Lou Loenneke flying the runner in his Class A Skeeter SLAVE SHIP
UPDATE:
Lou Loenneke Celebration of Life
Wednesday, December 11
3 – 6 PM
Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn
352 Lake St, Fontana, WI Map
The ice sailing community mourns the loss of Lou Loenneke, a Skeeter Ice Boat Club member and a valued friend to many in the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club. Lou passed away peacefully in the hospital on November 15, 2024. Tributes have been pouring in on Facebook, where ice sailors are sharing memories, photos, and stories of a man who touched so many lives on and off the ice.
Lou was deeply committed to ice sailing and the community surrounding it. An avid sailor from an early age, he claimed the DN North American Junior Championship titles in 1962 and 1963. He was also an accomplished Skeeter sailor, where he won the 1970 Northwest Ice Yachting Association (NIYA) Regatta E Skeeter title and placed second in the Free For All race. His iconic Skeeter, SLAVE SHIP, appeared in a memorable advertisement for Lake Geneva’s Playboy Club during the 1970s.
Lou and life long friend, Bob Cave
In later years, Lou embraced the DN class and continued to excel. He captured the NIYA DN title six times (1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 2001) and won the DN North American Silver Fleet Championship in 1980. Lou was also a dedicated leader, serving as Commodore of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association from 2002 to 2004.
Lou was known as a generous and approachable figure in ice sailing. He freely shared his lifelong knowledge with seasoned sailors and newcomers, always striving to help others improve and enjoy the sport he loved dearly. (As an example, previous: The Old Man and the C)
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club extends its deepest sympathies to Lou’s family, the Skeeter Ice Boat Club, and the global DN community. You will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
UPDATE: Via Jason Thompson, Commodore of the Skeeter Iceboat Club in Lake Geneva, WI
Lou grew up iceboating. Once he settled in to the DN class, he and Jane Pegel anchored a deep fleet of talented sailors. Names like Pete Johns, Robert Cummins, Bob Rast, Bob Cave, Pat Fitzgerald, John Zils, Erich Schloemer, Steve Orlebeke, Chris Berger, Mike Jankowski, Erik Lonnecke, Clinton Rengi, and Scottie Button were battling on the ice for many seasons.
Like Jane and Buddy, Lou was tireless in his promotion of iceboating. Lou was an open book when it came to sharing his knowledge. When I began to race DNs I called on Jane and Scottie for advice on how to tune up. Same answer, “Go see Lou…” In the fall, Lou’s garage was packed with iceboaters, projecting and getting tuned for the season. The Wizard of Zenda would always stop in if the driveway was full. Buddy would kick the door open, “I had to park in the damn street! What the hell we working on today??”
Lou was one of the pioneers of The Western Challenge Regatta for DNs. The annual event is an amazing gathering of iceboaters looking for the first, and maybe only, ‘Hollywood Ice’ of the season. Canadian and European sailors will travel to this event which takes place on the best ice in Minnesota the first weekend of December—90 boats last year. Back in the day before the regatta, an agitated Lou would phone up Bob Cave: “You know they’ve gotten in four days of sailing in already…” referring to the MN iceboaters. Lou began to recruit sailors to head north for weekend scrub racing, laying the foundation for the Western Challenge.
I am forever indebted to Lou and Bob Cave for the hours they spent with me trying to get me and the SIBC DNs up to speed. Both incredible ambassadors. I Invision Lou is now sailing on better than Hollywood ice without the bite of frost on his hands and toes. Sheet in, Lou.
Jason Thompson, SIBC Commodore
Or should we say it in Finnish, Ensimmäinen! Via Swedish DNer Dideric Van Riemsdijk, here’s a look at the first runners on the ice at the first regatta of the season, DN Finland’s Week 46. They are just above the Arctic Circle at Onkamojärvi, Finland. Who will be the FIRST in North America?
UPDATE: January 16, 2025
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club meetings! Our meetings may take place on Zoom or at various locations, depending on the circumstances.
We’ll post the meeting details, including the time, date, and location (or Zoom link), ahead of each meeting to keep everyone informed. Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Meetings Time: 6:30 PM Location: Will be announced. Meeting Dates
January 22 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
February 5 Business Meeting
February 19
March 5
March 19 (tentative)
The continuing series: Artificial intelligence still has not learned what an iceboat actually looks like.
Fred Stritt checked in to let us know about the upcoming Delavan Yacht Club Iceboat Swap Meet. Missed the recent swap meet at Harken? Or can’t get enough of the iceboating community? Here’s your chance! Join us at the Delavan Yacht Club on Saturday, November 9 from 11 am to 3 pm for another opportunity to buy, sell, or trade iceboat gear, meet fellow sailors, and prepare for the upcoming season.
The Delavan Yacht Club will serve homemade pizzas, and the bar will be open, so come hungry and thirsty! It’s the perfect setting to connect with the iceboating community, discover great gear, and enjoy good food and drinks.
Delavan Yacht Club Iceboat Swap Meet Location: Delavan Yacht Club, 1501 Cedar Point Dr, Delavan, WI 5311 Map Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024 Time: 11am – 3pm Information:Midwest Hard Water Sailing Facebook Page
Via International Nite Class Association Commodore Maureen Bohleber
For The Love of Iceboating
The International Nite Class Association recently hosted an event at Harken Headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, bringing together Midwest iceboaters. The theme was “50 Years of Nite Racing,” attracting Skeeter, Stern Steerer, Renegade, DN, and, of course, Nite sailors of all ages.
The Nite was designed and built by Dick Slates at S & R Marine around 1968. The story goes that he aimed to create a side-but-side two-seater to take that “special” someone out for a night on sail on Pewaukee Lake. While Dick and his wife Gale were unable to participate in the activities, his sons Rich and Kevin Slates were able to join in.
It was wonderful to listen to sailors inquiring if a certain person would be attending, only to find out they hadn’t seen them or spoken to that individual in 20 years. It was amazing to watch friendships reignite as if they had seen each other on the ice last season. Additionally, guests could view a history of results displayed on the walls. Hearing the younger crowd react to names they recognized and discovering that many sailed a Nite was enjoyable.
During a roundtable discussion led by the Nite Fleet GOAT Tom Sweitzer, past champions offered advice to future champions. The discussion also included Bill Dale, Dave Koch, and Dave Navin.
Kyle Navin and Harry Melgas IV shared their recent experience sailing the American Magic Youth team alongside Bill Goggins, President of Harken, who facilitated the discussion.
Thank you to Harken, Inc. for hosting not only the Nite Fleet gala but also the Southern Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet, which took place on Sunday, October 27th. Rumor has it some new Nite owners emerged from this weekend’s events. To top it off, we had a surprise guest: Peter Harken, Nite #98, who had just returned home from Spain after attending the America’s Cup. Maureen Bohleber
Past and Present Commodore Chad Rechcygl, Craig Adams, Maureen Bohleber, Don Sanford and Dave Koch
Past Champions: Back Row -Dave Navin, Bill Allen and Mark Prange Front row – Chad Rechcygl, Dave Koch, Craig Adams, Tom Sweitzer and Billy Dale
American Magic: Billy Goggins, President of Harken, Kyle Navin- Port Helmsman Harry Melgas IV Starboard Helmsman and Skipper
Historic Iceboats On Display This Weekend
It’s the unofficial opening weekend of the iceboating season!
Join the Midwest ice sailing community on Saturday and Sunday, October 26-27, at Harken, Inc. in Pewaukee, WI, where we’re excited to help the International Nite Class Association celebrate 50 years of Nite racing. Thanks to the Iceboat Foundation, you’ll see the legendary MARY B, INSANITY, their museum
Bucky Badger relaxes on the MARY B
trailer, and the newest addition, PANTHER a Class A Skeeter originally built for Chris Smith of Chris-Craft.
With the Swap Meet happening on Sunday, it’s the perfect weekend for iceboating enthusiasts and newcomers to check out the sport. Whether you’re looking to find your iceboat, chat with veteran ice sailors, or admire some of the most iconic iceboats in history, this weekend has it all.
Join us to celebrate the start of the ice sailing season—experience the boats, the history, and the excitement of the fastest sport on ice!
Southern Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet
Date: Sunday, October, 27, 2024
Time: 9 AM – Noon
Location: Harken parking lot
N15W24983 Bluemound Rd, Pewaukee, WI
