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

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

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

 

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

Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed to Dec 2026

by | Mar 2, 2026 | Home Page, Regattas, WSSA

MARY B draws a crowd on Lake Monona c 1955. From the Carl Bernard Collection

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to December, 2026, due to deteriorating ice conditions. The next update will be early December. Check back here at that time. In the meantime enjoy slow sailing while dreaming of iceboating during the soft water season.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasurer