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 Swap Meet Season!
4LIYC Meeting : November 5, 2025 via Zoom More information.
Midwest Hardwater Sailors Swap Meet:
November 8, 2025 @ Delavan Yacht Club More Information
4LIYC Shipstore: Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE:
 Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online

4LIYC Racing Update for February 13-14, 2021


The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club will not be holding racing this weekend of February 13-14, 2021. The sign above explains all – too much snow on area lakes. Next 4LIYC racing update is February 19, 2021.
Meanwhile, over in Holland, the birthplace of our sport, they have ice for the first time in 10 years! Every iceboat in the entire country must have been sailing in Holland today.

Steve O Goes

When was the last time you clocked in at 100 mph in your sailboat when the breeze was a steady 15 knots? Not recently? Let’s chat with Harken Director of Engineering Steve Orlebeke. He brought his freaky fast Class A Skeeter and brand new DN into the factory to give you an inside look.

Here’s the link to the full video of Steve racing his Skeeter.

Sail Iowa!


Okoboji or Spirit Lake in Iowa would be a great place to iceboat some day.

Some years the stars align for just one day. Some years for a week or even two. Some years the right conditions never come together at all.

But even just one great outing in an ice boat is enough to keep its captain coming back winter after winter. Continue reading.

Regatta Watch: 2021 WSSA Postponed

Photo: Gretchen Dorian

Via Wisconsin Stern Steerer Association Secretary Andy Gratton

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 20 and 21, 2021. The next update will be Sunday, February 14. Check back here at that time.

Hudson River Ice

Source: White Wings & Black Ice: Vixen, a lateen-rigger ice yacht, was built in 1885 in Chelsea ( Low Point) by the Merritt Brothers. It raced several times for the Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant of America. It was owned and sailed by FDR’s uncle John A. Roosevelt for many years.

Ice has returned to New York’s Hudson River Valley, the origin point of American ice sailing, and the historic stern steerers are coming out of the barns. Keep an eye on Brian Reid’s indispensable White Wings and Black Ice website for the next few weeks for the stories and photos.

 

“Looking Back: Ice boating on Lake St. Clair”

Looking Back: Ice boating on Lake St. Clair
St. Clair Shores Sentinel | Published February 7, 2021

ST. CLAIR SHORES — In this undated image, three two-person ice boats of the Racing 60s class are getting ready for competition on Lake St. Clair. Ice boating was popular on Lake St. Clair, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s (likely when this photo was taken) and into the middle part of the 20th century. Continue reading.

Eyes on Green


How about a little ice sailing optimism with your coffee this – 14F Sunday morning? Ron Rosten sent this MODIS satellite image showing that the east end of Green Lake in Wisconsin was open on Saturday, February 6, 2021. MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a useful tool for iceboaters. Access it here.

Sail Colorado

The Colorado speed sport like nothing else: Ice boating
By Seth Boster
A few winters ago on the frozen shore of Dillon Reservoir, Dan Burnett was surprised to meet a sailing all-star, Buddy Melges, whom Burnett learned was on a family skiing trip here in Summit County.

Burnett was even more surprised by the following interaction.

The visiting legend had just watched the local fly across the ice in the extremely niche act of ice boating. “He said, ‘Could I take your boat out for a quick ride?’” Burnett recalls.

No was the answer.

“I mean, how obnoxious could I be? It was like telling Mario Andretti he couldn’t drive your car!” Burnett says. Continue reading.

4LIYC Racing Update for February 6-7, 2021

If I’m reading the translation correctly, members of the Stockholm Ice Yacht Club in Ranängen, Sweden, have plowed the ice at their clubhouse today in anticipation of setting up NORA, a vintage Swedish stern-steerer.  If only this were possible on Mendota! Source: Stockholms Isjaktklubb Facebook page.

There is no 4LIYC racing scheduled for February 6-7, 2021. Too much snow! The next 4LIYC racing update will be Friday, February 12, 2021, by 5 PM.

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.

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to iceboat.org and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 286 other subscribers

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

YOU ARE SKIPPER NUMBER

Web Analytics

TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.



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.

Search