Between Ice and Water

by | Mar 28, 2026 | 2025-2026, Home Page

Scenes from Ivanpah.

A 4LIYC contingent are in the desert at Ivanpah, the cathedral of landsailing, where California meets Nevada. For those of us from the Midwest or anywhere with trees, this place never feels ordinary. It feels closer to the surface of Mars than anything we know. And this year it has been hot, hotter than anyone here can remember.

The North American Landsailing Championships wrapped up yesterday. Landsailing sits in that shoulder season between ice and soft water. Your mileage may vary, but for many of us it bridges the gap.

There was a strong crossover from the ice sailing world. Daniel Hearn placed second in a large Mini Skeeter fleet. The top of that fleet was stacked with ice sailing experience. Dave Gluek and John Eisenlohr, the Mini Skeeter designer, tied for first. DN sailors Bob Cave, Pete Johns, and Ken Smith were also in the mix, sailing Mini Skeeters.

More familiar names were here as well. Lars Barber and Brad Wagner are sailing their blokarts, along with Wayne Schmeidlin and family. His grandson Alex won the blokart fleet. Pat Heppert finished fourth overall in the big boats with his blue C Skeeter and placed fifth in the Mini Skeeter class. From the UK, DN sailor Gareth Rowland made the trip and took second in the Mini 5.6 class. Renegader Doug Kolner is here kicking the tires as well.

Now the focus shifts. The blokart regatta starts this week and competitors are arriving. Geoff Sobering and Jim Nordhaus will be here to compete in the Blokart North American Championship.

Nina Fleming and I have traded in our parkas, gloves, and ice cleats for sandals and sun protection as we take up our roles on the line, flag, horn, timing, and scoring.

Stay tuned.
NALSA Results
Coming Soon: blokart Results

4LIYC Spring Gathering April 25 @ Breakwater

by | Mar 27, 2026 | 2025-2026, Home Page

PK on the move. Photo: Sean R. Heavy

4LIYC Spring Gathering – Payment Link

We’ll wrap up the season with the 4LIYC Spring Gathering on Saturday, April 25 at Breakwater, 6308 Inland Way, Monona, Wisconsin.

Join us for an evening off the ice, good food, a few stories from the winter that almost was, and a chance to see everyone again.
Social Hour: 6 – 7 PM
Dinner: 7 PM
Payment Link

Dinner will be a buffet:

  • Beef tips
  • Baked chicken with dressing
  • Grilled salmon with dill sauce
  • Mashed potatoes and gravy
  • Honey glazed baby carrots
  • Dinner salad
  • Dinner rolls

$40 per person

Join us

Iceboats in Art: ROCKET & JACK FROST by Michael Scherfen

by | Mar 17, 2026 | 2025-2026, Home Page, WSSA


Here’s an exquisite watercolor that any iceboater would hang on the wall, recently shared on the Rocket Ice Yacht Foundation’s Facebook page:

Watercolor of the Rocket and Jack Frost racing on the Navesink River in 2015. The Jack Frost won the races that day and proudly flies the daily pennant from her main! Bob Pulsch commissioned a local artist Michael Scherfen.

More about the artist here.

4LIYC Meeting News & The Fat Lady Is Singing (At Least Around Here)

by | Mar 11, 2026 | 2025-2026, Home Page

Some of you may remember this older video, which seemed appropriate to dust off again. For us locally, the fat lady has sung. LINK 

However, the season may not be over everywhere. Minnesota and other northern areas could still get a shot if the ice and weather cooperate, so don’t completely give up.

Closer to home, we’ll wrap things up with our final club meeting of the season at Breakwater in Monona.
4LIYC Meeting
Wednesday, March 11
Time: 6:30 PM
Breakwater
6308 Inland Way
Monona, WI

Save the Date: 4LIYC Spring Banquet

by | Mar 10, 2026 | 2025-2026, Home Page

That one day…

This was one of those local seasons where we just weren’t lucky.

The Ice Gods gave us a beautiful sheet to look at on Lake Monona, but it never quite came together. The MARY B was set up on Lake Mendota for Frozen Assets Festival, but by late February, warm temperatures and rain finished off what had looked like a promising season.

Still, many of us managed to get sailing in by traveling where the ice was good, and we did get that one memorable weekend on Lake Kegonsa.

In spite of the short season close to home, let’s get together and celebrate the past winter and the seasons ahead.

Save the date:
4LIYC Spring Gathering
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Breakwater
6308 Inland Way
Monona, WI

More details soon.

A Good Day for Runner Tracks

by | Mar 6, 2026 | 2025-2026, DN, Home Page


It’s a gray, rainy day in Madison and it’s highly likely the ice season here is officially over. It’s a good day to sit down with the latest issue of  the DN newsletter Runner Tracks. There’s something in it for everyone.

This issue includes two rookie race reports from sailors who found their way into the DN class by very different routes, along with articles on rules and tactics, the protest committee process, speed insights, proposed new DN plans, and the AGM minutes.

We’re also honored to include a contribution from US Sailing Herreshoff Award recipient Gordy Bowers, and grateful to Rachel Bartel from Harken for her beautiful photography throughout the issue.  LINK