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:
4LIYC Meeting : November 19, 2025 @ Fast Champions Iceboat Shop More information.
4LIYC Shipstore: Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE:
 Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online

On TV: Neenah Nite

NEENAH (WLUK) — Some quick-skimming action on Lake Winnebago.

It’s a winter sport that combines sharp skates, high speeds and a polyester sail.

On Saturday, ice boaters took to the frozen waters off the Neenah shoreline.

With just a bit of leg work, the ice boaters were underway. Matthew Thenell has been sailing for 30 years.
Continue reading.

WSSA: The People

WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton shares these photos from the 2018 WSSA Championship that remind us that an important part of iceboat racing is the camaraderie.

 

Regatta Update: Northwest Postponed

The 1948 Northwest on Geneva Lake. More here.

Via NIYA Race Committee Chair Tim McCormick:

The Northwest Regatta is postponed until January 26-28. The next update will be on Sunday, January 21st at 8pm CST.

Air Force

Thanks to Jeff Russell for forwarding these pictures from his good friend Steve Jameson who was flying his Cessna over Lake Mendota on Sunday. I’ll have more photos from club racing, the DN Western Regional, and the WSSA regatta to post. Stay tuned!

 

WSSA Championship Final Results


Wisconsin Stern Steerers Championship Regatta

2018 WSSA									
January 13 & 14 2018									
"Results are final as of 12:48 on January 14, 2018"									
Overall									
"Sailed: 5, Discards: 0, To count: 5, Entries: 9, Scoring system: Appendix A"									
Rank	Class	SailNo	HelmName	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Total
1st	A	A10	Erik Sawyer	1	1	1	1	1	5
2nd	C	C 25	Mike Peters	4	3	2	3	3	15
3rd	C	C 2	Peter McCormick	3	5	6	2	2	18
4th	C	V 49	Jeff Seeboth	5	2	3	5	5	20
5th	D	D17	Andy Gratton	2	4	4	6	6	22
6th	D	V 36	Joe Terry	6	6	5	4	4	25
7th	B	S 3	M. Wiener/D. Tess	9	7	9	8	7	40
8th	C	W	Mike Kroll	8	9	8	7	8	40
9th	D	D 7	Kurt Martinson	7	8	7	10.0 DNS	10.0 DNS	42
 read more...

Regatta Update: Northwest Called On for Jan 19-21


Via NIYA Race Committee Chairman Tim McCormick:

The Northwest Regatta is tentatively call ON for January 19-21. The primary site is Madison, WI but we’re expecting a snow event for the next 24 hours so we may postpone as soon as Monday, January 15th. We’ll keep you updated. Final confirmation will be made by Wednesday, January 17th at Noon CST.

Online Ship’s Store

Regatta Dates 2026

  • DN Western Challenge
    December 5 – 7, 2025
    Information
  • 2025 International Skeeter Association Regatta
    December 2025
    Information
  • DN Western Region Championship
    January 3-4, 2026
    Information
  • International Skeeter Association Regatta
    Scheduled January 9–11, 2026
    Held on first good ice, week-to-week updates as conditions allow.
    Information
  • DN NA Championship
    January 24-32, 2026 Information
  • DN World & European Championship
    February 14 – 21. 2026 Information
  • DN & Ice Optimist Junior Championship
    Information
  • Northwest Regatta Information
  • Nite Nationals Information
  • WSSA Championship Regatta
    Information.

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National Iceboat Authority Web Page



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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