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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.

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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?

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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.

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Common Questions:

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

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Regatta Watch

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

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

An Explanation of Iceboat Classes

The Rules.

The purpose of iceboat racing rules is to prevent collisions.

The Racing Rules

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“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.

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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.

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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
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ISA/Renegade Regatta ON for Jan 11-13 @ Lake Pepin MN

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 9, 2019

Nites at the 1 and 2 block at the 2015 ISA. Photo: gretchendorian.com

Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions

LAUNCH
Roschen Park.
BACK TRAILERS ON THE ICE, DO NOT DRIVE ON THE ICE

SAILING AREA – WHAT TO KNOW
There’s a fairly obvious pressure ridge about 1/3 of a mile south of the launch. Do not sail to the Willows because of open water. There’s about a 2 mile x 2 mile sailing area. Don’t go wandering off!
UPDATE JAN 10: JD has added more detail to the sailing area map. I don’t have time to revise it from the one that was posted yesterday. JD’s comments and lines are in black. Please review.

Revised map per JD
Jan 10, 2019

LODGING:
THE WILLOWS:
Willows on the River Condominium Resort
100 Central Point Road
Lake City, MN 55041
1-651-345-9900
Website
Map
When making reservations you must tell them you are with the ISA regatta.
IMPORTANT: Must call the hotel directly at 651-345-9900 to get discount. No Expedia.

- Single condo rooms sleep 1 – 4.
  Thursday is $125.00, Friday and Saturday are $87.50.
- Double rooms sleep 6 -8.
  Thursday is $205.00 with Friday and Sat. $127.50.

AMERICINN
Website
1615 N Lakeshore Drive Lake City, Minnesota 55041-9023
651-314-4152
Map
2 Queen room (no view) 89.90 + tx.
Single queen with a view $89.90 = tx.
2 queen handicap $89.90 + tx.
2 single King $99.90+ tx.
Suite with 1 king and 1 queen separate rooms $109.90 + tx.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, January 11:
8:30 – 9:30 AM Registration at the launch
10 AM First race
6 PM Annual ISA Meeting at the AmericInn
ISA AGENDA

Saturday, January 12
9:30 AM First race
Banquet at the Lake House Restaurant at the Willows.
6:30 PM cocktails
7:00 PM dinner and order off the menu.

Sunday, January 13
9:30 AM First Race

Sail Scugog!

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 9, 2019

Received this nice note from some Lake Scugog sailors. We hope you are able to continue your season up there!

While all you ice Gods south of the border prepare your fine machinery for the winter season – be aware there is a ragtag group of Canadians fixing up up a bunch of your old junk! Had good ice for a couple days up until this snow
Three renegades and a DN so far! We are an hour north east of Toronto on Lake Scugog near Port Perry, Ontario.
Kelly, Phil,and Brian

Western Region Wrap Up

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 7, 2019

DN Western Region Commodore and regatta organizer Daniel Hearn with Eloise and her dad, John Dennis who was second in Gold. JD statistically tied in points with Ron Sherry for first place but Ron won the tiebreak.

Time to review the DN Western Region Championship from a 4LIYC perspective. Congratulations to mega multi-tasker Daniel Hearn who not only organized the regatta and volunteers, he also managed to place 5th in the Gold Cup. Fellow 4LIYC sailors in the Gold were Steve Orlebeke, 3rd, Tim Sugar who placed 7th and Dave Elsmo who placed 11th,
Silver Fleet: Brian Hearn mirrored his brother’s finish by coming in 5th in the Silver, Robert Cummins was 9th, and University of Wisconsin student Soren Hughes earned top Junior sailor and placed 12th in his first regatta.
Special shout out to longtime SIBC sailor, Lou Loennecke, who had two second place finishes in Silver. It was really cool to see sailors who have been participating in these events for so many years like Bob Cummins and Lou Loennecke line up next to each other in the two and four block in Silver race 4.
Final results can be seen here.

Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 7, 2019

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 19 and 20, 2019. The next update will be Sunday, January 13. Check back here at that time.
Note that Lake Petenwell has 1″ of crusty snow on top of 13″ of ice near shore, a couple inches less thickness further out. Thickness checks will be made again next weekend in numerous areas of the lake.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Regatta Watch: The ISA & Renegade Championship Called On for Jan 11-13

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 6, 2019

Photo: Joe Stanton

The International Skeeter Association Regatta and the Renegade Championship have been tentatively called on for January 11-13, 2019. Potential sites include Lake Pepin in Lake City, MN, Lake Puckaway near Montello, WI, and Lake Kegonsa in Madison, WI. Final confirmation will be made on Wednesday, January 9 by noon CT.
Next update Wednesday, January 9 by noon CT.

DN Western Region Championship Update

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 5, 2019

Before the deluge.

Quick update from Lake Pepin where the 2019 Western Region Championship is taking place this weekend. Today was one of the warmest days I’ve spent on an iceboat course. The folks who live in Lake City, Minnesota have been the ultimate hosts. Four Gold and three Silver races made for a great day. More tomorrow!

See results here.

No 4LIYC Racing Jan 5 – 6

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 4, 2019

Word from Commodore Donny is that Kegonsa is too soft and rough for racing this weekend.

Just pulled into Lake City MN for the DN Western region regatta. Stay tuned for updates.

4LIYC Ice Check Friday Jan 4

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 2, 2019

4LIYC members, if you are interested in checking ice on Kegonsa, please meet at Springer’s on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 11 AM.
I walked a bit of Kegonsa on Tuesday and was surprised to see a lot of grey ice. The rain that preceded the snow on Monday caused the snow to wet out and turn into slush. The lake was in a changing state – with slush freezing over a thin layer of water. Kegonsa is definitely worth checking for weekend club racing. Next update Friday, January 4, 2019.

4LIYC Sailing Update: No Racing for Jan 1

by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 31, 2018

The 4LIYC Bloody Mary Eye Opener Trophy – Ready for 2020

There will be no 4LIYC Holiday Series racing for Tuesday, January 1, 2019. We are hopeful that the weather system coming through today will either improve or have no negative effect on Kegonsa. Next 4LIYC racing update, Friday, January 4, 2019.