2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
In The News: Bill Mattison in Nov Seahorse Magazine
Bill Mattison in SNAPSHOT
The November issue of Seahorse Magazine has published the first of a two-part article about Bill Mattison written by Carol Cronin. Despite never meeting him, she genuinely shares her awe about Bill’s unique talents and conveys a real sense of him through Peter Harken.
The magazine is subscription based.
You can purchase the November edition in print or digital format here.
Circus minimus – much adventure, little drama – Part I
After hearing so much about Bill Mattison’s amazing ability to ‘engineer and build anything’ I would have loved to have met him. And since he never just sat around maybe I could have watched those big meaty hands working away at one of his many skills. Scarfing a damaged iceboat plank. Repairing a carbon mast. Welding up a replacement piece for a photo developing machine. Or decorating a tiny wagon wheel for the model circus he started as a kid and continued to add to for the rest of his very full life. How could one man achieve so much success in so many different mediums, on so many different scales, from larger-than-life America’s Cup boats down to half-inch-to the- foot scale models?
-Carol Cronin
PREVIOUSLY
A Life that Dreams Are Made Of
Eight Bells
Home of the Volleyball(?) Champs
Nothing Fickler
Bill’s Circus Life
“The Icing On The Lake”
“Fast Forward Since Birth”
“The Hard-Water Gang” with Bill Mattison at the 2001 ISA
Shooting the Breeze with Bill Mattison
Bill Mattison Inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame
Iceboaters Fingerprints
Willy St. Iceboat Shop Archives
Iceboat Swap Meet Stories
Dash inspects a DN stay adjuster.
Iceboaters have a cliché: we spend 50% of our time building them, 35% talking about them, and 15% sailing them (your mileage may vary.) Ice sailors gathered at the Southern Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet and fulfilled the talking-about-them quota on Sunday, November 6, at the Delavan Lake Yacht Club in Delavan, WI. Veteran and new ice sailors gathered to exchange complete boats, sails, planks, hulls, and runners. It was a lovely sunny and windy day to be back where the iceboat swap meet all began, with the Skeeter Iceboat Club.
Next milestone – who will have first runners on the ice in North America?
Southern WI Iceboat Swap Meet Nov 6 @ Delavan YC
DELAVAN LAKE YACHT CLUB FALL FOOTBALL PARTY AND SOUTHERN WISCONSIN ICEBOAT SWAP MEET
Date: Sunday, November 6, 2022
Location: Delavan Lake Yacht Club, 1501 Cedar Point Drive, Delavan, WI
Time: Iceboat swap meet starts at 10 AM (turn clocks back one hour the night before)
What to Know
Everyone welcome
Admission free for swap meet, ample parking and grassy area.
Clubhouse open 9:30 AM, coffee available.
Bring items for raffle.
In case of inclement weather, smaller iceboat items can be displayed on tables inside clubhouse.
Buffet available for everyone from 11 AM – 1 PM. Menu to include: hot ham slices for making sandwiches, baked beans, pasta salad, cookies.
Price: $12
Packers vs. Detroit Lions at noon on TV
DLYC members can put charges on their accounts
Non-DLYC members pay by credit card
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
What’s In Your Shop?
“Yes, we’ve been busy! Got M-165 repair and paint job done. Rambl’n is ready to Rumble!” – Past Champions Iceboat Shop
DNs, Renegades, and Skeeters are in the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club’s shops getting patched, painted, and tuned up. What’s in your shop?
SOLD! October 26, 2022: Starter DN in MI
SOLD! DN #669
ca 1960
Two sets of runners – Sarns nice and sharp, slush runners
Boston Sail
Working boat. All hardware included and ready to sail.
No Trailer
This is a great beginner/casual boat. I sailed this last year and everything works great.
$600
Pick up in Holland, Michigan
SOLD! November 11, 2021: Class A Skeeter in WI
SOLD! Motivated to sell:
CLASS A SKEETER:
Complete race ready program!
26 Ft. Mast
22 Ft. Plank
3 Sails (New)
Full envelope cover for trailering
Full cockpit pit covers
Complete boat – Ready to race
New price (reduced from $18,000 last year)
I bought another A Class Skeeter and I sure as heck don’t need two!
$11,000 For everything! Call me for all of the details.
Now is the time to join the skeeter fleet!
SOLD! April 22, 2022: Skeeter in WI
SOLD! Rumble-seat Class A Skeeter. COLD REALITY (formerly Bill Dale’s.) Excellent condition. 31’ hull, 26’ carbon fiber mast, (2) 20’ planks, 5 sails in excellent condition, (2) springboards.
Asking $5000
Located in Milwaukee area
SOLD! October 11, 2022: Skeeter Sail in WI
SOLD! Skeeter sail.
Dimensions are – 21’10” luff
6’7” foot .
Included one boom.
$100 obo.
4LIYC Online Iceboat Shipstore Open
4LIYC Online Ships Store
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club has partnered with Coral Reef Sailing Apparel to offer a full range custom shirts, hats, and more. You choose your iceboat graphic – a DN, Nite, Renegade, or Skeeter. Add a last name, boat name or sail number to personalize your Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Tech Shirt!
Order a shirt or branded gear today.
A New World Record: Biggest Iceboat in the World
Iceboating has attracted dreamers and creators since some guy in Holland first thought about attaching iron skates to a canal boat back in the 1600s. This past summer, David Janzen of Ontario, Canada, achieved his dream of building the biggest iceboat in the world. An iceboat that big needs big ice, and Janzen is hauling it to Thunder Bay, Ontario, this winter to learn how she sails.
Tip of the Helmet: Mike Madge
By the numbers:
Mast 53′
Hull 70′
Plank 37′
Sail is under construction.
By comparison, the stern-steerer DEUCE, mast 51′, hull 54′- 6″ and plank, 36′.
Minnesota’s Pat Heppert, who designed the C Skeeter cab-forward DRIFTER, has been in touch with Jansen during the project.
I admire David Janzen’s infectious enthusiasm and the extreme commitment to following an extreme dream and making it a reality. Truly impressive effort, and done on an average man’s budget. Follow your own path, and be your own hero. Can’t wait to see the smile on his face after that first sail that makes it all worthwhile.
Pat
Eight Bells: Marv Luck
Marv Luck sailing his Johnson B Stern Steerer at the 2010 Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
The South Side Ice Yacht Club in Oshkosh, WI, lowered their flag to half mast today in honor of Marv Luck, who passed away this morning, October 20, 2022.
Marv was the epitome of a Lake Winnebago stern-steerer sailor who loved this sport more than just about anyone. Marv collected Lake Winnebago ice sailing videos, newspaper articles, and photos which he always shared with me. My files are filled with Lake Winnebago history, thanks to Marv.
Rest in peace, Marv.
UPDATE: October 21, 2022:
Services will be held on Sat 10/29 at Fiss & Bills-Poklasny Funeral Home 865 S Westhaven Dr Oshkosh. Official obituary will be posted later.
Visitation will be held from 9:30-11:00am, Service at 11:00 and burial at Riverside to follow. We are also going to hold a light luncheon at the South Side Ice Yacht club following the burial
SOLD! October 10, 2021: Nite in WI
SOLD! 2009 Nite
Located in Pewaukee
Purchased new. Included: trailer, sail, mast, boom, and runners. Boat and equipment are in excellent condition S&R Marine in December, 2009. Seldom used – sailed less than 50 times. Only sailed on Pewaukee Lake. Boat, trailer, and equipment always stored inside.
$8,000
Notice of Dues: Get The Card
A Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Notice of Dues postcard should have recently arrived in mailboxes. Please consider joining and supporting the 4LIYC. Your membership helps us maintain our ATV and equipment and keeps this website running. You’ll get this cool membership card to flash around at any yacht club featuring Joe Berger’s fast photo of Nite sailor Don Sanford sailing lifting a runner Lake Monona last season.
Download, print, and mail a membership form here.
SOLD! September 9, 2022: Skeeter in MN
SOLD! Class A Skeeter built at the Mattison shop in Madison, WI. (Paul Krueger believes it may be an original RAMBLN’ boat) Complete and ready to sail. Kevlar sail by Quantum with under 50 hours of sailing. Stainless fore and side stays have 5-10 hours. In very good shape but could use new paint. Steel roll bar. Used lightly last 10 years for cruising only. Stored indoors during the off-season. Will consider trade for Nite.
Southwest Minnesota.
PRICE REDUCED: $1500
$2800
SOLD! September 17, 2022: Vintage DN in MN
SOLD Vintage DN
Complete and in good condition.
Stored inside.
No trailer
Comes with canvas covers.
Asking $1,200
Bloomington MN
Everything You Want to Know About Rear-Seat Skeeters
Bill Mattison wrote this article for Yacht Racing and Cruising magazine in 1981 in the heyday of the rear-seat Class A Skeeter, a few years before the dawn of the cockpit forward style. Hundreds of these rear-seaters are still out there. Print this article and keep it with the boat if you have one.
Tip of the Helmet: Mike O’Brien
Read the article.
The word “iceboater” should be listed as a synonym for “dedication.”
Bill Mattison
Iceboat Swapmeets across North America
Ice sailing has a handful of commercial builders, unlike soft water boats. A few commercial builders serve the DN class, and the Nite Class has one. Swap meets are crucial to the sport. Swap meets are like big box iceboat stores where you can see a variety of iceboats and parts for sale in person. Swap meets are essential to commercial builders and the iceboating community. Support your local upcoming swap meet!
HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA
Date: Saturday, October 29, 2022
Time: Noon – 5 PM ET
Location: 470 Bay St. North, Hamilton, ON, Canada
The Canadian Ice Force is hosting a backyard swap meet and social at Les Druiven’s (KC3475) house. RSVP to Lester: dldruiven@gmail.com. Park at the Leander Rowing club on the shore and walk back up the hill on the footpath (1 minute). Canadian Commodore Colin Duncan and other Kingston sailors are attending.
NEW ENGLAND: Sponsored by the New England Ice Yachting Association
Date: Saturday, October 29, 2022
Time: 10 AM ET
Location: Thompson Speedway Golf Course, 205 E Thompson Rd, Thompson, CT 06277
More information.
MICHIGAN: Sponsored by Gull Lake, West Michigan, and Grand Traverse Ice Yacht Clubs
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2022
Time: 10 AM – 1 PM ET
Location: The Dock ( at Bayview) from
12504 E D Ave
Richland, MI 49083
Map
Swap, sell, buy, trade. Catch up with friends and make many more who enjoy our unique sport of Ice Yachting.
MINNESOTA: Hosted by Tim Carlson at Sailcrafters
Date: Saturday, November 5
Time: 9 AM – Noon CT
Location: 7450 Oxford Street
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Map
WISCONSIN: Sponsored by the Skeeter Iceboat Club
Date: Sunday, November 6, 2022
Time: 10 AM CT
Location: Delavan Lake Yacht Club
1501 Cedar Point Drive, Delavan, WI
Map
Swap starts at 10 AM followed by food and beverages inside yacht club. Packers at Detroit starting at noon. Admission free, ample parking and grassy area.
4LIYC Fall Social: Sunday, October 23, 2022
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing on January 15, 2022, Lake Monona. Photo: Joe Berger
Please join us for our Fall Social at the Four Lakes Yacht Club on Sunday, October 23, 2022. All ingredients will be there, including the Packer game on the big screen, club burgees for sale, the traditional ham, beverages, and lots of iceboating talk.
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Fall Social Event
Date: Sunday, October 23, 2022
Time: 11:30 AM – 4 PM (Packers kick off at noon.)
Location: The Four Lakes Yacht Club
6312 Inland Way, Monona, WI
Free public parking ramp at The Current, across the street from the yacht club
What To Know:
Please bring a dish to pass.
Ham and beverages will be provided
Please RSVP to Deb debwhitehorse@iceboat.org
SOLD June 6, 2022: Iceboat Trailer in MI
SOLD All aluminum box drop camper hauler. Multi function hauler/camper. Roof rack, windows with screens, lights in and out, battery, switch panel, heater/fan, side door, full lift up back door, air mattress, mis.c camping equipment, wheel lock, non slip floor, built in storage bins with netting, etc. External power connection port. Side mount spare. I’ve used it to camp in, haul kayak and paddleboard, iceboat and equipment, sheets of 4×8 plywood, go kart, etc. Easily haul 2 DN’s and all equipment
Lightweight and Easily pulled 1300 lbs.
7500$
Via Harken Blockheads: “It’s 96 Degrees in the Shade…Time to Think Iceboating!”
Some people just can’t wait…
Get Started Iceboating!
Our friends at Harken have done it again, utilizing their international reach to promote the sport of ice yachting. Marketing intern Samuel Bartel, a recent University of Wisconsin graduate and DN sailor, created a YouTube video series on how to get involved in this “outrageously fun sport.” Thanks Samuel and Hannah Lee Noll for the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club and iceboat.org shout-out!
Read more and see all four videos on the Harken Blockheads website.
Or view them on YouTube
Preparing for Iceboating
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
New! ISA News & Views Newsletter Archive
