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

4LIYC Sailing Update: Kegonsa To Be Scouted

DNs on Kegonsa in 2016.

Lake Kegonsa may be in play very soon. Ice checkers will scout the lake on Saturday.
The 4LIYC Christmas Holiday Series is tentatively called on for Tuesday, December 25. Final confirmation will be posted on Monday, December 24.

Remember, ice is NEVER safe. 
From the 4LIYC Bylaws:

1. Stay at Home Series and Regattas

7. Holiday Series races shall be on December 25th, January 1st, Thanksgiving, and Easter for all classes, with one trophy for each class. There will be two races per class, per day with the first race starting at 2:00 PM.. The number of races required to complete this series shall be one in each class. There shall be no more than 8 races for each class. (12/17/68)

2018 Renegade Championship Results

RESULTS

The results from the 2018 Renegade Championship have been posted. See them here. 

A special shout out of appreciation from Renegade Race Committee Chair and 4LIYC Commodore Don Anderson to the regatta PRO, John Hayashi, for his extra efforts to get the regatta in. His hours spent checking ice, organizing the race committee, providing equipment, keeping the troops rallied and informed, and his overall positive attitude throughout the regatta in tough conditions were appreciated by all the competitors.

Weekend 2 on Winnebago


Via Danies Hearn:

Another great day on Lake Winnebago (Sunday, December 16) for the Western Region DNs. Sailors from Pewaukee, Chicago, Madison, and Oshkosh got in numerous races before the ice turned slushy mid-afternoon. Back at it next weekend, hopefully, for the ice sailing hat trick!

2018 Renegade Championship

Greg McCormick

The 2018 Renegade regatta is in the books. Saturday was a bust with no racing because the wind never arrived.The day was not wasted though because sailors took advantage of the beautiful day to tune their boats and exchange information. Patience paid off on Sunday when the first race started at 11:12 AM on Lake Puckaway near Green Lake, WI in tricky light air. Three races later, Greg McCormick won the regatta. Stand by for results. George Gerhardt and Tim McCormick were tied for second.

2018 Renegade Championship ON for Dec 15-16, 2018 @ Puckaway

The Original Renegader, Elmer Millenbach

The 2018 International Renegade Ice Yacht Racing Association championship regatta has been called ON for Lake Puckaway (near Green Lake, Wisconsin) December 15-16, 2018. This is a 5 race regatta series. 3 races will take place on Saturday and 2 races will take place on Sunday.

The lake currently has 9 inches of good ice with a thin film of slush maybe a 1/4 of an inch at most. The lake has now been sailed for about two weeks. The main landing we will be using is at Apucckawa Park off of Toepper Drive.

We will be running starts for both the Renegades and also the local Nites. The first starts will be for the Renegade Championship starting at 10:30 AM CT

Our races will be run by PRO John Hayashi, with scoring by Maureen Bohleber and Mimi Hayashi. We have assistance with others but welcome any and all help.

If you have any questions you can contact either Donny Anderson 608-577-8527 or John Hayashi 608-575-8033

REGATTA INFORMATION

LAUNCH
Apuckawa Park Access

LODGING
Mecan River Outfitters:
(920) 295-3439
The Renegade Association has rented a cabin as a gathering spot here. If anyone wants to stay in the cabin, it will cost $25. There is another cabin available for rent for $120 plus tax (will hold 6 – 8 people.)
There are 4 hotel rooms left (2 people per room) for $99 plus tax

Acorn Ridge Motel
920-295-6533

Heidel House Resort
800.444.2812

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Registration at the launch: 9:30
Racing begins at 10:30 AM
Banquet at 7:30  Mecan River Outfitters, order off the menu.

Sunday, December 16, 2018
Racing begins at 9:30 AM
Prize giving to follow

 

2019 Northwest News

Class A Skeeters lined up at the 2010 Northwest Regatta on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. Photo: Joe Terry

Acting NIYA Secretary Steve Schalk has updated the Northwest Ice Yacht Association 2019 regatta documents. See the Notice of Race and 2019 NIYA Agenda over on the NIYA page.

The first possible dates that the NIYA could be sailed if conditions allow are January 18-20, 2019. Stay tuned for the next 2019 NIYA regatta update which will be on Sunday, January 13, 2019.

Wounded In Battle


Newbie Jonathon Thickens patching his hull back together at the Spaight Street Syndicate. Damage suffered at the Great Western Challenge in Battle Lake, Minnesota. Is that all you’ve got Mother Nature? See you next time.

Big Iron ISA Video

Always a pleasure to see what Minnesota iceboater Jim McDonagh comes up with video-wise after a regatta. Ride along on the range with JD and Marty Robbins as they race JD’s Class A Skeeter at the ISA regatta in Battle Lake, MN.

 

DNs @ Fondy

Via Daniel Hearn:

Sailors from Lake Geneva, Chicago, Madison and Oshkosh met in Fond du Lac for a weekend of scrub racing on Lake Winnebago. Lighter breeze Saturday and good breeze Sunday. Lost count of the number of races. Nice dinner Saturday night in Ripon with some of the Green Lake contingent. Let’s do it again next weekend if we avoid snow in the area!

2018 Renegade Championship Tentatively Called On

Photo: gretchendorian.com

UPDATE DEC 10: FINAL CONFIRMATION DAY WAS INCORRECT. IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018 BY 1 PM CT.
The 2018 Renegade Championship regatta has been tentatively called on for December 15-16, 2018. Primary site is Lake Winnebago at Fond du Lac, WI and secondary is Lake Puckaway near Green Lake, WI. Final confirmation will be made on Thursday, December 13, 2018 by 1 PM CT.

 

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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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