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!
Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet:
Oct 19, 2025 @ Lake Geneva Yacht Club More information
Midwest Hardwater Sailors Swap Meet: November 8, 2025 @ Delavan Yacht Club More Information
4LIYC Meeting : November 2025

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

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.

 

2018 ISA Photos

Battle Lake photographer, Jann Kline, took advantage of the elements of light, wind, and ice to shoot these beautiful photos at the ISA regatta there on Saturday.

 

2018 ISA Update

The sun shines again on 4LIYC sailors Paul Krueger and Ken Whitehorse as they take a break on Paul’s A Skeeter RAMBL’N XII

2018 ISA Information & Results

The Skeeters are all done for the day in Battle Lake, Minnesota. The wind was too light to get a third Nite race in. Results have been updated on the ISA page.

And isn’t it great to see PK back in the saddle again. To say that iceboaters are a determined lot is an understatement.

2018 ISA Provisional Results

Direct from the ISA Tabulation Office in Fontana (just up the hill from Chuck’s on Geneva Lake, one of the world’s greatest iceboating bars), here are preliminary results from the ISA regatta.
2018 ISA Information page

Click here to see results

2018 ISA A Skeeter

Battle Creek, Mn. December 7th, 8th, & 9th

Results are provisional as of 13:28 on December 7, 2018

Overall

Sailed: 2, Discards: 0, To count: 2, Entries: 4, Scoring system: Appendix A
SailNoHelmNameR1R2Total
U 194John Dennis1.01.02.0
M 197Kenny Whitehorse2.02.04.0
M 165Paul Krueger3.03.06.0
V 500Steve Orlebeke5.0 DNC5.0 DNC10.0

Sailwave Scoring Software 2.25.11 www.sailwave.com

2018 ISA B Skeeter

Battle Lake, Mn. December 7th, 8th, & 9th 2018

Results are provisional as of 13:30 on December 7, 2018

Overall

Sailed: 2, Discards: 0, To count: 2, Entries: 2, Scoring system: Appendix A
RankSail NoHelmNameR1 12-7-18R2 12-7-18Total
1stI 234Jim McDonagh1.01.02.0
2ndI 564Steve Schalk2.02.04.0

Sailwave Scoring Software 2.25.11 www.sailwave.com

2018 ISA Nite

Battle Lake, MN. December 7th, 8th, & 9th

Results are provisional as of 13:31 on December 7, 2018

Overall

Sailed: 1, Discards: 0, To count: 1, Entries: 5, Scoring system: Appendix A
RankSailNoHelmNameR1 12-7Total
1st517Dan Bierman1.01.0
2nd396Bill Reed2.02.0
3rd384Don Sanford3.03.0
4th169Steven Wiberg4.04.0
5th415John Stasieluk6.0 DNC6.0

Sailwave Scoring Software 2.25.11 www.sailwave.com

Western Challenge: Lost & Found Department

DN Runners Missing since Battle Lake.
3/16 carbon runners with wings. Built by Ron Sherry. In black Harken runner bag with a Colorado College luggage tag that says 3/16 w/wing. May also have regatta stickers on them.
I sailed them on Sunday at the Great Western Challenge but they never made it home. I had to have taken them off in the pits.
Contact Mike (Six one two) 598-38 zero zero

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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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