2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
Grand Slam Open — Day One Results, Lake Kegonsa
This is not Lake Kegonsa, but Matt Critchley’s Solstice yellow Renegade is making the rounds , photo used as a placeholder because it’s already doing the work on Facebook.
Day one of local racing and the Grand Slam Open on Lake Kegonsa is in the books.
Five races sailed across the DN and Renegade fleets. We’re spent.
Results are posted thanks to Toledo Ice Yacht Club tabulator Ann Foeller for keeping it all straight. Thanks to all sailors who joined us. We had a blast today.
Results link
Report in the morning.
Renegades first race is at 10 AM, Sunday, December 21.
Grand Slam Open on Lake Kegonsa
Grand Slam Open Called on Lake Kegonsa
Saturday and Sunday, December 20–21
Skipper’s Meeting on the course
Racing begins at 10 AM
Based on today’s ice scouting and a solid report from Lake Kegonsa, we feel confident enough to call the Grand Slam Open now rather than waiting until tomorrow. We invite ice yacht clubs and ice yacht racers to join us for some fun sailing.
According to the December 18 ice report from Daniel Hearn and Jeff Russell, the winds and Zamboni effect have moved through and the lake is setting up.
Ice report
Ice in the middle is 7 to 8 inches. Very windy. Rated a 6 to 7.
Closer to shore near Springers, ice is around 12 inches, with a lot of refrozen rough ice.
No issues with ice thickness. Some water remains in spots, but with continued wind, expect the lake to lock up.
Marks
Race marks will be set on Friday for those who want to get an extra day of sailing in.
Launch options
Amundson Landing
1928-2264 Quam Dr, Stoughton, WI 53589
Town of Pleasant Springs Boat Launch
2267 Williams Point Dr, Stoughton, WI 53589
Important
DO NOT DRIVE ON THE LAKE!
Observe all posted parking rules.
Food
Springers on Lake Kegonsa is offering an iceboaters special lunch, including hot soup.
Note that ice directly in front of Springers is rough.
Scoring
Participation in the Grand Slam Open is open to DNs, Nites, Renegades, and Mini Skeeters. (The A Class Skeeters like a bit more ice.) To be included in the official scoring, sailors must be members of the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club.
Membership
Please consider joining the 4LIYC to support the club and iceboat racing in our area.
Join here: Membership link
Best Place to Watch
Sit in the comfort of Springers on the Lake and enjoy your favorite beverage.
Range Rover Meets C Skeeter
Proof It Happened
Last March, Daniel Hearn and Pat Heppert went a secret mission to an undisclosed lake in Minnesota. The mission was straightforward. Daniel and his C Skeeter were cast as the talent for a Range Rover commercial. Pat Heppert scouted the lake and when the wind died, stepped in and quite literally provided support, pushing the C Skeeter to keep things moving. Range Rover now joins many automobile manufacturers who have used iceboats as shorthand for speed and control on ice.
I wish I could show you the finished spot. I received it in an Instagram message and cannot find it anywhere online. It appears to be living the quiet life as a paid ad. If it ever surfaces in the wild, I will link to it here.
Until then, it is nice to know that somewhere in a Range Rover edit suite, a C Skeeter stole the show.
SOLD! November 24, 2025: 2 DNs in MI
SOLD! DN US4192 race program
24 race ready runners – $6,000
Complete with:
Two DNs with custom trailer
Two masts
Two booms
Six sails
Two planks
Too many extras to list here
Located in Western Michigan
Email for a detailed inventory
State of the Lakes & Grand Slam Open Tentatively Called on For Dec 20-21
Lake Monona: Hollywood with asterisks. Courtesy of the waterfowl.
State of the Lakes – Monona and Kegonsa
Lake Monona is Hollywood with asterisks. It looks extraordinary in photos and video, but the holes change everything. We are optimistic that Monona may begin to heal over the next few days, but today’s rain, wind, and temperature swing will be a factor in what comes next.
Perfect ice that you cannot sail – yet!
Lake Kegonsa is a different story. It has been freezing in stages and has likely been locked in for more days than Lake Monona. Reports so far suggest rough ice, but it has not been properly scouted yet. The rain today followed by a sharp freeze could bring Kegonsa close to almost Hollywood conditions.
GRAND SLAM OPEN TENTATIVELY CALLED ON FOR DEC 20-21 ON LAKE KEGONSA
Because of that, the club will spend the next two days scouting Kegonsa with the hope of calling on the Grand Slam Open. We know people are itching to get on the ice and go racing. The Grand Slam Open is traditionally sailed on the first sailable ice of the season, and it has been a long time since we’ve been able to hold one. We are tentatively calling the Grand Slam Open for Saturday and Sunday on Lake Kegonsa, pending ice checks.
This will be a fun set of races for Renegades, DNs, Nites, and Mini-Skeeters. We expect to have final confirmation by Friday afternoon and more details posted here.
This quote from the late Charlie Johnson fits Lake Monona almost too well right now. “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 4LIYC member
SOLD! October 24, 2025: Gambit in CT
SOLD! Two place Gambit in excellent condition. It has always been stored indoors Three sails: main, DN, and storm, 36” runners, slush runners, extra spring board and plank, standing and running rigging, s.s.cables, alum.mast.
$3,500
SOLD! December 14, 2025: Competitive DN in WI
SOLD! Ron Sherry hull, $2,000
Ron Sherry plank Balsa core 2022, $1000
Ron Sherry QIL, $1,000
Forstmann boom, $400
Ullman FO-1, 550
Ullman, ABSS, $550
Sidestay with titanium hound, $450,
Runners:
Ron Sherry 1/4 inch 440C, $950
Ron Sherry min. T & steering, $1,200
Bull nose, $850
Storm case, $150
Buy the whole program $7,000
Ready to sail a competitive boat.
All comes with covers and toolbag.
Southern Wisconsin
Army vs Navy On Ice
While we wait for ice, here’s a small history lesson. The American Legion on Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh (now The Waters) seen here with the stern steerer DEUCE rigged on the ice. The Legion hosted and sponsored ice yacht regattas, including the Army–Navy races. Photo from the Carl Bernard collection.
With the Army–Navy football game played yesterday, some old newspaper clippings surfaced that report on another Army–Navy rivalry, this one on ice.
In the 1930s, the Oshkosh Ice Yacht Club hosted an annual Army vs. Navy ice yacht race, sponsored by the American Legion. One clipping, from January 1935, describes a decisive Army victory sailed in rough conditions, heavy snow cover, strong northwesterly winds, and difficult ice.
The American Legion’s striking white building on Lake Winnebago, now The Waters, served as regatta headquarters for many events.
It’s perfect weather here at -7F in the Four Lakes area this morning and Lake Mendota is steaming like hell. Check out the Mendota Today live-cam to watch some ice making.
Tip of the Helmet: Henry Boshkossett
Staying In The Lines
Stern Steerer sailor Andy Gratton checked in from Lake Winnebago with a note and a surprise. His wife Ann was cleaning the attic and found an oversized coloring book from 1976, price tag still on it, 88 cents. Along with a spread of historical scenes, it includes this DN drawing. Andy added that Winnebago “got too much snow. The ice was looking really nice on Monday. Drats!”
Their attic discovery sparked an idea, so here are a few quickly AI generated ROSEMARY and WISCONSIN coloring-book pages.
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA – CANCELED
Pat Heppert sailing DRIFTER at the 2022 International Skeeter Association Regatta on Lake Monona in Madison, WI. Photo: Will Johnston
Via International Skeeter Association Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:
The International Race Committee has reviewed the current conditions and forecasts and determined that the Minnesota race venues are out due to temperatures in single digits and coming snow depths. Without other options and the arrival of the holidays, the decision has been made to let 2025 go. We are back up and pointing next to January 9th 2026 for the first day of the 2026 Championship. Next update: Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
4LIYC Meeting Tonight 6:30 @ Breakwater – Dec 3
Master Plan Proposal for Lake Monona Waterfront Redevelopment Plan
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club meets tonight at Breakwater in Monona. The meeting begins at 6:30.
Breakwater has been good to our club. Let’s return the favor. Come a little early, have dinner, enjoy a drink, and support the place that supports us.
Winter switched on right after Thanksgiving and it won’t be long before we’re on home ice. Many club members are heading to Lake Minnewaska in Minnesota for the DN Western Challenge this weekend. There will be ice!
4LIYC Meeting
Wednesday, December 3
Order Dinner 6:00
Meeting 6:30 PM
Breakwater Restaurant
6308 Metropolitan Ln, Monona, WI 53713
Wisc Stern Steerer Association Newsletter
Stern-Steerers at the 2025 Northwest- Photo by Rob Resnick
The Wisconsin Stern Steerer Association remains an active class dedicated to racing and preserving the original iceboats. They are ready for a full season on the ice, and their latest newsletter is now available online.
December 2, 2025: Boe-Craft B Skeeter in WI
Boe-Craft B Skeeter
Jack in the Green – Formerly Rumrunner
Rebuilt in 2008.
Comes with a painted mast tuned to match the original spar by Paul Krueger.
On trailer with new wheels and tires, welded aluminum box. Low bunks for easy lifting.
Since rebuild sailed just in 2010 season in the NIYA Regatta and the Boecraft Championship. Won both events.
Sold with a competitive Henry Bossett sail, so no need for a $2000 upgrade.
The boat has been stored inside my shop as a spare. Never been outside or wet since the 2010 Boecraft Championship.
This boat won ISA B championships sailed by Skip Wadewitz, John Eck and Steve Schalk.
Time for it to go back into competition with a new owner.
$12,000$11,000
Southern Wisconsin
Steve Schalk i564@charter.net
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to Dec 12-14
Kyle Navin, finished 2nd at the Nite Nationals
Via ISA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:
The 2025 International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championships have been postponed until December 12 – 14. Ice will be starting to form at our target sites of Minnewaska and Battle lakes tonight. The forecasts look promising for December 12-14. Next update is Sunday, December 7, 2025.
Steve Schalk
A Good Day to Review the Racing Rules
Most of us in Wisconsin are indoors today. Maybe you are in the shop working on runners, watching the weather, and waiting for the first sailable ice. It is a good moment to brush up on the racing rules. A little time now pays off later when the lake fills with boats and the pace picks up.
Cold air is settling in and much of the state is expecting up to ten inches of snow. The snow will help lock in the cold. Good news for ice making.
The Skeeter Iceboat Club has a set of short rule review videos on YouTube worth watching before the season starts.
Link to Video
Sailing Safe
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship December Outlook
Steve Schalk sailing a B Skeeter on Lake Kegonsa at the 2023 ISA. Photo: Will Johnston
2025 NOTICE OF RACE
ISA HOME PAGE
Via ISA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:
The ISA & Renegade Championship Race Committee is cranking back up to find the location for the postponed 2025 ISA. The conference calls restart on November 30th. There is a cold front moving through Minnesota as I write this, with none of the sites yet frozen, so the current snow is just falling in open water. The following cold will close up the lakes and allow for the search to begin. Minnewaska and Battle Lakes are favored sites with their launch facilities.
The ISA Race Chairman believes that it should be possible for a DN Western Challenge by December 5th, with the two following weekends available for the ISA. Of course the weather will dictate the outcome. We will post Sunday 7 pm updates starting November 30th.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
November 24, 2025: Recreational DN in NY
1970s DN and 2 -100 year old rear steer iceboats with history on Onondaga Lake in Syracuse NY. All complete.
$500 for all
pbfarrell715@gmail.com
SOLD! March 15, 2025: Arrow in WI
SOLD! Arrow #247
Plank and tiller new in 2007. On trailer. Includes 10′ fiberglass box.
$2,000.00
First!
He’s done it again. DN sailor Paul Chamberland is first on the ice in North America, just as he was on November 22, 2023. He’s back on Owlseye Lake while visiting family near his home town of St. Paul, Alberta. This time Paul brought a crew of family and friends, and they spent the day taking turns on the two DNs he hauled north.
A strong start to the season, with temperatures forecasted to drop toward in the Four Lakes region which will help bring ice.
SOLD! October 27, 2025: DN in WI
SOLD! DN 2399: Carbon fiber mast, Sarns 36” standard/J14/Alligator profile runners, aluminum boom, race sail and hull cover
Southern WI
$2,500
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