by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 14, 2025 | 2025-2026, Home Page, WSSA
While we wait for ice, here’s a small history lesson. The American Legion on Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh (now The Waters) seen here with the stern steerer DEUCE rigged on the ice. The Legion hosted and sponsored ice yacht regattas, including the Army–Navy races. Photo from the Carl Bernard collection.
With the Army–Navy football game played yesterday, some old newspaper clippings surfaced that report on another Army–Navy rivalry, this one on ice.
In the 1930s, the Oshkosh Ice Yacht Club hosted an annual Army vs. Navy ice yacht race, sponsored by the American Legion. One clipping, from January 1935, describes a decisive Army victory sailed in rough conditions, heavy snow cover, strong northwesterly winds, and difficult ice.
The American Legion’s striking white building on Lake Winnebago, now The Waters, served as regatta headquarters for many events.
It’s perfect weather here at -7F in the Four Lakes area this morning and Lake Mendota is steaming like hell. Check out the Mendota Today live-cam to watch some ice making.
Tip of the Helmet: Henry Boshkossett
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by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 11, 2025 | 2025-2026, DN, Home Page, WSSA
Stern Steerer sailor Andy Gratton checked in from Lake Winnebago with a note and a surprise. His wife Ann was cleaning the attic and found an oversized coloring book from 1976, price tag still on it, 88 cents. Along with a spread of historical scenes, it includes this DN drawing. Andy added that Winnebago “got too much snow. The ice was looking really nice on Monday. Drats!”
Their attic discovery sparked an idea, so here are a few quickly AI generated ROSEMARY and WISCONSIN coloring-book pages.
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by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 7, 2025 | Home Page, ISA, Regattas, Renegade
Pat Heppert sailing DRIFTER at the 2022 International Skeeter Association Regatta on Lake Monona in Madison, WI. Photo: Will Johnston
Via International Skeeter Association Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:
The International Race Committee has reviewed the current conditions and forecasts and determined that the Minnesota race venues are out due to temperatures in single digits and coming snow depths. Without other options and the arrival of the holidays, the decision has been made to let 2025 go. We are back up and pointing next to January 9th 2026 for the first day of the 2026 Championship. Next update: Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
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by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 3, 2025 | 2025-2026, Home Page
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club meets tonight at Breakwater in Monona. The meeting begins at 6:30.
Breakwater has been good to our club. Let’s return the favor. Come a little early, have dinner, enjoy a drink, and support the place that supports us.
Winter switched on right after Thanksgiving and it won’t be long before we’re on home ice. Many club members are heading to Lake Minnewaska in Minnesota for the DN Western Challenge this weekend. There will be ice!
4LIYC Meeting
Wednesday, December 3
Order Dinner 6:00
Meeting 6:30 PM
Breakwater Restaurant
6308 Metropolitan Ln, Monona, WI 53713
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by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 3, 2025 | Home Page, WSSA
Stern-Steerers at the 2025 Northwest- Photo by Rob Resnick
WSSA Home Page
The Wisconsin Stern Steerer Association remains an active class dedicated to racing and preserving the original iceboats. They are ready for a full season on the ice, and their latest newsletter is now available online.
Link to newsletter.
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