NIYA

Northwest Ice Yachting Association An iceboat regatta first sailed in 1913 in Menominee, Michigan.

Stern Steerers

The NIYA was originally a stern-steerer regatta organized to determine ice yacht supremacy in the Midwest. A,B,C,& D stern-steerers continue to compete in the NIYA.

Skeeters

Class E Skeeters first raced the NIYA in 1936 when Lake Geneva sailor Harry Melges won in MICKEY FINN.

DN Class

Skip Boston of Detroit was the first winner of the NIYA in the DN class in 1954.

Renegade

First sailed as a seperate class in 1958 and won by “Mr. Iceboat”, Elmer Millenbach.

NIYA Centennial

The NIYA celebrated 100 years of iceboat racing in 2013 on Green Lake in Wisconsin.

2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information

March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota

2024 Northwest Regatta Information


The 2024 Northwestern Ice Yachting Association regatta is called on for Waconia Lake in Waconia, Minnesota.
REGISTER FOR THE NIYA
EVENT PAGE
WHAT TO KNOW
Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Regatta
EVENT PAGE
Dates: February 23 – 25, 2024
Location: Lake Waconia, Waconia MN
Launch: Lake Waconia Regional Park
8170 Paradise Ln, Waconia, MN 55387
ATTENTION: DO NOT DRIVE ON THE ICE. THERE WILL BE AN ATV TO TAKE YOUR TRAILER ON THE ICE.

Lodging:
Regatta Headquarters: Holiday Inn Express Chanhassen, MN
952-401-8850
$109 per night King
$119 per night 2 Queens
Online Booking Link
If you are booking online, please make sure to put in the correct dates otherwise it will say there isn’t an existing block.
Tell them you are with the Northwest Regatta to get the discount.

AmericInn by Wyndham Chanhassen, MN
612-293-6930

Country Inn & Suites Chanhassen, MN
952-937-2424

Super 8 by Wyndham Chaska, MN
1-952-448-7030

Register: Click here to register online.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, February 23
Registration closes at 7AM
Starting positions for the first race in each class will be posted on a Competitor list by 9:30 am at https://www.iceboat.org/regattas/niya/
First start 10 AM
Rotation
DN
Renegade
E Skeeter
A,B,C,D Stern Steerer
ISA B & C Skeeter
NIYA Annual Meeting at 6 PM at the Holiday Inn, Chanhassen, MN

Saturday, February 24
First start at 9:30 AM

Sunday, February 25
First start at 9:30 AM

Race Documents
Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions

Regatta Watch: NIYA Called ON for Waconia, MN Feb 23-25

DN Class: Spouses Julie Richards & Dick Wollam draw 1 & 2 for the start at the 2010 Northwest

The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association has called the 2024 championship regatta for February 23-25th at Lake Waconia Minnesota. This is the final call, launch site is Lake Waconia regional park on Paradise lane. Hotel information will be available tomorrow February 21st.

The ISA Championship is postponed to March 1st-3rd 2024.

Steve Schalk

Secretary/treasurer

NIYA & ISA

Wooden Shoe Rather Be Iceboating?

“Wooden shoe rather be iceboating?” Erich Schloemer on Facebook

Follow on Facebook
Every year, our friends from the Dutch ice sailing club De Robben undertakes a remarkable journey to Sweden. It’s become a tradition that brings together families and friends for a week of ice sailing. The historic Dutch iceboats steeped in heritage and craftsmanship are at the heart of this tradition.
This week, they are in Herrfallet, Sweden. New this year is one of the most spectacular iceboats I’ve ever seen, a wooden shoe! Club member Maarten De Groot writes:

We have some Dutchmen walking on wooden shoes. This skipper has a cheesemaker farm and a wooden shoe farm where he produces wooden shoes. He made this big wooden shoe for his farm and transformed it into an iceboat. He is sailing on this with his wife and two kids!
We have great conditions with 95 people and 67 iceboats!

No wind, no problem. Time for socializing on the ice.

Regatta Watch: WSAA Postponed

The 2024 Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to March 2, 3. The next update will be Sunday, February 25. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence. If anyone knows of suitable ice please let us know.

Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Feb 18, 2024 Regatta Watch: NIYA, ISA & Renegade Championship Called ON for Feb 23-25

NORTHWEST
The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Race Committee has called the 2024 regatta on for a yet to be determined Minnesota location north and west of St. Cloud. The dates are February 23rd-25th.

The lakes are still to be final checked for surface and launch conditions. There are potential lakes in the Alexandria area, where lodging may be an issue, and lakes further north.

The final call will be made as soon as possible, but Wednesday February 21st by noon at the latest.

ISA
The International Skeeter Association Race Committee has made the same call on for February 23rd-25th. In the event the Northwest is held the ISA will defer and postpone.

Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA & ISA

A Big Thanks to NIYA & ISA Ice Checkers


A message from NIYA & ISA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:

The Race Committees for the Northwest and ISA regattas, would like to acknowledge all the efforts of our ice checkers who have been scouting and sailing potential regatta sites. Pat Heppert and Chris Wiberg spent an entire weekend driving the width of Minnesota setting up their boats and test sailing multiple lakes. Terry Reynolds and Mike Peters sailed Little Bay De Noc, and Jim McDonagh drove up to Lake Osakis on Wednesday at dawn sailed his DN all over the lake, then drove back in a whiteout. We all owe them a big thank you for the huge efforts made to find a place for us to have an event. Many thanks to you guys.

Steve Schalk

Secretary/Treasurer

NIYA & ISA

Feb 15 – 4LIYC Meeting Tonight on Zoom


Happy day-after Valentines Day. Our normally scheduled meeting should have been last night, but to keep everyone on good terms with their significant others and out of the doghouse, we scheduled for tonight. Club members in good standing should have received an email with the Zoom link.

4LIYC ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING – 2 PROPOSALS
Club members in good standing will vote on two items, a dues increase and the induction of Ken Whitehorse into the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Honor Roll.
Ken Whitehorse Nominated for 4LIYC Honor Roll

BY LAWS PROPOSAL
A By Laws Proposal has been submitted by Daniel Hearn and Lars Barber. The club will take a vote on the proposal at the February 15, 2024 4LIYC Business Meeting.

Proposal to change Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Bylaws, Article 3, Section 4
Section 4 – Effective 11 /1 /96 dues shall be as follows:
• Senior member – $20.00
• Junior member – $5.00 (3/27/96)

Change to

Section 4 – Effective 11/1/2024 dues shall be as follows:
• Senior member – $30.00
• Junior member – $5.00 (3/27/96)

Reason: Expenses have increased significantly since 1996.
Submitted by: Daniel Hearn and Lars Barber

Regatta Watch: 2024 WSSA Postponed to Feb 24-25


The “P” word strikes again.

The 2024 Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 24 – 25. The next update will be Sunday, February 18. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Feb 14, 2024 Regatta Watch: Postponement for ISA & NIYA

Patience

NORTHWEST
The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Race Committee has postponed the 2024 Regatta to February 23rd, 24th, and 25th. A combination of incoming snow, snowy travel, 5.5 rated surface with high winds forecast led to the postponement.

ISA
The International Skeeter Association Race Committee has postponed one week to February 23rd-25th. If the Northwest is held that weekend the ISA will defer.

Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA & ISA

Regatta Watch: 2024 WSSA Tentatively Called On for Feb 17 – 18

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta for 2024 has been tentatively called on for February 17 and 18. The possible site selected is Lake Osakis, MN. Final confirmation will be made by 1 PM Thursday, February 15. Check back here after that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association has also tentatively scheduled their regatta for the same weekend, that regatta takes precedence.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Regatta Watch: NIYA Or ISA Called ON for Feb 16-18 in MN or WI

NORTHWEST:
The 2024 Northwestern Regatta is on for Lake Osakis Minnesota for February 16th, 17th and 18th. The final call with details on the launch site located off Lake street in downtown Osakis will be made on Wednesday by noon.

INTERNATIONAL SKEETER ASSOCIATION & RENEGADE CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2024 ISA Regatta and Renegade Championship is also called on for a location to be determined in Minnesota or Wisconsin. If the Northwest is confirmed on Wednesday, the ISA will defer and postpone.

NEXT UPDATE: Wednesday, February 14 by 12 PM CT.

Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA and ISA

SOLD! January 19, 2024: Renegade in MI

SOLD! Renegade #272
Includes hull, mast and plank.  Automotive finish with clear coat, custom covers for everything, trailer, boxes for boom, sail, runners and planks supports. Trailer is custom made from an E Scow and trailer highway ready.
$1900 firm
Western Michigan

DN World Championship Photo Gallery from Parnu, Estonia


A very quick update from Parnu, Estonia where the 2024 DN World, European, and Junior World Championship is taking place. The course a bit over 4 miles from the launch, quite a hike on this big ice. Took a few pictures on the way in yesterday of a Gold fleet race from a view rarely seen. Back with more later – it’s a whirlwind of activity at a regatta as you all know!
DNIYRA European Website for official information
IDNIYRA Europe Facebook
IDNIYRA Europe YouTube for daily reports
Gilles Morelle Images – Professional Photographer

The Right Path


Winnebago ice sailor Andy Gratton checks in while we wait for the ice to return.

Here are a couple shots of rough ice on Winnebago from last Monday, Jan 29. The ice is sailable with a small maneuverable boat if one follows the right path. The boat was sailed to that position.

Mosquito Season Comes Early

Video Link

Mosquito Season Comes Early
By Pat Heppert

Despite the vast postponing of most regattas due to warm weather this weekend, the first annual “Minnesota Mini-skeeter Mayhem” regatta was completed as scheduled on 2/3/24. The warm humid weather sure does bring out the skeeters! The small fleet size of three Minnesota boats, piloted by Bruce Wegger, Tom Kvale and Pat Heppert were fully dialed in and wound up around a 0.5 mile course on tiny Lake Riley, Eden Prairie, MN. The small lake size in a metro area seriously did make for a lot of tactical decisions with plenty of shifts, gusts, and shoreline effects, which was super fun. The mini-skeeters shared the course concurrently with about 10 boats total from around the lake including DN’s, Nite, JX-14, and Skimmer. The PRO, race committee chairman and venue provider John Bushey took great care in ensuring a safe, fair competition among a competitive fleet. The 12” of flat black ice with zero obstacles stayed hard until 2 PM, which was plenty sufficient to get the regatta completed in one day. Boat speeds were so blazingly fast that I thought the loud “crack” I heard was me breaking the sound barrier, but it turned out to be a broken bulkhead apparently from builder error. No problem, kept sailing. The scoring team had incredible difficulty writing finishing numbers at the speed and tight formation of this group, but the conclusion of the day was that everybody was a winner, and the trophy awarding is being held off until next year.

Regatta Watch: ISA & Northwest Postponed

Rob Evans sails his A Class Skeeter on Lake Monona, January 15, 2022. Photo: Joe Berger

NORTHWEST:
The NIYA is postponed one week to February 16th, 17th, and 18th 2024. Colder weather returning The week of the 12th should provide one or more viable locations.

Steve Schalk

Secretary/Treasurer

Northwestern Ice Yachting Association

ISA:
The ISA Regatta is postponed to February 16th, 17th, and 18th, 2024. Colder temperatures the week of February 12th will allow for multiple locations to become available.

Steve Schalk

Secretary/Treasurer

International Skeeter Association

No 4LIYC Racing for Feb 3 – 4


No Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing this weekend, February 3 – 4, 2024.
We will wait for some colder temperatures to return.
This is Deb – posting while on the road in Latvia to Estonia for the 2024 DN World Championship. Stay tuned for reports.

Regatta Watch: 2024 ISA & NIYA Postponed to Feb 9-11

Greg McCormick

The Northwest and International Skeeter Association & Renegade Championship Race Committees have postponed for one week to February 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2024. Both Committees determined that the high temperatures, sun, and lack of overnight freezing will make the ice too soft for acceptable regatta conditions. The presence of plenty of ice that should stay in place until colder weather arrives gives us a good chance coming later in February.
Steve Schalk
NIYA & ISA Secretary/Treasurer