UPCOMING:
4LIYC Meeting : Jan 28 @ Breakwater More information.
4LIYC Shipstore: Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE: Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
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
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
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!
No 4LIYC Racing Jan 5 – 6
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

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
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.
Regatta Watch: Renegade Championship Postponed
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
Via Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Secretary/Treasurer Andy Gratton:
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 12 and 13, 2019. The next update will be Sunday, January 6, 2019. Check back here at that time. Note that there is 10″ to 12″ of smooth ice on an area of Lake Petenwell.
Kegonsa 30 December 2018: Spaight St. Syndicate Championship
Footage from today’s historic Spaight Street Syndicate Global Championships on Lake Kegonsa.
Kegonsa has provided a decent venue for DN scrub racing so far – providing you sail and keep close with those who have local knowledge of areas to keep clear of. The next few days of cold temperatures should help to heal the seams on Kegonsa.
Watch Geoff Sobering’s Lake Kegonsa drone video from Saturday.
There’s a mixed precipitation weather system coming through on Monday that NOAA reports “.. is a very complicated forecast and the details will most certainly change over the next 24 hours, so remain alert and flexible and keep up with the forecast.” Tuesday and Wednesday night’s low temperatures look very promising for Monona and Mendota because both are clean slates, having frozen and opened back up again. Stay tuned!
Happy Ending in Duluth

Earlier this week, there was an enjoyable story on the Duluth Tribune website about area ice sailors who took advantage of a snow-less December to sail Superior Bay. “Nice ice for sailing on Superior Bay” featured a boat called the “Hog Island Express”.
“Everybody around here builds their own boats… I think I spent $50 total building the Hog Island Express,” Hom said, noting the name comes from the island along the Superior side of the harbor. That’s where Hom found the huge white pine up on shore. He floated it back to Park Point, eventually had it milled and used part of the lumber for the ice boat.
A storm came through on Thursday ending their season and almost sent the iceboats drifting away.
Thursday a neighbor called Strange to tell him “Your boat is leaving.” With the help of friends and neighbors, and using plastic barrels for flotation and a long rope, Strange rescued his and another person’s ice boats.
Thankfully, the outcome was a happy one. They did a safe and commendable job rescuing the boats. Take look the pictures here.







