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
A Winning View From Above
Craig Wilson and his kite at the 2009 Renegade Championship on Green Lake, Green Lake, Wisconsin.
Long before drones became prevalent, Kite photographer Craig Wilson recognized the beauty of boats on ice. He recently won an award from the country and museum where kite photography all began. Craig’s submission of a vintage stern-steerer photo hangs in a museum in France!
Tip of the Helmet: Jeff Russell
From Craig’s Facebook Page, Kite Aerial Photography by Craig Wilson:
Using a kite to lift a camera has been a thing for 130 years. Frenchman Arthur Batut is most generally accepted as the first person to accomplish that feat in 1888. This past summer a worldwide aerial photo competition was hosted in Labruguiere France with selected images shown at the Aurther Batut Museum.
At the end of the show I was one of the prize winners. Quite an honor to have some of my artwork selected to be included in the show and really amazing to be a prize winner in the birthplace of Kite Aerial Photography.
Craig Wilson
NASA Ice Check
From yesterday’s #IceBridge flight: A tabular iceberg can be seen on the right, floating among sea ice just off of the Larsen C ice shelf. The iceberg’s sharp angles and flat surface indicate that it probably recently calved from the ice shelf. pic.twitter.com/XhgTrf642Z
— NASA ICE (@NASA_ICE) October 17, 2018
Here’s a nice flat piece of ice estimated to be over a mile wide to get us in the mood for upcoming ice checks. Learn more about how tabular icebergs are formed on Live Science.
4LIYC Nites Meet November 7
Photo: aliheinemann20 via Instagram
For the second year in a row, the 4LIYC Nite fleet is meeting for some fun and to make sure all Nite sailors are ready for the season. If you are interested in iceboating or learning about the Nite fleet, please join in.
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Nite fleet is getting together on November 7th for a fleet meeting, dinner and a night of throw down competition. If you have never been there it is a blast. Come witness Grant’s prowess at Wack a Mole, see if Donny has any football chops, perhaps we see Greg S. and his basketball touch,. For our more electronic skilled members, there just maybe an Asteroid, Centipede or Frogger game lurking in the building. If you do not show up you get grill duty the first day on the ice. Congratulations new fleet captain.Date: Wednesday November 7, 2018
Time: 6:30 for dinner, meeting, and games
Location: Dave and Buster’s on the west side in West Town aka (old Sears spot) MapRemember the Nite fleet are the fun people. Hint: That is a friendly challenge Renegade fleet.See you there
John Hayashi.
4LIYC Nite Skipper
Nite Moves
The Nite Class has a new address and website. Adjust your bookmarks and check out their new website here.
Sailing The Union
Dave Elsmo threads his way around the iconic UW Union Terrace sunburst chairs while carrying a DN hull.
Thanks to all who attended and helped with Sunday’s 4LIYC program at the University of Wisconsin Union. We were able to generate some interest with new people trying iceboating and interest some seasoned veterans into considering the journey to Lake Baikal. And now we know how to bring iceboats into the Union – by walking them through the Terrace. Special thanks to Dideric Van Reimsdjik for his presentation and to Dave Elmso for arranging the room.
4LIYC Fall Sailing Event This Sunday, Oct 14
4LIYC members Don Sanford & Ken Kreider to the rescue with an on-the-ice lunch buffet at the 2017 DN North Americans on Lake Monona.
Iceboating: Come For the Speed, Stay for the Friendships
MORE EVENT INFORMATION
Here’s a reminder about a program about Lake Baikal ice sailing and social event and that the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club and Hoofer’s is sponsoring on Sunday, October 14 from noon to 3 PM at the Memorial Union in Madison. It’s your chance to learn about ice sailing, adventure travel, Siberia, the 4LIYC, and meet ice sailors from around the world and Midwest.
4LIYC Commodore Don Anderson called me this morning to talk about something that doesn’t get mentioned enough, how the friendships and camaraderie in iceboating are possible because it is such a unique sport. Bill Mattison’s classic line describing the sport,”nothing’s fickler”, can be a feature, not a bug, of iceboating. There’s an upside to the fickleness.
Don talked about the differences between a soft water and hard water regatta. If conditions aren’t right, ice boaters are freer to get off the lake and explore their regatta destination making it more enjoyable for everyone. “Anytime I set up my iceboat at a regatta, getting to sail is a bonus. What makes it fun for me is renewing friendships with others who have this sport in common. The first iceboat ride you take of the season is worth the price of admission (i.e. owning an iceboat) because it is such a thrilling ride. Even if you don’t get another ride, it’s still a good investment.” Sharing morning donuts on the ice before a day of sailing, grilled brats at lunch, and a few beers at the end of the day with Tom Hyslop’s giant bag of peanuts- in-the shell makes iceboating festive sport.
As these photos below show, iceboaters enjoy the social aspects of sharing a meal on the ice whether it’s on Lake Baikal or Lake Monona. If you are curious about the sport, we hope to see you there on Sunday so you can learn more about us. If you are a 4LIYC member or member of another club, we hope to see you there to begin the process of renewing old friendships.
UPDATE: DN Champion Ron Sherry To Attend 4LIYC Baikal Sailing Program Oct 14
Multiple DN World, North American, and Baikal champion Ron Sherry is making the drive from Detroit, Michigan to attend this event and catch up with iceboating friends. Ron has been to Lake Baikal twice and has won 3 titles there and will be on hand to share his experiences.
Free Program & Iceboat Exhibit Sponsored by the 4LIYC and Hoofer’s Sailing Club
Date: Sunday, October 14, 2018
Time: Noon to 3 PM Program at 1 PM
Location: University of Wisconsin Memorial Union, Tripp Commons, 2nd Floor of the Union
800 Langdon St, Madison, WI MAPDETAILS
Parking: Helen C. White Parking Garage MAP
State Street Campus Parking Garage MAP
Food: Your favorite Wisconsin beverages and food will be available for purchase at Der Rathskeller and other restaurants located in the Memorial Union.
Questions? Please email us: debwhitehorse@iceboat.org
2018-2019 Winter Forecast: There Will Be Iceboating Somewhere…Again
Hollywood Dreams: Lake Mendota
It’s that time of year when cold weather enthusiasts start combing over winter predictions which are soon forgotten because they are vague and usually wrong. Like we said last year, the only thing we can predict with 100% accuracy is that there will be ice sailing somewhere in North America, hopefully near you!
How many courses?
In the meantime, stern-steerer sailor Kurt Martinson D7 alerts us to some quality black ice on the coast of Greenland seen from 36,000 feet a few days ago.
4LIYC Fall Ice Sailing Event
For well over 50 years, this iceboat club has kicked off the season with some sort of fall gathering to get iceboating back on everyone’s minds. For many years, we’ve hosted picnics. Two years ago, we held a very successful iceboat show at Dick Lichtfeld’s property.
This year, we are excited to announce an event in conjunction with Hoofer’s Sailing Club at the famous University of Wisconsin Memorial Union. (Sailing iceboats on Lake Mendota to the Union for lunch is part of what makes Madison a unique ice sailing center.)
DN ice sailor Dideric van Riemsdijk H467 from the Netherlands (where it all began) will present a program on the annual ice sailing regatta that takes place every spring at one of the planet’s most remote places, Lake Baikal in Siberia. We will have iceboats set up in historic Tripp Commons on the 2nd floor of the Union.
Please join us on Sunday, October 14, 2018 for this free event where you can meet up with old friends or learn about the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club and how to get started in the sport. All are welcome including area iceboat and sailing clubs. The planets have aligned (at least here in Wisconsin) because there’s no Packer game that Sunday.
ICE SAILING LAKE BAIKAL
A Free Program & Iceboat Exhibit Sponsored by the 4LIYC and Hoofer’s Sailing Club
Date: Sunday, October 14, 2018
Time: Noon to 3 PM Program at 1 PM
Location: University of Wisconsin Memorial Union, Tripp Commons, 2nd Floor of the Union
800 Langdon St, Madison, WI MAP
DETAILS
Parking: Helen C. White Parking Garage MAP
State Street Campus Parking Garage MAP
Food: Your favorite Wisconsin beverages and food will be available for purchase at Der Rathskeller and other restaurants located in the Memorial Union.
Questions? Please email us: debwhitehorse@iceboat.org
News from Lake Puckaway
Via John Hayashi
The new kid on the block!
After talking to a bunch of local iceboaters, we have finally decided to pull the trigger and deliver. Our goal is simple, more ice time, more iceboating, more fun. How do we do it? Our goal is to provide everyone with more opportunities to get on the ice. The opportunity to weekday race is one example that works well for the Skeeter Iceboat Club, why not jump on the opportunity as well? For people that want more racing on weekends the opportunity to get cracking and enjoy morning ice and get in those extra races is also appealing for others. For our cruising friends, how about the opportunity to get more ice time with other iceboaters?
Lake Puckaway (near Montello, WI) is perhaps one of the best locations for early season ice. It has lots of space and it is shallow so it tends to freeze up first and fast. It is the ultimate iceboating site. Our goal is to make it the early season hotspot.
We are holding an organizational meeting on October 25th at 7:00 pm out at Mike and Cathy’s to put this all into action. If you are interested in dinner you can come earlier. Come get involved and see what we have already put together and our plans for the future.
Location: Mike and Cathy’s Good Old Days W995 W North Shore Dr, Montello, WI 53949
MapMore ice time more fun!
For more information contact L34scow@aol.com
ISA: 2019 Notice of Dues
Paul Krueger leaving an impression on Lake Kegonsa. Photo: Peter Fauerbach
INTERNATIONAL SKEETER ASSOCIATION DUES NOTICE
The annual dues are $25.00 for the 2018-2019 season, payable to:
International Skeeter Association
Steve Schalk, W6001 Brick Church RD, Fontana, WI 53125
December 1st, 2018 is the deadline for new items to be placed on the 2019 agenda. Items from 2018 carry over if no meeting is held in 2018.
PLEASE NOTE: THE 2018 REGATTA IS STILL UNDER POSTPONEMENT. THE RACE COMMITTEE IS PLANNING TO FIND A SUITABLE SITE MOST LIKELY IN MINNESOTA IN MID DECEMBER 2018.
January 11, 12, & 13, 2019 (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) is the scheduled weekend for the 2019 Regatta.
ISA Homepage
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.
