
2011 Champion of Ice Boating:
Jack Ripp
Click to enlarge
Via Peter Fauerbach: "Ice boaters,
Jack Ripp, a true champion with over 60 years of winning races and building winning Renegade and Skeeter iceboats, is the Fauerbach Brewing Company’s 2011 Champion of Iceboating. This poster is the third in a series.
Congratulations Jack!
Posters Available – Funds got to Support the junior sailing program.
When you purchase an autographed poster you will be contributing $20 to the junior iceboating group – Ice Optis. Please consider ordering an autographed poster to help support and encourage the youth of our sport.
Ways to order:
Contact me email to request a total & then send a personal check
or use my Paypal account: Fauerbach@ameritech.net
Thank you for your help and support!
Peter Fauerbach