Our next Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 8, at 6:30 PM at Daniel Hearn’s office:
S/B Marketing
1352 E Wilson Street
Madison, WI
We are fortunate this year to have so much ice and sailing activity to enjoy, and there will be plenty to discuss. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
The ISA and Renegade Championships are postponed a week.
It appears that multiple potential destinations for the regatta will need to be checked in the week ahead to locate the best ice. Next update is January 12, 2025.
Steve Schalk
ISA Secretary/Treasurer
At the start of the first race, block 1 was left empty to honor the late Tim McCormick. Tim’s brother Andy, is in the 2 block.
The 4LIYC Renegades took to Lake Kegonsa on Sunday afternoon for three races in very cold conditions. Despite the chill, it was a competitive day on the ice, with Don Anderson dominating the fleet and claiming three bullets. The ice was super hard and fast, but somewhat rough. Sailors did their best to avoid occasional sticky snow drifts. The wind started out shifty, keeping sailors on their toes, but it filled in steadily toward the end of the racing, making for a solid finish to the day. Nite sailor Lars Barber represented the 4LIYC Nite fleet, lining up with the Renegades and racing alongside them.
The Renegades also took time to honor one of their own. A missing man formation lineup paid tribute to a member who would no longer be lining up at the start. At the start of the first race, starting block one was held in reserve to honor the memory of the late Tim McCormick who passed away in 2024. Tim’s brother, Andy McCormick, stepped into the two block to carry on the family’s presence on the ice along with cousin Greg who lined up in block four..
Scores will be posted soon.
Video Link
Iceboaters have long imagined the possibility of clearing snow from frozen lakes to create ideal sailing conditions. The challenge lies in needing thick, solid ice to support vehicles capable of clearing the snow—an effort that often seems insurmountable.
Years ago, the late DN sailor Mark Keifer of Minnesota pioneered snow removal efforts for the Ice Racing Circuit at the St. Paul Winter Carnival. On a snow-covered lake in Tianchi, near Urumqi in western China, crews are clearing the ice for the first Tianshan Tianchi International Ice Yacht Open in conjunction with their winter festival. This historic event will feature DN sailors from Germany, Sweden, and China, competing against the backdrop of the snow-covered Tianshan Mountains.
This event demonstrates that removing snow for ice sailing can be done with enough will and equipment (and likely an unlimited budget.)
Check out this drone video from John Touscany from the weekend’s Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Regatta in Crivitz, WI.
Link to Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/touscany/videos/1268421577607171
Your Nite Board have decided to postponed Nite Nationals. We will keep searching for the right conditions.
In the meantime, there is a wonderful video out there on YouTube about the “Racing Rules of Iceboating: Learn, Understand, Race…”
It is sponsored by the Four Lakes Ice Yacht ClubContinue to monitor Facebook Group, the Nite Website, and your email for further communication.
We are always open to you sharing the conditions of your local lake or of a lake you have pertinent info on.
Keep your runners sharp and your boats tuned. The ride of your life awaits.
Sail Safe, Sail Fast,
Commodore Maureen Bohleber #497
Vice Commodore David Navin #549
Secretary/Treasurer Chris Wiberg #434
Tech Mike Peters #544
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
Location: In person at the Elks Lodge 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Time: 6:30 PM
YOU ARE SKIPPER NUMBER
TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
