by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 18, 2025 | 2025-2026, Home Page
Link to ice report.
Grand Slam Open Called on Lake Kegonsa
Saturday and Sunday, December 20–21
Skipper’s Meeting on the course
Racing begins at 10 AM
Based on today’s ice scouting and a solid report from Lake Kegonsa, we feel confident enough to call the Grand Slam Open now rather than waiting until tomorrow. We invite ice yacht clubs and ice yacht racers to join us for some fun sailing.
According to the December 18 ice report from Daniel Hearn and Jeff Russell, the winds and Zamboni effect have moved through and the lake is setting up.
Ice report
Ice in the middle is 7 to 8 inches. Very windy. Rated a 6 to 7.
Closer to shore near Springers, ice is around 12 inches, with a lot of refrozen rough ice.
No issues with ice thickness. Some water remains in spots, but with continued wind, expect the lake to lock up.
Marks
Race marks will be set on Friday for those who want to get an extra day of sailing in.
Launch options
Amundson Landing
1928-2264 Quam Dr, Stoughton, WI 53589
Town of Pleasant Springs Boat Launch
2267 Williams Point Dr, Stoughton, WI 53589
Important
DO NOT DRIVE ON THE LAKE!
Observe all posted parking rules.
Food
Springers on Lake Kegonsa is offering an iceboaters special lunch, including hot soup.
Note that ice directly in front of Springers is rough.
Scoring
Participation in the Grand Slam Open is open to DNs, Nites, Renegades, and Mini Skeeters. (The A Class Skeeters like a bit more ice.) To be included in the official scoring, sailors must be members of the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club.
Membership
Please consider joining the 4LIYC to support the club and iceboat racing in our area.
Join here: Membership link
Best Place to Watch
Sit in the comfort of Springers on the Lake and enjoy your favorite beverage.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 18, 2025 | 2025-2026, Home Page
Proof It Happened
Last March, Daniel Hearn and Pat Heppert went a secret mission to an undisclosed lake in Minnesota. The mission was straightforward. Daniel and his C Skeeter were cast as the talent for a Range Rover commercial. Pat Heppert scouted the lake and when the wind died, stepped in and quite literally provided support, pushing the C Skeeter to keep things moving. Range Rover now joins many automobile manufacturers who have used iceboats as shorthand for speed and control on ice.
I wish I could show you the finished spot. I received it in an Instagram message and cannot find it anywhere online. It appears to be living the quiet life as a paid ad. If it ever surfaces in the wild, I will link to it here.
Until then, it is nice to know that somewhere in a Range Rover edit suite, a C Skeeter stole the show.
Iceboats in Advertising Archives
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 18, 2025 | Sold, sold-1
SOLD! DN US4192 race program
24 race ready runners – $6,000
Complete with:
Two DNs with custom trailer
Two masts
Two booms
Six sails
Two planks
Too many extras to list here
Located in Western Michigan
Email for a detailed inventory
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 18, 2025 | 2025-2026, Home Page
Lake Monona: Hollywood with asterisks. Courtesy of the waterfowl.
State of the Lakes – Monona and Kegonsa
Lake Monona is Hollywood with asterisks. It looks extraordinary in photos and video, but the holes change everything. We are optimistic that Monona may begin to heal over the next few days, but today’s rain, wind, and temperature swing will be a factor in what comes next.
Perfect ice that you cannot sail – yet!
Lake Kegonsa is a different story. It has been freezing in stages and has likely been locked in for more days than Lake Monona. Reports so far suggest rough ice, but it has not been properly scouted yet. The rain today followed by a sharp freeze could bring Kegonsa close to almost Hollywood conditions.
GRAND SLAM OPEN TENTATIVELY CALLED ON FOR DEC 20-21 ON LAKE KEGONSA
Because of that, the club will spend the next two days scouting Kegonsa with the hope of calling on the Grand Slam Open. We know people are itching to get on the ice and go racing. The Grand Slam Open is traditionally sailed on the first sailable ice of the season, and it has been a long time since we’ve been able to hold one. We are tentatively calling the Grand Slam Open for Saturday and Sunday on Lake Kegonsa, pending ice checks.
This will be a fun set of races for Renegades, DNs, Nites, and Mini-Skeeters. We expect to have final confirmation by Friday afternoon and more details posted here.
This quote from the late Charlie Johnson fits Lake Monona almost too well right now. “If all our ice were glass, slightly wet, and all our air reasonably steady with lifters just where needed, sailing would be perfect. Sometimes we do find this, and it is worth waiting years to have. Meanwhile we must accept the more ordinary ice conditions, ordinary weather and wind, and gracefully accept snow, sometimes for weeks. Our ideal comes from time to time; the Great Maker gives only so much of the very best.”
— Charles H. Johnson 4LIYC member
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 17, 2025 | Sold, sold-1
SOLD! Two place Gambit in excellent condition. It has always been stored indoors Three sails: main, DN, and storm, 36” runners, slush runners, extra spring board and plank, standing and running rigging, s.s.cables, alum.mast.
$3,500
