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

“Winter in Wisconsin – a Place Like No Other”

Mother Nature came through for us this year on Lake Monona. Videographers Sam Li and Ian Tunney were there to help change minds about winter by including the sport in his latest production. Watch it here.

Sam Li
To all the people who love winter, here’s the film for you. To all the people who hate winter, I hope this changes your mind.

Regatta Watch – No Joke!: Nite Nats Called ON for Escanaba April 1-3


Nite Website

Nite Nationals Tentatively On for April 1-3, 2022 in Escanaba (Upper Mi)

This is no April fools joke… Iceboating in April! The epic weekend definitely could happen. The weather looks good and the ice is there! We had multiple boats sailing up on the Little Bay de Noc in Escanaba, MI. Just a heads up, it is Eastern time up there so plan accordingly. Final call by Wednesday 9 PM. Make sure you are a member of INCA.

Sail Safe, Sail Fast,

Commodore Chad Rechcygl #322
Vice Commodore Maureen Bohleber #497
Secretary Brian Nies #351
Treasury Lars Barber #534
Tech Mike Peters #544

Mark Your Calendars for April 16 4LIYC Banquet!

Andy McCormick on home ice, Lake Monona. Photo: Kenton Fowler

After a two year pause, we are pleased to announce that our annual spring awards banquet has been scheduled for April 16, 2022 at the Breakwater Restaurant in Monona, WI. Menu selections are in the works. Please save the date and stand by for further details.

Regatta Watch: Nite Nationals Postponed – But Willing To Try in April!

Nites rounding the mark at the 2022 ISA Regatta on Lake Monona. Photo: Will Johnston

The Nites win the race of being the most optimistic class of the season! They are still hanging in there with the hopes of holding their 2022 Nationals and need to hear from their class members.
Nite Class Website

We have once again postponed the Nationals. The Nite Board is willing to give it one more try and it wouldn’t it be EPIC to have a Nite Nationals in April? The past couple of days have put a strain on our landing but next week’s forecast does look promising with lows all the way down to the low twenties and possibly lower, which we hope will firm it up, safety first. The Terrace Bay Hotel is ready and waiting for us. Now we just need the weather to cooperate. If you are interested in participating in the possible EPIC event please respond so we can get an idea if we should move forward.

Thank you from the Nite Board of Directors

Chad Rechcygl – Commodore

Maureen Bohleber – Vice Commodore

Lars Barber – Treasurer

Brian Nies – Secretary

Mike Peters – Technical Advisor

Regatta Watch: WSSA Cancelled for 2022

HAYWIRE with Clay, Jason, and Jay Yaeso

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association annual regatta for 2022 has been cancelled due to lack of cooperation on the part of Mother Nature. Our last hope was Escanaba but a large amount of rain and snow is forecast for this week with potential for more rain next week. We will need a barge to get to the ice. Work on your boats this summer and check back late December 2022 for 2023 regatta info.

Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/treasurer

4LIYC: The Final Scores

Daniel Hearn’s C Skeeter flies by a Renegade at the 2022 ISA championship on Lake Monona. Photo: Will Johnston

4LIYC Season Scores

March brought the Fat Lady’s warmth and rain, signifying the close of the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing season. Lake Monona provided some exceptional conditions this season, and it was reassuring to be back on home ice. After a two-year pandemic hiatus, we are looking forward to resuming our annual spring trophy awards banquet in April. All the pieces are falling in place, Tim McCormick has tabulated the scores, and our trophy chair, Damien Luyet, will be organizing the hardware. We’ll have more banquet news coming soon.

 

HWS Update: Try Again in 2023

Photo: Pat Heppert

Ice Sailors:

With regret, we must announce that the Hard Water Summit will not be happening this year. Mother Nature decided she wanted an extended period of warm days, lots of sunshine and nights barely below freezing. The snow is, indeed, gone, but this weather pattern is leaving us with lots of slush that will likely only get deeper.

We appreciate your enthusiasm for this adventure and we may decide to give it a go again next year. We’ll have to consider whether doing the event in the same season as a DN Gold Cup in the US makes sense. If you have any input on this question, we’d love to hear it. montana.icesail@gmail.com From a timing standpoint, we may also move up our target week to the first week of March. This would steer us clear of any conflict with land sailing events and possibly increase the likelihood that we’d have the ice and weather we need. Again, feel free to let us know what you think.

Of course we are a bit disappointed, but then again, we are blessed to not be hiding from Russian artillery as we go about our daily lives. Keep the Faith!

Your HWS Team,

Daniel, Sean and Deb

4LIYC Meeting Reminder for March 16, 2022

What a season!

Please join us tonight for the last meeting of this season. We will resume meetings in November 2022. We will be meeting via Zoom only and not in-person.

WHAT TO KNOW:
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Time: 6:30 PM CT
ZOOM MEETING ONLY (No in-person meeting this week.)
Didn’t get an email with a link? Get in touch with Deb. debwhitehorse@iceboat.org

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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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