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4LIYC Meeting : November 2025
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2020 Northwest News
ACE OF SPADES & LITTLE WIND line up to race.
The 2020 Northwest Regatta is tentatively scheduled for January 17-19, 2020. NIYA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk has released the 2020 NIYA Notice of Race and NIYA Agenda. Next update is on Sunday, January 12, 2020.
Northwest Page
Super Weekend of Sailing
4LIYC Renegader and Super Cub flyer Jeff Russell took advantage of the weekend’s beautiful weather to visit the fleet at Lake Puckaway where Nites and Renegades raced over the weekend.
Don Anderson in EASY RIDER
Closer to home, Jim Nordhaus put the CHEESE SLICER on Lake Wingra.
Jim Nordhaus: Some of us locals sailed on Lake Wingra Saturday and Sunday. I wanted to try out The “Cheese Slicer”.
It performed beautifully and many people came out to enjoy the boat. We also had the Palmer out along with other boats.
4LIYC Ice Checks
Warning! Kegonsa Crocodiles are present!
The state of the ice was discussed at last night’s 4LIYC meeting. The Four Lakes area is not quite there yet but we should be ready for serious ice checks within days. Kegonsa was reported to be iced over but with the usual thin spots and goose holes. The east end of Lake Monona is iced over but like Kegonsa, there are open areas and thin spots all over the lake.
This time of year always brings up discussion about the Grand Slam, the 4LIYC fun regatta. Our bylaws state: The Grand Slam Regatta shall be sailed on the first safe and sailable ice in December or the first week in January. If the regatta is not sailed by then, the regatta shall not be sailed for in that sailing season.
Lake Puckaway near Montello looks like the best ice in our area for weekend sailing. The Nite Class has called on an early bird regatta there for December 21-22, 2019. Via their Facebook page:
Nite sailors we are going this weekend!
The Early Bird Regatta is a go. We have checked the ice this morning and it looks locked in and way thicker, the ice surface is also way smoother then over the weekend. We are looking at a thickness of about 6 1/4″ and growing so by the weekend we should be around 7 plus inches. We will not be charging for the event but we do ask that if you want to be scored and line up that you have your dues paid up. We will not be doing payments on the ice….sorry. We will also be running with the Renegades and they are joining us for the weekend to race as well.
The coming weather after Sunday looks to be unseasonably warm and now is our best shot before the real season kicks in January.
The regatta site launch site will be at the Marquette County boat launch (Apuckwaka). Due to the warming temps we will be starting early in the day so expect to have the flag drop at 9AM on Saturday. Be at the landing as that is where everything will take place. Please do not drive up or back up on the ice, do not take the landings out this early in the season.
Expect to do as many races as we can fit in.
Mark Christensen
Mark “Doctor” Christensen
The ice sailing community grieves today for Minnesota DNer Mark Christensen US4824. Mark sailed home after a long illness on Saturday, December 14, 2019 which was also the first day of the Great Western Challenge, a regatta he was closely connected with. Mark had raced with the 4LIYC and won the DN title at the 2016 Northwest regatta.
He was a highly competitive and skilled DN racer and part of a group of Minnesota DNers whose passion has helped to bring new people to the sport. Mark was a key member of ice scouts who were responsible for getting sailors from all over North America, Europe, and Russia to join together in Minnesota for the first fun regatta of the season. He was a top ranked DN racer and relished battling on the ice against his close friends, be it scrub racing or continental regattas. He won the Ice sailors from around the world extend our deepest sympathies to Mark’s family, his girlfriend Lisa, and to the Minnesota Ice Sailors.
Mark Christensen Funeral Service
Date: Friday, December 20, 2019
Visitation: 10 AM
Service: 11 AM
Luncheon to follow
St Bartholomew of Wayzata
630 Wayzata Blvd E, Wayzata, MN 55391
Link to map
OBITUARY
Mark R. Christensen
Age 59 of Mound, MN. Survived by parents Norma J. (Alan) Greene, Ronald L. (Caroline); loving companion Lisa Lee; siblings Gary (Kizzy) & Kathy (Jeff) Traxler; Nieces and nephews Jesse (Erin), Katy (Brian), Abbigail, Matthew, Erin, Samuel, Megan and Mary and great nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, December 20th, 2019 11:00 AM @ St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 630 E. Wayzata Blvd, Wayzata, MN with visitation 1 hour prior to mass at church. washburn-mcreavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996
2016 Northwest Trophy presentation: Minnesota ice sailors Jim McDonagh left with his friend, Mark Christensen.
Minnetonka is Simonized
At first glance, I had to look closely at this photo, wondering if I’d missed the news that Madison lakes had frozen over while I was at the Western Challenge!
Pat Heppert posted this on his Facebook page on Saturday, December 14th, 2019.
Had a great day on Minnetonka today. A true pleasure to sail along side Mike Maloney and his Jerry Simon built Renegade “Simonized IV”. Unbelievable craftsmanship on that Renegade, and truly legendary. My boat went fine, even with shorty runners. Anyways, sailed Gideon’s Bay, Excelsior Bay, Echo Bay, and along Big Island East to about Harry’s. Ice was rough and snow drifted, but we did fine all day. Many Nites out and 1 DN. I didn’t sail main lake because unknown and unscouted and snow covered so harder to see thickness. But others did and reported main lake had less snow, no drifts, and much smoother. All the usual pressure ridges were in their usual locations on main lake.
DN Great Western Challenge
Chris Gordon US5590 leads the pack rounding the weather mark on Lake Puckaway at the 2019 Western Challenge. Photo: Puckaway Ice Sailing Squadron
Breeze and hard, fast ice arrived on Lake Puckaway just in time for the 2019 DN Western Challenge. This regatta will be remembered by many of us for years to come.
RESULTS
Merch Alert: 4LIYC Burgees Now Available
Fly the fast colors of the 4LIYC
We have received our first shipment of burgees. There are two ways you can get one – come to the next for 4LIYC meeting and pick one up for $35 or send a check for $40 made out to the 4LIYC and we’ll ship it to you.
4LIYC Burgee
$40 (includes shipping)
Send check payable to 4LIYC to
4LIYC
PO Box 22
Waunakee, WI 53597
Western Challenge Updates: It’s Wisconsin for DNs, Skeeter WC is Cancelled
DN Western Region Championship on Lake Mendota in 2018
Via iceboating.net
The DN Great Western Challenge is called “ON” for December 13-15, 2019 on Lake Puckaway Wisconsin.
Lake Puckaway is near Green Lake, Wisconsin. The Skeeter Western Challenge is cancelled for the season.
LAUNCH
Apuckawa Park and Boat Launch
Located at the intersection of Fox Court and Toepper Drive, east of Montello.
Link to map
LODGING
Mecan River Outfitters:
(920) 295-3439
Very limited availability.
T’ween the Lake Motel
510 Underwood Ave Hwy 23
Montello, WI 53949
608-297-8715
Website
Acorn Ridge Motel
920-295-6533
http://www.acornridgemotel.com/
Bayview Motel and Marina
(920) 294-6504
439 Lake St, Green Lake, WI 54941
https://www.bayviewgreenlake.com/
Comfort Suites At Royal Ridges
(608) 567-4024
2 Westgate Drive, Ripon, WI, 54971, US
https://www.choicehotels.com/wisconsin/ripon/comfort-suites-hotels/wi133
Boarders Inn & Suites by Cobblestone Hotels – Ripon
(920) 748-7578
1219 W Fond Du Lac St, Ripon, WI 54971
https://www.staycobblestone.com/wi/ripon/
Nite News: Early Bird Regatta Tentatively Called ON for Puckaway
Photo: Tim Stanton
Via the Nite Facebook page:
Nite sailors I hope your ready!!!
The Nite Commodore and NIte Treasurer just got off the ice at Lake Puckaway and found just about pristine conditions. We recorded 2 1/4 inches of hard optically clear ice that drilled real hard. Though we are not at the 5 inch mark we would like initially, I believe we will get there by Saturday morning. This is a shallow lake with a max depth at about 7 ft so we know that will help this whole equation as well.The weather forecast has snow coming on Thursday and we are not sure the full extent of what we may get, so as of now we will be planning as if a Nite regatta will be happening this weekend. We will do a final confirmation tomorrow.
Since there should be a lot of ice sheet available on Lake Puckaway, we would like to cordially invite the DN class to come share the ice with us and sail their Western Challenge on Lake Puckaway. It is the iceboater way to do things.
Please respect the landings should you come early and also the locals who maybe ice fishing.
Thanks,
Nite Class Commodore
Go West: Minnesota Monday
The right way to start the week, a video from Jim McDonaugh from the weekend sailing on Buffalo Lake in Minnesota, potential site of the Western Challenge DN regatta.
The Great Western Challenge is “ON” for December 13-15, 2019.
Primary location is Lake Buffalo in Buffalo, MN., sailing out of Sturges Park.
Check back for update on Wednesday and for hotel information.
Think ice!
Online Ship’s Store
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
4LIYC Governing Documents
Click for 4LIYC Meeting Dates
- January 2 THURSDAY Honor Roll Nominations
- January 15 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
- January 29
- February 12 Business Meeting
- February 26
- March 12 Last Meeting of the Season
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.
