Welcome to iceboat.org

The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club is one of the most active iceboat clubs in North America. We’ve been building and racing iceboats for over 100 years in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Ice Is Never 100% Safe.

Our ice reports are strictly for iceboat racers. Recreational iceboaters, kite boarders, cross country skiers, and ice fishermen should not rely on our ice reports. We have safety equipment. Do you?

Buy or Sell Your Iceboat

One of the best pages in North America to buy or sell iceboats and their parts. There’s also a complete list of vendors who will supply iceboats, sails, and their components.

Common Questions:

How can I get started? How fast can they go? How much do they cost? Is it safe?

Regatta Watch

Information about the ISA, NIYA, WSSA, Nite, and DN regattas.

Iceboat Classes

Learn about Skeeters, DNs, Stern Steerers, Renegades, Nites, and Ice Optimists.

The Rules.

The purpose of iceboat racing rules is to prevent collisions.

Ice Yacht Clubs

The best way to learn about iceboating and make life long friendships is to join a local club.

Why We Sail.

“If all our ice were glass, slightly wet, and all our air reasonably steady with lifters just where needed, sailing would be perfect. Sometimes we do find this, and it is worth waiting years to have. Meanwhile we must accept the more ordinary ice conditions, ordinary weather and wind, and gracefully accept snow, sometimes for weeks. Our ideal comes from time to time, the Great Maker gives only so much of the very best.” Charles H. Johnson.

Iceboating for Kids

Ice Optimists were created specifically as a youth trainer, designed to be easily built using commonly available materials, and to keep costs to a minimum.

UPCOMING:
It’s Building Season!
4LIYC Meeting : November 2025

4LIYC Shipstore: Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE:
 Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online

The 1901 Minnesota Ice War


50 racing Stern-Steers and an ice harvesting business around Lake Calhoun were not a good mix back in 1901. Read the whole story, “Competition on the ice” from the Southwest Journal.

The people took matters into their own hands. They poured kerosene oil on the ice. The Cedar Lake Ice Company retaliated by laughing that those responsible would simply have to pay more for their unspoiled ice in the summer. And when that didn’t stop them, the ice company started spreading ashes on the ice tracks used by the ice boaters.

2019 Renegade Championship: The Prizes

2019 Renegade Championship Regatta
January 11-13, 2019
Lake Pepin, Lake City, MN
Photos: Greg McCormick
2019 Renegade Championship Results

2019 ISA: The Prizes

2019 International Skeeter Association Regatta
January 11-13, 2019
Lake Pepin, Lake City, MN
Photos: Julie Jankowski
2019 ISA Results

2019 ISA & Renegade Championship: Now, the Thanks

Photo: Steve Brown

It took a cooperative effort to make the ISA a success. Thanks go to the following:

John Dennis & Jim McDonaugh: Ice checking, course setting, race starting
Steve Schalk: ISA Secretary/Treasurer, course setting, flagging, and anything else that needed doing.
Jason Thompson & the rest of the SIBC sailors who helped in any way asked.
Mary Jane Schalk: Off site tabulation. She published race results at a blazing speed, even before the sailors had a chance to walk over to look at the line up sheets to see how they finished! She also contacted the hotels and arranged the banquet.
Julie Jankowski: Facebook video and photo updates which were much appreciated around the world.
Steve Brown: Lake City resident and licensed drone pilot who shared his videos and pictures with all of us.
Don Sanford: Flagging, race starting
Wayne Schmeidlin (Wayne’s Automotive on Cottage Grove Road, Madison) and his son, Adam, who not only tuned up our ATV but made sure my car was in good shape to haul it. We would not have had as many races without an ATV in good working condition.
The people of Lake City, Minnesota who welcomed ice boaters for the second weekend in a row. It’s heartening to see them come to the landing to see what we are up to, ask questions, and take pictures.
All four fleets for always being lined up and ready to race as soon as the last boat crossed the finish line.

 

2019 ISA & Renegade Championship: First, the Congratulations

Lake Pepin’s titanium-hard ice provided one of the best ISA and Renegade Championships seen in years. The Renegades and A Skeeters had 7 races each which the B and C Skeeters and the Nites had 6, that’s a 26 race regatta, folks!  Stay tuned for more photos and some well deserved thank yous.
Final Results
Congratulations to all who participated and to the fleet champions:
A Skeeter: John Dennis, Windjammers Ice Yacht Club
B Skeeter: Jason Thompson, Skeeter Iceboat Club
C Skeeter: Pat Heppert, Skeeter Iceboat Club
Renegade: George Gerhardt, Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club, Oshkosh Ice Yacht Club
Nite: Maureen Krueger Bohleber, Green Lake Ice Yacht Club & Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club

A special congratulations to Nite Class champion Maureen Krueger Bohleber who made history as the first woman to ever win an ISA fleet championship.

Nite Class winners (with Nite Commodore Don Sanford far left) from left: 2nd Mike Peters, 1st Maureen Krueger Bohleber, 3rd Drew Vandervelde, 4th Peter Vandervelde    Photo: Julie Jankowski

 

WSSA Regatta Tentatively Called On for Jan 19-20

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association annual regatta is tentatively called on for January 19 and 20 at Lake Petenwell between Necedah and Wisconsin Rapids. Final confirmation will be on Thursday, January 17. Note that the Northwest Regatta takes precedence. There is 14″ of ice at the launch site with 12″ to 13″ in the area we plan to sail.

Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary

Regatta Watch: The Northwest Regatta Called On for Jan 18-20

Class A Skeeters rounding the leeward mark on Lake Pepin. Photo: Pat Heppert

Via Northwest Ice Yachting Association Race Committee:

The 2019 Northwest Yachting Association Regatta is tentatively called on for January 18-20. Lake Pepin at Lake City, MN is the primary site with Lake Petenwell near Necedah, Wisconsin as secondary site.   This historic regatta, first sailed in 1913, is a three day event that includes the Stern Steerers, A, B, and C Skeeters, Renegades, and DNs.  Final confirmation will be posted on Wednesday, January 16 by noon CT. Reminder: The Northwest is now a nine-race regatta.

ISA/Renegade Championship: Day 1 PM Update

Maureen Bohleber crosses the finish line in first in the third Nite class race. She currently sits in first place after today.

Just back in from the lake. What a day – fast ice, a steady light breeze, a sunny day, eagles, trains, eight races, five classes, and Minnesota nice! Wish you were here.  More to come tomorrow. Results here.

 

ISA & Renegade Championship: Day 1


Good morning from Lake City, MN on the first day of the regatta. Mary Jane will be tabulating from the home office in Fontana. You should be able to see results as they happen at this link.  (Update: Link has been fixed.) The ice is hard and fast. Keeping fingers crossed for the right amount of breeze to make this a perfect regatta day. The racing starts at 10 AM and the rotation is Renegades, Nites, A Skeeters, and B Skeeters with C Skeeters. If you are a Facebooker, check out the 4LIYC page for live updates and photos.
Provisional Results

Online Ship’s Store

Regatta Dates 2025

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Click for 4LIYC Meeting Dates

2024-2025

  • 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

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Lake Access Permits

A year-round permit required for designated launch sites in the City of Madison and Dane County Parks. Locations include:

    • Lake Mendota Warner Park Mendota County Park
    • Lake Monona Tonyawatha Tr. Olin Park
    • Lake Waubesa Goodland Park

Purchase Lake Access Permit Online.

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