UPCOMING:
SOUTHERN WISCONSIN SWAP MEET, MADISON, WI: Fall 2024
4LIYC Meeting : November 2024
4LIYC Shipstore: Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE: Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online
Capturing Skeeter Chill – Photos of the Week
On Sunday, January 21st, Dave Delap skillfully captured the action of our day of club racing on Lake Monona. Follow @aspiring_astro_boy on Instagram. Many thanks to Dave for sharing. Scores from Sunday’s racing have been updated.
Regatta Watch: 2024 ISA & Renegade Championship is POSTPONED
The 2024 International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championship have been postponed until February 2, 3, 4 because of foggy conditions and a poor wind forecast in the Madison area. Next update is Sunday evening, January 28, 2024.
John Dennis ISA Regatta Chair
4LIYC Preliminary Racing Scores Published
UPDATE: January 24: Scores have been revised. Thank you for your patience.
DNs, Nites, Skeeters, and Renegades each sailed three races on Sunday, January 21, 2024. Preliminary scores posted here. We are missing some names in the DN fleet. Please let us know who you are. Thank you for joining us on the race course. If you’d like to become a member of the 4LIYC, just click here and pay online. It’s only $21 and helps to keep our equipment maintained.
Hoofers Iceboating Seminar Weds, Jan 24 @ 6:30 PM
Don Sanford and Brett Hulsey will be talking iceboats on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at the Memorial Union as part of Hoofers Sailing Club’s Winter Sailing Seminars. More information.
Regatta Watch: Northwest Postponed
Regatta Watch: ISA & Renegade Championship Called ON for Jan 26 – 28 on Lake Monona
The International Skeeter Association regatta and Renegade Championship have been called on for January 26, 27, 28 on Lake Monona in Madison, WI. Final confirmation will be posted by noon on Wednesday, January 24. The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club held racing on Lake Monona today in all fleets. There is 8″ of ice. Next update: Wednesday, January 24.
John Dennis ISA Regatta Chair
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 3-4. The next update will be Sunday, January 28. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
4LIYC Racing Postponed Until Noon for Jan 21
4LIYC Racing Called on For Jan 21, 2024
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing has been called on for January 20 – 21, 2024 on Lake Monona. We are postponing Saturday’s racing because temperatures will be below 10 degrees F for most of the day. Racing begins on Sunday, January 21. The first race is at 10 AM.
Ice checkers looked at Lakes Monona and Kegonsa. Kegonsa had 5″+ of hard, somewhat dimpled ice with about 5/8 inch snow. Lake Monona measured in at 5-6″ with 1/2 inch of snow. Thank you to all those who checked ice in the past few days.
What to Know:
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Racing
Date: Sunday, January 21, 2024
Time: First race at 10 AM
Location: Lake Monona
Launch: Olin Park
Do not drive on the ice!
Permit: You must have a Lake Access Permit. Click here to purchase one or buy a daily permit at the landing.
Ken Whitehorse Nominated for 4LIYC Honor Roll
Ken Whitehorse Archives
4LIYC Honor Roll
Ken Whitehorse has been nominated for induction in to the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Honor Roll by Greg McCormick and Daniel Hearn. Congratulations, Ken, and thank you for contributing so much of your time and effort to this club and the sport of iceboating. The club will vote on the recent Bylaw proposal and Ken’s induction into the Honor Roll at our February 15, 2024 business meeting.
Never in the history of competitive iceboating has the name of a boat more clearly reflected the heart and character of its skipper. This is especially true in the case of Kenny Whitehorse, sailing his A skeeter WARRIOR. Kenny’s tenacious and competitive spirit was never more evident than when he won the 1977 Northwest regatta, claiming victory in an epic battle over the Skeeter Iceboat Club’s Sparky Lundberg. Kenny won the regatta on the last leg of the final race, with the lead changing right up to the finish. Those in attendance witnessed one of the sport’s most epic battles. Kenny’s cousin, Greg Whitehorse, reflected on his many years of racing Ken and stated, “I could never manage to beat him in the close ones.”
Kenny’s indomitable spirit could also be observed off the ice, squaring up with Buddy himself in one of Fontana’s favorite haunts: “Chucks.”
Details can get lost over time, but one thing is perfectly clear: somebuddy poked the bear.Remarkably, Kenny’s most lasting contributions to the sport may not be on the ice but in the countless hours of painting, welding, building, tuning, and repairing club equipment and competitors’ boats. Ken has fixed or repaired four-wheelers for both the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club and the DN Western Regional Association. Without skilled sailors like Kenny lending their time and talent, safe and competitive racing would not happen.
Ken Whitehorse has competed and won against the legends of the sport, including Mattison, Melges, and Kruger. One of those legends is Kenny’s trailer and shop partner, Paul Kruger. Their teamwork has enabled them to sail recreationally and competitively into their 7th and 8th decades—a remarkable achievement. Ken has proven to be a fierce competitor and loyal friend and truly deserves to be inducted into the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club’s Honor Roll.
Submitted by Greg McCormick and Daniel Hearn