Cakes of Honor
A Night to Remember: 4LIYC Spring Gathering Honors Krueger and Simon
The 4LIYC Spring Gathering at Breakwater turned into something better than a banquet and more like a family reunion with old friends, new sailors, and people who had not seen one another in years. What made the evening even more meaningful was that it unfolded as a surprise for Paul Krueger and Jerry Simon, a room full of people gathered to recognize them without their knowing it in advance.
The turnout reflected the depth of the club, with many making the trip from a distance to be there. There were too many to name without risking leaving someone out, but the effort it took for people to show up was not lost on anyone in the room. The evening focused on honoring two longtime members whose influence runs through both the club and the sport, Paul Krueger and Jerry Simon.
Paul Krueger
Greg Whitehorse traced Paul’s path back to the 1950s, when he was introduced to iceboating by Tom Krehl, and followed it through decades of racing, building, and leadership that shaped not only his own career but the direction of the Skeeter class itself. Along the way, Greg pointed to a strong connection between ice sailing and open wheel auto racing, a world in which Paul was equally accomplished, running a successful midget racing team and later earning recognition in both the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association and the National Midget Racing Hall of Fame. That crossover between ice and track has long been part of the culture, and Paul stood at the center of it.
Paul’s influence extended well beyond results, reaching into the evolution of design as he helped move the class from under the boom configurations to rear seaters and forward into the modern era, adapting as conditions and materials changed and often anticipating those changes before others did.
For nearly forty years, Paul served as Secretary Treasurer of the International Skeeter Association and the Northwest. Greg described him as someone who, in sports often driven by strong personalities, had a way of keeping things running smoothly by settling disputes and unruffling feathers.
Read Greg’s full tribute: LINK
Jerry Simon
Jerry Simon
If Paul’s legacy reflects continuity and leadership, Jerry Simon’s reflects a lasting contribution that continues to show itself in the boats on the ice and the work behind the scenes. During his racing career, Jerry won two Renegade Championships and one Northwest Championship, yet his influence did not fade when he stepped away from competition.
Instead, Jerry made sure the boats he built found their way into the hands of sailors who would keep them active, and he turned his attention toward supporting the club and the Mary B and Iceboat Foundation, taking on the work that holds things together. In his own words, the reward has been simple, seeing the boats he built still sailing, which for him remains the best possible outcome.
He also brought attention back to a piece of club identity that once marked its presence at regattas, the red jackets worn in the 1970s that made it clear who you were and where you came from. His call to bring them back carried both humor and intent, a reminder that tradition does not maintain itself without someone willing to carry it forward.
Read Jerry’s full remarks: LINK
Our Community
Throughout the evening, one idea surfaced again and again, not as a slogan but as something understood through experience, people show up. That idea came into focus through the story of the MARY B recovery, when honeycombed ice and a warm spell contributed to the MARY B and its trailer sinking into the ice at the landing. A call for help went out, bringing a response that included a large construction crane, waders, tools, and a group of sailors willing to spend the time and effort required to get the boat and trailer back to shore. (Somehow, the entire episode stayed off social media!)
There was also a glimpse of the future in the room. Daniel Hearn’s grandsons, both under six years old, brought energy that was hard to miss as they moved through the crowd. Whether they remember the night or not, they are already being steeped in the rhythms of the ice sailing community, and it was a pleasure to watch them take it all in.
The Season That Was
There was not much local sailing this winter, though one weekend on Lake Kegonsa delivered the Grand Slam. The season opened with a missing man formation for Renegader Tim McCormick, setting a tone that carried through the gathering. Grand Slam winners in both the Renegade and DN fleets were recognized, along with highlights from the ISA regatta in Green Lake, Wisconsin.
Looking Ahead
This night made it clear that the club is not defined by conditions alone. It depends on people, those who built it over time, those who continue to carry it forward, and those just beginning to find their place within it. When the ice returns, as it always does, the group will be ready to meet it again.
