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
Area Zamboni Driver Working OT
Seen in our area.
Above is a photo taken by 4LIYC Commodore Don Anderson at Middleton Bay on Lake Mendota, Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 5 PM. [Slightly photoshopped by the ed.] A combination of warm temperatures, sun, and wind are knocking down the slush and drifts – in other words, Zambonifying our lakes this weekend. I took a walk on Lake Waubesa today and it was wetting out beautifully. I’m sure the same can be said of all area lakes. The cold part of the Zamboni arrives Monday night when temperatures head below freezing. Of course, we’ll be checking ice for either club racing or possibly a regatta.
4LIYC Racing Update: No Club Racing for Feb 1-2
When the ice was better on Lake Monona
There will be no Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing for the weekend of February 1-2, 2020. 4LIYC Commodore Don Anderson described Lake Monona like “walking on the moon with 2″ of butter ice on the surface”. The Olin Park landing was too slushy for trailers and Monona was full of drain holes that appeared to have healed, but are thinner than the surrounding ice. Don plans to check Mendota on Tuesday with the hope for some Wednesday sailing. We will continue to monitor the area lakes.
4LIYC Ice Check: Friday 31 January
Lake Monona shows some promise (unlike this ice-encased old barn in Devil’s Lake, ND.) If you would like to join the ice checking crew, please be at the Olin Park landing tomorrow, Friday 31 January at 10:30 AM. If it checks out, 4LIYC racing will be called on for Saturday and Sunday. Stand by for news.
4LIYC Meeting Alert: Free Race Swag Weds Jan 29
Free Thermal Race Vests
Join us Wednesday night, January 29 and receive a FREE, limited edition thermal race vest, guaranteed to make you faster around the track. Available in either men’s or women’s versions, these vests are from the Signature Collection of a world famous ice sailor.
Not an ice sailor? No problem. One of these babies will make you a faster reader, faster cook, faster decision-maker, faster builder. No matter what you’re doing, you’ll be faster. Guys…don’t wear one to bed, however. If you need an explanation, our apology to your wonderful lady.
What’s the catch? No catch. Just show up!
Location: Breakwater Restaurant
6308 Metropolitan Lane
Monona, Wisconsin
Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Time: 6:30 PM
Arrive earlier for dinner
“For the Glory”
Results
Competitors and Race Committee members are slowly making their way back to reality (home) after spending an amazing week on a sheet of Montana ice. Several car loads of sailors went full tourist and headed over to Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse statue, and Devil’s Tower before turning east. Above is the best drone video ever made of iceboat racing by Glasgow, MT photographer Sean Heavey. Be sure to check out his photo gallery as well here. The drone video focuses on Detroit’s Ron Sherry US44 (2nd place in the regatta) and Pewaukee and 4LIYC Skeeter sailor Steve Orlebeke US4926 (4th place in the regatta) as they battle for first place in the last race.
Day 4 of the IDNIYA 2020 North America Ice Yacht Championship on Fort Peck Lake …
Today was epic!! The Montana wind we all know and at times hate came ready to play. While I can write about the day and probably describe it pretty good I’m a visual person so I think maybe a visual will do it more justice.
But first let me set the scene… This is a drone clip of the last Gold fleet race of the day before the regatta was called due to excessive wind speed. The wind had ratchet up to a sustained 18 mph range with gusts to 22+. These boats go 4 to 5 time the wind speed so let’s just say they were scooting along and it’s really hard for a drone to keep up. But I was starting to get the hang of how to fly with them and keep the leaders in sight. The race consists of three laps and this clip picks up the leaders about half way through the second lap. Nobody is going down with out a fight… Does the first place boat hang on?
As a side note… a big thank you to all the racers and race officials for coming all this way to the middle of nowhere. What a great event you put on and I hope your return trips home are made safely. Also thank you to everyone in NE Montana for your hospitality and support. You made everyone feel at home and part of the middle of nowhere family…
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
Photo: Jeff Smith
Via Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Secretary/Treasurer Andy Gratton:
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed again to February 8 and 9. The Northwest Regatta is scheduled for the same weekend and will take precedence. The next update will be Sunday, February 2. Check back here at that time. Perhaps Green Lake or Lake Geneva will be ready by then.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
Regatta Watch: ISA & NIYA Postponed
Photo: Jeff Russell
Via ISA and NIYA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:
The Northwest and ISA race Committees have postponed to next week. The Regatta dates are: February 7th, 8th and 9th, 2020. As always the Northwest takes preference over the ISA as they are now scheduled on the same dates.
There are no sailable sites at this point. Large portions of Green and Geneva remain open and many slush covered lakes may become sailable when colder temperatures occur.
iceboat.org On the Ice: DN NA Championship
It’s day 3 of the DN North American championship and I’m using my phone to compose this post while sitting on frozen Ft. Peck Reservoir. The second silver race was successfully sailed at 10 AM. Three attempts have been made to sail the third Silver race this morning but the wind had other plans. We are waiting on the ice for the wind to join the fun so we can complete the third Silver race. I’m having trouble uploading photos from the phone. Dan Biermann, the official measurer, is relaxing in a lawn chair directly in front of me. Several are napping in their boats. Gold fleeters are looking over their boats and equipment. Not a bad way to spend a Friday afternoon.
iceboat.org On the Road: DN NA Championship Racing Day 2
Photo: Shawnee Spillson
Day one is in the books with 4 total races completed. Visibility was low as we drove to the launch site but the weather here must be like Wisconsin, wait 5 minutes and it changes. In classic ice sailing style, competitors waited around for the wind to fill in. The wind finally made an appearance but kept the race committee on their toes with many shifts and swings. The ice changed during the day as the warm temperatures and sun softened it up. Facebook is filled with pictures of a beautiful sunset that accompanied us as we made our way back to the launch. A new term we learned that will literally stick with us all for months is “Montana Gumbo”, aka mud- caused by the warmer temperatures. Off to the lake for day 2 of racing, sorry for the short report but there are lot of details to take care of here.
iceboat.org On the Road: DN North American Championship: Race Day 1
Photo: Shawnee Spillson
Good morning from the Middle of Nowhere, the motto of Glasglow, MT. A sunny but windless day yesterday meant more time to visit, make deals, and soak in the vastness of this place. Registration was held last night at the hotel followed by a Speed Symposium where the top racers answered questions from the crowd. 61 competitors checked in last night and we were lucky enough to pick up 3 local DN racers. Click here to see line up for today’s racing.
Off to the lake soon for race day.
Canyon Ferry iceboater Dave Gluek (yes, Jim’s brother) shared some local knowledge about how to seriously anchor a boat in case a 70 mph wind comes up in the middle of the night.
Kasia Macur and Ron Sherry. Kasia has been scoring iceboat races in Poland since she was 13 years old. She is spending a year in the states and is joining us for this championship.
Speed Symposium
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.
