UPCOMING:
4LIYC Spring Social: April 25 @ Breakwater More Information
4LIYC Meeting: November 2026
4LIYC Shipstore: Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE: Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online
Gretchen Dorian Exhibition: Sailing On Ice in MI
Folks in the Michigan and Ohio area will want to put this on your calendars. Gretchen Dorian’s ice sailing photos will be on exhibition at the The Ford House in Grosse Point Shores near Detroit, Michigan November through March 2022. Make a reservation for the November 21, 2021 opening reception on their website. More information.
Join us for an opening reception and view our latest exhibition, Sailing on Ice, featuring ice boat photography by Gretchen Dorian.
The reception is free and open to the public, but space is limited to allow social distancing, and registration is required. The exhibition is in the Teague Gallery inside our new Visitor Center and runs through March 20, 2022.
Ford House requires masks inside all of our buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
About the Artist
Gretchen photographs iceboat racing competitions around the world. Gretchen lives and works in northern Michigan. She grew up sailing on Lake St. Clair. Her photographs have been published in Wooden Boat Journal, ESPN Magazine, SAIL, Sailing World, Lakeland Boating, BOAT US, Great Lakes Scuttlebutt, Michigan BLUE and Outside Bozeman Magazine. Online publications include the Wall Street Journal, TRAVERSE Magazine, Sailing Scuttlebutt, Sailing Anarchy, HARKEN and Seahorse of the UK.
21-22 4LIYC Meeting News Update
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club meetings will continue on Zoom. The upside is that last season, Zoom enabled our club members from outside the Madison area to participate and talk ice. We will review our meeting options towards the end of December.
Again as last year, club members in good standing will receive an email with the meeting link a day before and on the meeting day.
2021 4LIYC ON ZOOM MEETING SCHEDULE
Time: 6:30 PM Central
November 10
November 24: Officer and Fleet Captain Election
December 8
December 22
2022 January: Meeting schedule and location will be reviewed.
Inside Overlap @ Spaight St.
“Two (or insert any number) are just as easy to build as one” has to be one of the top ten commandments of iceboating building. Daniel Hearn checks in with his latest update.
Spaight Street Syndicate Archives
Inside Overlap
When I’m racing catamarans, I like to amuse myself by coming into the starboard gate on port tack. More often than not, some cowboy will come charging in barking STARBOARD!, with gotcha-rage in their eyes, unaware that he has no rights. Makes me laugh every time.
In my basement shop, I am also currently exercising my inside overlap rights. My entitlement is not guaranteed by any rule book, but my wife still let’s me get away with it. She’s been a really good sport about it, but I can tell she’s not amused. I’m afraid by the time first ice comes, my penance will be along the lines of a hooker leaving a confessional. But it will be worth it!
Just about ready for top skins on both the new C-Skeeter and the fixed wing boat.
Daniel Hearn
2021 Iceboat Swap Meets
We Sure Do!
Iceboating clubs around the nation, including the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club, will again host their annual fall Iceboat swap meets. Swap meets are a great place to learn about the sport and types of boats.
NEW ENGLAND: Thompson, CT, Saturday, October 23, 2021 10 AM
Thompson Speedway Golf Course, 205 E Thompson Rd, Thompson, CT 06277
MAP
Go fast ice time is coming and our annual meeting and banquette is on for Saturday October 23rd. What more fitting place for speed seekers than a race track? The NEIYA is made up of the people and the history we share, camaraderie, fellowship, spirited competition, and sailing together. Come out and welcome in the upcoming 2022 Season. The NEIYA annual meeting has been going on for four decades. It is a gather of new and experienced ice boaters, a great place to buy or sell equipment and catch up with old friends and make new one.
MORE INFORMATION
WISCONSIN: Madison, Sunday, October 31, 2021 9 AM – Noon
MAP
The 4LIYC is sponsoring the southern Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet this year at Daniel Hearn’s office on October 31 from 9:00 – noon. Company name is Stephan & Brady Strategic Marketing; address is 1352 E. Wilson St., Madison. Hoping for nice weather, so we can open up the overhead doors. Food and beverages will be served. There is no charge for participating. This is the day to swap, buy, or sell new and used iceboats and misc. equipment. Boat builders & hardware manufacturers will display new products. For more info, email debwhitehorse@iceboat.org
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club
36th Annual Southern Wisconsin Swap Meet (founded by the Skeeter Iceboat Club of Lake Geneva, WI)
Date: Sunday, October 31, 2021
Time 9:00 to Noon
Location: 1352 E. Wilson St. Madison, WI
MORE INFORMATION
MICHIGAN: Muskegon Yacht Club, Saturday, November 6, 2021 9 AM – 2 PM
3198 Edgewater St, Muskegon, MI 49441
MAP
ANNUAL COMBINED SWAP MEET
West Michigan Ice Yacht Club
Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club
Grand Traverse Ice Yacht Club
This year its at the Muskegon Yacht Club, Muskegon, Michigan.
Every year since 1975, winter sailors from throughout the Midwest converge on November’s first Saturday to kick off the new season.
Complete Iceboats on exhibit…. see some current day and historical iceboats. Lunch is available for a small fee with tickets for the raffle of iceboat needed parts and useful seasonal items for the sport. The lunch buffet is provided by the main kitchen of the Muskegon Yacht Club Buy, sell, or trade complete iceboats, parts, or upgrade your current rig. Enjoy the start of a new season, learn about iceboating.
MINNESOTA: St. Louis Park, Saturday, November 6, 2021 9 AM – 1 PM
MAP
Tim Carlson at Sailcrafters ((952)540-7474) is hosting his annual Iceboat Swap meet on Nov 6, 2021. You can expect to see all types of iceboats and all types used gear. If you are new to iceboating, this is the perfect place to meet local sailors and check out used equipment. Sailcrafters is located in St Louis Park at 7450 Oxford Street. Doors open from 9 am to 1 pm. If you are looking for new gear, Tim caters to the local iceboat community and can provide new sails, stays, line and everything in-between.
Southern WI Iceboat Swap Meet on Sunday, Oct 31 9 AM – Noon
The 4LIYC is sponsoring the southern Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet this year at Daniel Hearn’s office on October 31 from 9:00 – noon. Company name is Stephan & Brady Strategic Marketing; address is 1352 E. Wilson St., Madison. Hoping for nice weather, so we can open up the overhead doors. Food and beverages will be served.
There is no charge for participating. This is the day to swap, buy, or sell new and used iceboats and misc. equipment. Boat builders & hardware manufacturers will display new products. For more info, email debwhitehorse@iceboat.org
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club
36th Annual Southern Wisconsin Swap Meet (founded by the Skeeter Iceboat Club of Lake Geneva, WI)
Date: Sunday, October 31, 2021
Time 9:00 to Noon
Location: 1352 E. Wilson St. Madison, WI
4LIYC Picnic Report
Family photo. Photo by Bob Borkowski.
Thank you to everyone who attended this special 4LIYC picnic on a postcard-perfect fall day and to our fantastic host, Tom Kretschman. We had a clear view of the runway, where we watched planes landing and taking off. Historic airplanes, equipment, and vehicles provided the backdrop for one of the most memorable picnics in club history. Commodore Don Anderson officially inducted Greg Whitehorse into the 4LIYC Honor Roll. Several people shared stories about the tremendous impact Greg has had on our club. We were honored to have Bill and Mauretta Mattison and Dave and Nancy Nelson in attendance. Our host, Tom, gave a tour of the various outbuildings that housed a collection of historic vehicles. Several club members took to the air for a ride in a WW2 French training airplane. What way to kick off the upcoming iceboating season! Next up, the Swap Meet on Sunday, October 31, 2021.
The 4LIYC picnic was a fly-in event that Renegader Jeff Russell took to heart.
4LIYC Picnic News – New Location & Time
Run what you brung!
ATTENTION x 3!
The 4LIYC’s annual fall picnic, when we will also honor the contributions of Greg Whitehorse to our club, has moved from Burrows Park to a private airport and museum in Verona. We’ll be picnicking in a large hanger surrounded by wonderfully restored cars, planes, tractors, horse-drawn buggies; basically, the whole timeline of mechanically driven speed from the late 19th century on up. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to catch up with club members while looking over the collection of vehicles. The photos below are a small sampling of the collection.
Fly or drive to Sugar Ridge Airport on Sunday, September 26. The party starts at noon..
Date: Sunday, September 26, 2021
Time: 12 Noon
New Location: Sugar Ridge Airport
7550 Sugar Ridge, Verona, WI 53593
What to Bring: Bring your own beverages and a dish to pass.
We’ll have a ham for sandwiches, a tradition started by Jim Payton and carried on by Peter Lundt.
4LIYC Meeting News for 21-22 Season
A good day on Lake Kegonsa. Photo: Jeff Russell
NOTICE OF DUES
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club will decide on October 8, 2021 whether to continue the Zoom meeting format for November and December or to meet in person. Dane County is under a mask mandate which they will update on October 8.
Watch for Notice of Dues postcards in your mailbox or click on this link to download and send your dues to our Treasurer, Jerry Simon.
4LIYC Sailors Take Off at Loring
Photo Gallery
A substantial crew of Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club sailors made the trip to Limestone Maine to compete at the 2021 Eastern Land Sailing Championship at Loring Airforce Base on September 10-12, 2021. You’ll recognize many Eastern and Midwestern ice sailors in the competitor’s list. With 19 races in both the Blokart and Unlimited divisions, they’ll be tuned for the ice sailing season. Loring Airforce Base “was one of the largest bases of the U.S. Air Force’s Strategic Air Command during its existence… Loring was a heavy bomber, aerial refueling, and interception facility for military aircraft, equipment, and supplies.” It was closed in 1994. The B52 bomber runways make for an excellent land-sailing track.
UPDATE: Just back from Maine and wanted to add to the original post that I wrote at 5 AM this morning before heading to the airport. A big thank you to the guy who had the vision to see this through, Bill Buchholz of the Chickawaukee Iceboat Club. Be sure to read Bill’s write up on the Chickawaukee website.
Blokart Lightweight: 4th Milo Fleming (Chickawaukee Ice Yacht Club), 3rd Aiden Schmeidlin (4LIYC), 2nd Daniel Hearn (4LIYC), and 1st Steve Madden (NEIYA).
Blokart Medium Division: 4th Wayne Schmeidlin (4LIYC), 3rd Lars Barber (4LIYC), 2nd BB Hedrock (not pictured), and 1st Mike Dinning.
Blokart Heavy Division: 4th Dan Clapp (NSIYC) (not pictured), 3rd Geoff Sobering (4LIYC) (not pictured), 2nd Jim Nordhaus (4LIYC), 1st Dave Lussier.
Unlimited Division: From left 3rd John Stanton (NEIYA), 4th Dave Fortier (CIBC), 4th Pete Johns (IDNIYRA, SIBC), 2nd Bill Bucholz (CIBC), 1st Chad Atkins (4LIYC) with PRO Henry Capotosto (NEIYA) .
The fasted craft at the regatta, Chad Atkins’ modified DN created a lot of interest on social media.
Harry Allen
Brothers Bill and Harry Allen on Lake Minnetonka.
Via Mike Bloom
Harold “Harry” Allen (DN 2452) died Tuesday night, September 2, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Harry was a talented helmsman who raced multiple classes of iceboats in the winter and raced E and A scows in the summer. And, if Harry ever needed a crew, more often than not, one of his three daughters was on board sailing with him.
As much as anything, Harry loved to iceboat. Harry raced Nites, DNs and his Stern Steerer. Harry was as popular as he was generous. If iceboaters were setting up on Minnetonka, 99% of the time the boats were in front of Harry’s house. There was not a more welcoming or friendly sailor on the ice.
Harry’s passing leaves a huge hole in the Minnetonka sailing community. The DN fleet sends condolences to his wife LeeAnne, daughters Emily, Katie and Mary, and to the rest of the Allen Family.
May Harry’s memory sail on.
Online Ship’s Store
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
4LIYC Governing Documents
Click for 4LIYC Meeting Dates
- 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
TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
