by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 12, 2025 | 2024-2025, Home Page
Now that’s a crowd! Here’s a striking iceboat print by Mel Kishner (1915 – 1991) that I haven’t seen before. Kishner was a prolific artist and served as the art director for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from 1940 to 1978. It’s unclear whether he created this piece to illustrate an article about ice sailing for the newspaper or simply for his own enjoyment. Many of you know Kishner’s grandson, grandson Mark Walters. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the original, let us know. Tip of the Helmet: Damien Luyet
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 3, 2025 | 2024-2025, Home Page
Ice Riders on the Chesapeake Bay by Charles Wysocki
Here’s our collection of July 4th ice sailing photos, another opportunity to remember that two of the founders, Ben Franklin and John Adams thought about iceboating. Ben even ordered a set of plans! But one ride in the Netherlands was quite enough for John Adams. He wrote to a friend, that iceboating “as again endangered my Health and my Life.” Enjoy the holiday and Think Ice!
When Ben Franklin Ordered Iceboat Plans
Ben Franklin’s Iceboat Drawings
JD’s EAGLE, Class A Skeeter. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Shown here from left to right doing their best to make the ordinary extraordinary are: Don Ermer, Don Sanford, Steve Arnold, Lady Liberty, Ty Reed and Ken Kreider.
Patriotic Pete Johns
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Jun 20, 2025 | 2024-2025, DN, Home Page
Sunset over Lake Mendota, early 1970s. Bill Mattison’s HONEYBUCKET DN, built for his children and photographed by Bill himself.
As we mark midsummer this weekend, iceboaters know we’re one step closer to ice-making.
In about 20 weeks, DNs will gather in Finland for the annual Week 46 regatta. Just four weeks later, the DN Western Challenge kicks off the North American season on the first weekend of December in Minnesota.
That’s less than five months until we line up on the ice again. The season is turning. Time to check your gear—winter is coming.
If you are new and want to try ice sailing, get in touch with us!
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Deb Whitehorse | Jun 9, 2025 | sell
C-skeeter wood frame kit, 1/4” 5-ply Baltic birch, complete with 29 pages of 11×17 CAD drawn fully detailed plans and 6 page building guide. It’s skeeter season, start building now and be ready by winter!
$50 plus shipping (cheaper than the cost of the plywood).
Call Pat at 612-282-3098.
by Deb Whitehorse | Jun 4, 2025 | 2024-2025, Home Page, NIYA
There’s a new page on iceboat.org: the Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Officer History, listing every President and Commodore from 1922 to 2026, along with the long-serving Secretaries and Treasurers who helped steer the organization behind the scenes.
Although the NIYA was organized in 1913, the officer records begin in 1922.
Thanks to Steve Schalk, current NIYA Secretary/Treasurer, for assembling this list. His efforts have given us a centralized record of more than a century of leadership.
One standout fact: 4LIYC’s own Paul Krueger—still racing his A Class Skeeter—served as NIYA Secretary/Treasurer for an incredible 41 years, from 1975 through 2016. A testament to his dedication and lasting impact on the sport. A big thank-you to everyone on that list for keeping the NIYA tradition going strong.
Whether you’re researching regatta records or simply curious about the names that built the NIYA, this new page is a valuable and fascinating resource.
View the NIYA Officer page history here.
Like this:
Like Loading...
