Photo: Jim Koepnick
WSSA Newsletter
Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Home Page
The Stern-Steerer sailors are getting ready for the season. Here’s latest newsletter from the Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association.
In honor of the Stern-Steerers and to kick off a Monday, take 22 seconds to watch this favorite video from 14 years ago, featuring the Stern Steerer Kid.
The winter tradition of sail-powered ice boating finds the right combination of ice, wind, and speed-seeking participants in Montana
BIG SKY JOURNAL
in Winter 2022 | Feature Stories | Written by Andrew McKean | Photography by Sean R. Heavey
Just as surfers will spend the balance of their year waiting for just the right wave, and skiers will rearrange their lives in pursuit of fluffy mountain powder, so do ice boaters watch for fresh ice and stiff winds. They’re monitoring long- and short-term weather forecasts for their version of powder days, says Flathead Lake ice-boat builder John Eisenlohr, one of the dozens of Montana winter sailors who travel the West in search of perfect ice. “For us, that’s the first black ice thick enough to play on, plus a certain amount of wind,” Eisenlohr says. “Not too much wind, and no packed snow on the ice. And, if I’m really lucky, the ice will have just a little stippling on it to hold the runners.” Continue reading.
Thankful for Ice Sailing
Thanksgiving Edition ZOOM ONLY Meeting.
Join us from the comfort of your own home while you make pumpkin pies for your Thanksgiving feast. Deb has sent the email with log on information. Please contact her if you haven’t received it.
WHAT TO KNOW:
Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Time: 6:30 PM CT
ZOOM MEETING
Didn’t get an email with the Zoom link? Contact Deb debwhitehorse@iceboat.org
DUES
If you haven’t already done so, please pay your dues, only $20! Information here.
Shop time with friends is a big part of iceboating and a long tradition with the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club. Last weekend, a group of friends invaded Daniel Hearn’s shop and laid up a composite C Skeeter iceboat mast under the direction of C Skeeter maestro Pat Heppert. Want to build a C Skeeter? Plans here.
Drone Video courtesy of Sean R Heavy
YouTube handle: @SeanRHeavy
Greg Whitehorse in his Renegade BLADE RUNNER on Lake Monona.
Previous: Drawing Blade Runner
Lifetime 4LIYC member Greg Whitehorse has followed in his father, artist Harry Whitehorse, footsteps. Greg’s been honing his artistic talents in the past couple of years by sketching open-wheel midget race cars, another Whitehorse family tradition. Last year, Greg shared his first sketch of his Renegade, BLADE RUNNER. The cold weather must have inspired him to have another go at it; here’s his second sketch.
BLADE RUNNER’s new owner, Chad Atkins, and trailer partner, Chris Gordon, who bought a former Simon Renegade, have been tuning them up in Rhode Island for the past few weeks. They are in the trailer and will return to Four Lakes soon.
As far as I can tell, John Eisenlohr threw the opening ball today, close to his home, for the 2022-2023 ice sailing season. John and a friend rigged up their Mini-Skeeters on Smith Lake near Kalispell, Montana.
Via the Mini-Skeeter Facebook Page:
So begins the season. Pretty good ice in some spots with some 2” drifts in others. I got a few one way runs right on the edge of sailing. At any rate it was a nice 20 degree sunny day to be outside.
John Eisenlohr
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
Location: In person at S & B Strategic Marketing or Online using the Zoom App Members please email debwhitehorse@iceboat.org for the link.
Time: 6:30 PM
YOU ARE SKIPPER NUMBER
TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
