by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 26, 2025 | 2025-2026, Home Page
There will be no 4LIYC racing this weekend, December 27 and 28.
With rain in the forecast and recent warm temperatures, we’re taking a break to protect the Kegonsa landing and the racing track. That gives us more racing later. To be clear: Lake Monona looks good but has many holes. We still have Lake Mendota is still in the bank as well.
It’s also a good weekend to slow down and watch Wizard of Zenda, the Buddy Melges documentary. The full film is now on YouTube.
The screenshot here shows Buddy with 4LIYC’s Bill Mattison at an ISA regatta in Lake Geneva, around 1999 with other familiar faces in the background.
As Buddy would say, keep your runners sharp.
Winter looks ready to return Sunday night. We still have a big season ahead. If things line up, we may even be able to race the historic Bloody Mary Eye Opener on January 1, a long-time 4LIYC favorite. Stay tuned.
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by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 24, 2025 | Sold, sold-1
SOLD! Complete with sails and runners in mint condition. Great recreational boats.
Boats stored inside
Asking $1,000 for the pair
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 23, 2025 | Sold, sold-1
SOLD! Nite #113, complete package located in Madison WI.
Includes: Original runners, boom, plank and springboard in great shape. Replacement mast sourced through Bill Mattison – Was told it’s a Sitka mast, came un-finished and only partially shaped when I bought it and was completed in my shop in 2016. Sailed only a few times. New – never used Sailcrafters Nite AP sail as well as a good condition Inland sail. Custom built aluminum trailer with fiberglass storage box (lockable). Trailer is very light and easy to tow, easy to push out on the ice. Only 4 foot wide so it packs in the garage easy. New Harken seat cover and full boat cover. Full mast and plank covers. This boat was rarely used throughout its life, last sailed in 2017 and in storage since. This is a great boat, complete package ready to go. More photos available on request. Madison, WI
Asking $7500
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 21, 2025 | 2025-2026, Home Page, Renegade
Aerial Photos: Jim Stevenson
Day one (Saturday, December 20) of the Grand Slam Open brought Renegades and DNs to Lake Kegonsa. The Nite fleet chose to race locally and when your home club has ice, that’s the right call. That’s how clubs survive and grow.
Ice was hard and bumpy. Everyone agreed with Daniel Hearn’s call of a 6 or 7.
Pat Heppert brought his C Skeeter and spent all of Friday working her around the lake. On Saturday he set the course and ran the races. Pat knew the wind would build. He set the Skeeter up for a 25 mph blow, figuring the day would end with a few extra laps just for him. Those of us still near the leeward mark were in awe when he came around. Fastest many of us have ever seen that boat go. He was clearly having fun.
We ran five races in each fleet.
Renegade highlights came early. Damien Luyet won his first race ever. The fleet opened with a missing man formation in honor of Tim McCormick. Fittingly, cousin Greg won that race. The Renegades mixed it up all day with tight racing. Runner to runner at the leeward mark more than once. You didn’t know who had it until the line. New member Matt Critchley jumped straight into racing. He started the day hanging back and watching. By the end, he was making moves. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
View through a bar window.
In the DN fleet, Chris Berger dominated. So much so that he finished a race early enough to grab the flags and hold the checkers as the rest of the DNs crossed the line while Pat went to move the weather mark. First time I’ve seen that.
There was drama at one DN finish when Frankie Hearn lost a runner just before the finish line. (Pro tip. Always check your bolts.) Frankie kept it together, finished the race, and pointed hard at his plank to get his dad’s attention.
The wind came up hard in the final DN race. The fleet handled it well, turning it into a lesson on managing big downwind pressure and avoiding spinouts. Best part for me was seeing new DN racers out there. With a small fleet, it’s the perfect place to learn. Congratulations to all of you.
As I write this Sunday morning, it’s 10°F. Windy says we may see 6 mph. Enough to move the boats? We’ll find out.
Thanks to everyone who came out. One of the best parts of the day was ending it at Springers, some arriving by iceboat, replaying the races and warming up with a hot meal and a beverage.
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There will be no 4LIYC racing this weekend, December 27 and 28.
