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

Join Us!

4LIYC Membership Card: Paul Krueger on Lake Monona in Rambl’n XII, his A Class Skeeter

Get one of these membership cards when you pay your dues (only $20!) for the 2017-2018 season. The Notice of Dues postcard was mailed on Monday, October 2, 2017. If you aren’t on our mailing list and want to join, see our membership page. Anyone can be a member!

The Lowly Iceboat

The first minute of this newsreel contains vintage eastern Skeeter footage with some innovative camera shots. The absence of springboards dates it to the late 1940s and early 50s. The narrator declared that iceboating’s “time of glory and past is forgotten.” Seems like that’s been declared for years but yet here we still are.
I came across this video on the Minnesota iceboating website where it was posted by John Bushey.

Here’s to Henry

Henry Bossett of North Sails retired yesterday after a successful career as a sail maker. He won a few iceboat regattas along the way too. Like the 3 times at DN World Championship (1977, 1981, 1983) and 4 times at the DN North Americans (1982, 1983, 1990, 1993). I’m sure there a some soft water titles as well including an Tornado Olympics trail with fellow DNer Jeff Kent. (Unfortunately it was the boycott year of 1980.)
I’ll never forget the first time Skeeter skipper Tom Hyslop talked about getting a “new Henry” which was the way that Skeeter and Renegade sailors referred to any sail from Henry Bossett.
In the above video, that’s Henry sailing the DN in the famous Chapstick commercial. The sail became a wall fixture at the loft. Cheers to a long career and good luck as you move into this new phase in your life. We all hope to see you out on the ice with your camera, Henry!

From Henry Bossett’s Facebook page. “Last carbon Skeeter main and other carbon ice sails I’ve designed and sewn.”

 

Throw Back Thursday: PK & Dave

This photo of Paul Krueger and Dave Rosten was published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 30, 1956 when these two were still in school at East High in Madison. Paul Krueger has been sailing Class A Skeeters longer than anybody and has defined this club. Please keep him in your thoughts as he continues in his recovery from a health issue.

4LIYC Meeting Dates Set

Iceboaters meeting at a regatta on Steve Arnold’s Skeeter. Note the Great Lakes freighter in the distance.

The 4LIYC will return to Angelo’s Italian Restaurant for another season of meetings and good food. Where else can you eat all the pizza, pasta, and salad you want for only $10?

Angelo’s has requested that we give a headcount the day of each meeting so that they can better plan the menu. Look for something posted on this website before each meeting as a means of gathering that information.

Meeting dates are always listed on the right side bar of this website (or at bottom of the page in mobile devices.)

  • November 15
  • December 14 THURSDAY Elections, Elect Fleet Captains. Vote on ISA & NIYA Agenda Items
  • December 27
  • January 10 Honor Roll Nominations
  • January 24 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
  • February 7
  • February 21 Business Meeting
  • March 7
  • March 21

Location: Angelo’s 5801 Monona Drive, Monona, WI Time: 6:30 PM alternate Weds. We meet downstairs and all are welcome.

Triple the Fun at the Nordhaus Boatwerks

September 19: Jim Nordhaus and Scott Goetz sanding 3 Renegade masts.

4LIYC Renegade sailors are in getting-ready-for-the-season mode. Jim Nordhaus and Geoff Sobering have been recording the progress on the 4LIYC Facebook page of a 3 mast Renegade build at the Nordhaus Boatwerks.

C Skeeters Coming From the East

Keith Kennedy’s C Skeeter ready for its first sail.

It’s heartening to see some building activity from out east this summer in the C Skeeter fleet which could make for an exciting ISA regatta. Bill Buchholz has the latest over on the Chickawaukee Iceboat site.

After seeing Drifter race at the ISA last season Keith Kennedy commissioned one to be built here in Maine with the plan to go back to the ISA this season and bring home the cup.

Burly Brellenthin: Fast Again

Burly removes the cover from his B Skeeter in preparation for the 2013 Northwest Regatta on Green Lake. Photo: Gretchen Dorian

No stranger to going fast, Skeeter Iceboat Club B Skeeter skippper Burly Brellenthin, makes the news as he takes to the skies in a B-29.
Tip of the helmet: Jane Pegel

WWII and Korean vet gets flight in B-29

Though many military men served in World War II from the cockpit of a B-29 plane, few veterans get the chance to fly in one in 2017.

Birdell “Burly” Brellenthin is the exception to this.

Brellenthin served as a navigator in World War II and the Korean War, spending over 300 hours in a B-29 during this time. Continue reading.

Burley’s Boecraft Skeeter ON THE ROCKS next to the DEUCE at the 2004 Northwest on Lake Monona in Madison, WI. Photo: David Travis

Skeeter Iceboat Club Swap Meet: November 5th

You know you want one!

Jane Pegel has dropped the flag on the 2017-2018 ice sailing season with the announcement that the Skeeter Ice Boat Club’s 32nd Annual Swap Meet is scheduled for Sunday, November 5, 2017 in Williams Bay, WI.

What: Skeeter Iceboat Club 32nd Annual Swap Meet
Date: Sunday, November 5, 2017
Time: 9AM – noon, followed by a raffle
Where: Lucke’s Cantina
220 N. Elkhorn Rd. (WI Hwy 67), Williams Bay, WI. Map
For more info, email sailing19@charter.net
Download pdf Swap Meet 2017

This is the day to swap, buy, and sell new and used iceboats and equipment. There is no charge for participating.Boat builders & hardware manufacturers will display new products. Breakfast and/or lunch will be available at Lucke’s.

Display area:
Items for sale can be set up on the black top parking area at Lucke’s.
Please do not park your cars in the display area.

Parking:
Please do not park or set up your displays adjacent to neighboring
businesses. A short distance to the north there is a municipal parking lot located at the intersection of Elkhorn Rd. and Stark St. (on the north side of Stark St., opposite Burrough’s Floor Coverings).

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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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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