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

Regatta Watch: ISA & NIYA Postponed

Photo: Chris John    Sailing legend Buddy Melges takes a first place finish in his Skeeter at the 2007 Northwest sailed on Green Bay in Menominee, Michigan

The International Skeeter Association (ISA) and Northwest Regattas are postponed because all of Wisconsin and Michigan are snow covered. Next update for both regattas is Sunday, February 18.

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4LIYC Scoring & Banquet Update

Trophy capacity: 56 gallons!

Tim McCormick has tabulated the club scores to reflect last weekend’s racing. See results here.
Trophy Chair Jori Lenon has made arrangements for the club’s annual spring awards banquet to be held at Springer’s. Please save the date of April 21, 2018.

2018 Junior Worlds Video: We Sail

While ice sailing is on temporary hold here in Wisconsin because of too much snow, here’s a video to brighten your day. Despite the snow, these kids at the 2018 Junior World Championship are eager sailors having fun.

 

4LIYC Racing Update for Feb 10-11: The “S” Word

Snow Sticks

Ice sailing in the Four Lakes area is on hold until the Great Zamboni© descends to take away the 7″+ of snow covering our beautiful ice. There will be no 4LIYC racing for the weekend of February 10-11, 2018.
On Thursday, the MARY B group towed her from the Edgewater to the Brearly Street launch via snowmobile. Paul McMillan reported it was a fast ride.

The last iceboat off the lake for a while.

 

2018 Junior Ice Sailing World & European Championship Update

Photo: Andrius Repšys    Thor Rosten US888 raises the flag at the opening ceremony of the DN & Ice Optimist World Championship in Lithuania

The Junior DN & Ice Optimist World Championship regatta has been completed with 7 races in the DN fleet and 6 in the Ice Optimist fleet. Congratulations to Estonian sailor Rasmus Maalinn who sailed nearly a perfect regatta with 6 firsts and one second. 2017 JWC Eddie Klemets of Sweden was second. Zuzanna Rybicka of Poland was the highest placing female with an 8th. Estonia’s Karl Ader took first in the Ice Optimist division and another Estonian, Lisbeth Taggu, was the highest placing female with fifth place finish.
The show isn’t over yet as the fleets are making a two hour move (because of snow in Lithuania) today northeast to Riga, Latvia to complete the European Championships tomorrow.
Results

Photo: Andrius Repšys

Monotype-XV European Championships 2018

The Monotype-XV is a one-design stern-steerer class popular in Europe. “Designed in 1932 by the legendary Erik von Holst of Estonia”, the boat has an interesting history.  The class held regattas held before WW2, followed by a long period with no international regattas, and then a reorganization in 1993. The Monotypes are sailing their regatta this week in Estonia. 28 stern-steers on the starting line is pretty impressive! Results

 

“What Do We Do In The Winter?”

Photo: gretchendorian.com

Sailing the Great Lakes with Tim McKenna
What Do We Do In The Winter?
GREAT LAKES BOATING
PUBLISHED IN THE FEBRUARY 2018 ISSUE FEBRUARY 2018 FEATURE

Some Great Lakes sailors head south for the winter looking for blue water and sunshine in the Islands. Others do things like get a new hip. There are some who go outside in the cold weather and shoot ducks. Then there are the ones who head for the ice and sail really fast…these are the ones who race on iceboats. As this article is being written, the 2017 – 2018 winter season is just beginning. So-called “hard water” sailors have begun the task of pulling their boats down from the rafters and getting the cobwebs of summer cleared away.
Continue reading.

Junior Ice Sailing World Championship: Day 1

Photo: Pranciškus Repšys                                               Opening Ceremony

The DN Junior and Ice Optimist Word and European Championschips got underway on Lake Rekyva in Lithuania.
There were 2 DN races and 1 Ice Optimist race. From what I gather on Facebook, the wind was light today. 4LIYC DNer Thor Rosten is competing in the championship.
Results

Boe-Craft Championship Regatta

Photo: August Greidanus

The Boehmke B-Skeeters held their championship regatta on Geneva Lake over the weekend. Check out the Boe-Craft website for results and photos. Congratulations Rick Pappas on your win!

Photo: August Greidanus

 

Regatta Watch: NIYA & ISA Postponed

DEUCE at the 2004 Northwest on Lake Monona, Madison, WI. Photo: David Travis

The International Skeeter Association (ISA) and Northwest Regattas are postponed because all of Wisconsin and Michigan are snow covered. Next update for both regattas is Sunday, February 11.

 

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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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