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

2018 Nite Nationals: Day 1

Dan Bierman on Green Lake.


Results from day one thanks to Mary Jane Schalk.

Click here to see results

2018 Nite National Gold Fleet
Green Lake March 3 & 4
2018 Nite National - Green Lake
Overall
Sailed: 3, Discards: 0, To count: 3, Entries: 22, Scoring system: Appendix A
Rank	Class	SailNo	HelmName		R1	R2	R3		Total	Nett
1st	Gold	272	Tom Sweitzer		0.75	3.00	0.75		4.50	4.50
2nd	Gold	339	Peter Vandervelde	3.00	0.75	2.00		5.75	5.75
3rd	Gold	351	Brian Niles		4.00	4.00	4.00		12.00	12.00
4th	Gold	550	Mark Prange		7.00	10.00	3.00		20.00	20.00
5th	Gold	595	Joe Norton		9.00	9.00	5.00		23.00	23.00
6th	Gold	517	Dan Bierman		8.00	2.00	23.00 DNF	33.00	33.00
7th	Gold	255	Matt Peterson		12.00	6.00	23.00 DNC	41.00	41.00
8th	Gold	544	Mike Peters		2.00	17.00	23.00 DNF	42.00	42.00
9th	Gold	520	Grant Frautschi		6.00	13.00	23.00 DNF	42.00	42.00
10th	Gold	305	Rick Wilfert		15.00	5.00	23.00 DNC	43.00	43.00
11th	Gold	54	Jeff Ragainis		14.00	8.00	23.00 DNF	45.00	45.00
12th	Gold	282	Drew Vandervelde	16.00	7.00	23.00 DNF	46.00	46.00
13th	Gold	564	Byron Hill		11.00	14.00	23.00 DNC	48.00	48.00
14th	Gold	497	Maureen Bohleber	5.00	23.0DNC	23.00 DNF	51.00	51.00
15th	Gold	487	Jim McCabe		13.00	16.00	23.00 DNF	52.00	52.00
16th	Gold	547	 			19.00	11.00	23.00 DNC	53.00	53.00
17th	Gold	322	Chad Rechcygl		20.00	12.00	23.00 DNF	55.00	55.00
18th	Gold	303	Nick Vandervelde	10.00	23.0DNF	23.00 DNF	56.00	56.00
19th	Gold	238	Mike Jankowski		18.00	15.00	23.00 DNF	56.00	56.00
20th	Gold	350	Mark Wilfert		17.00	23.0DNC	23.00 DNC	63.00	63.00
21st	Gold	165	Tony Janowiek		21.00	23.0DNF	23.00 DNF	67.00	67.00
22nd	Gold	433	 	                23.00DN 23.00DNC23.00 DNC	69.00	69.00



2018 Nite National Silver
Green Lake March 3 & 4
2018 Nite Silver Green Lake
Overall
Sailed: 2, Discards: 0, To count: 2, Entries: 12, Scoring system: Appendix A
Rank	Class	SailNo	HelmName	R1		R2		Total	Nett
1st	Silver	503	Jeff Seeboth	0.75		2.00		2.75	2.75
2nd	Silver	60	Dick Grota	3.00		0.75		3.75	3.75
3rd	Silver	10	 		2.00		5.00		7.00	7.00
4th	Silver	160	Ken Kreider	4.00		4.00		8.00	8.00
5th	Silver	511G	John Mason	6.00		6.00		12.00	12.00
6th	Silver	384	Don Sanford	8.00		7.00		15.00	15.00
7th	Silver	94	Dave Whealon	13.00 DNF	3.00		16.00	16.00
8th	Silver	205	Jim Magnuson	5.00		13.00 DNF	18.00	18.00
9th	Silver	511B	 		10.00		8.00		18.00	18.00
10th	Silver	386	 		7.00		13.00 DNF	20.00	20.00
11th	Silver	58	Terry Reynolds	9.00		13.00 DNF	22.00	22.00
12th	 	433	 		13.00 DNF	13.00 DNC	26.00	26.00

NIte Nationals…. ON!!!

From Nite Commodore Don Sanford:

Nite Nationals have been called ON for Green Lake, WI March 3 & 4 2018.
Here are the details you need to know:
  • INCA NOR 2018
  • INCA Sailing Instr 2018
  • INCA Nationals Registration & Waiver 2018
  • Launch site:  Dodge County park on the west end of Green Lake
  • DO NOT DRIVE ON THE ICE:  Host club will have ATV’s available for moving trailers
  • Hotel:  We have a block of 15 hotel rooms in Ripon at the Comfort Suites. Mention you are here for the iceboat regatta to get the $89 rate for two queens.  (920) 748-5500
  • First Race:  Please note that the time of Saturday’s first race has been set at 0900.
  • Entry:  If you registered and paid when we attempted to hold the regatta on Mendota last month, your fee is paid.  Please complete the registration form again, just indicate on it that you paid back in February.
  • Fleet Meeting:  We may have a fleet meeting on Saturday after racing.  That will be announced at Skippers meeting Saturday morning
  • Dinner-Saturday night:  at the Gooseblind in Green Lake at 7pm all you can eat pizza, salad and pasta.

Renegades Postponed

Not a big surprise, but the Renegade regatta is also postponed.
Next update Sunday evening.

ISA Postponed

From Jay Yaeso:

The ISA Race Committee is postponing another week.  Ice checkers
found 20″ of ice but current ramp conditions will not be able to
tolerate a regatta.
We continue our search for having a 2018 ISA championship.
Next update March 4, 2018

NIYA Regatta Postponed

From Tim McCormick:

The NIYA Regatta is postponed until March 9-11.  The landings in Madison, Green Lake, Winnebago, and Green Bay will not support cars or large trailers so we’re keeping our eyes open for potential ice north of Suamico, WI for the regatta.  Next update is Sunday, March 3 at 8pm CST.

Nite Regatta Update

From “Mr. Nite” Don Sanford:

Don’t put your boat away, there’s still ice.
Here’s this week’s regatta update.
The Northwest has been called ON for March 2-4.  Should they postpone, the ISA may call ON.  Primary site for either regatta will be Green Bay, probably Windjammers Sailing Club in Suamico, WI, though that may change depending on conditions.  Other possible locations are Lake Winnebago, Green Lake or the Madison, WI area.  Should the Northwest call ON, Nite Nationals will be called ON for March 3 & 4 on the best ice available.  If the ISA is called ON, we will sail with the ISA and postpone nationals.
The Northwest and ISA will make a decision on Wednesday by noon CST.  Per our NOR, we will make our decision on Thursday by at noon CST.
You may have noticed that NiteRacing.org has not been updated for a few days.  Until that issue can be resolved I’ve asked John to keep us up to date through our Facebook page and Team Snap.
I will have another update on Wednesday afternoon.

ISA Called ON

ISA  called ON.  Green Bay primary location.
Final call Wednesday noon.

Northwest ON for March 2-4!

The Northwest Regatta is tentatively called ON for March 2-4.
Primary regatta site is Green Bay, WI with secondary sites in Green Lake, Lake Winnebago, and Madison.
We’re keeping a close eye on the warm weather coming this week and will inspect launch ramps and ice on Wednesday morning.
Final determination will be Wednesday, February 28th at Noon CST.

We’re not done yet so… Think Ice!

No 4-Lakes Club Racing Feb. 24-25

Vice Commodore Tim McCormick and the other ice-checkers extensively scouted the local lakes this morning (thanks everyone!).
Tim reports:

We decided against club racing this weekend.  Although the ice in the center of Lakes Mendota and Monona is raceable, the window of opportunity for racing is small due to rain and high winds forecast for Saturday afternoon and really high winds on Sunday.  In addition, the landings are soft and will make getting boats on and off the ice a challenge.

Nite Nationals Postponed

From Nite Commodore Don Sanford:

Mother Nature has dealt us another bad hand.  Here in Wisconsin, especially in the southern part of the state we’ve received a lot of rain in the past couple of days.  The good news is that our snow is gone.  Not the bad news–today ice checkers around ruts, soft landings and lots of shelf ice on Madison lakes, Pewaukee, Geneva or Green.  Clearly not regatta conditions.  Up north and in Minnesota they’re still snowed in.  Therefore, Nite Nationals have been postponed to March 3 & 4. Keep your fingers crossed.

Next update on Sunday, Feb 25.

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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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