NIYA

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

4LIYC Racing Scores Now Published

by | Feb 20, 2025 | ,

Renegades on Lake Monona. Photo: Marcus Berghahn

The racing scores for the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club are now available online. A big thank you to Damien Luyet, who has stepped up to handle score tabulation this season. His efforts ensure we can all track the results from our latest races.

Check out the scores here  Stay tuned for more racing updates as the season progresses!

4LIYC Meeting – Wednesday, February 19 at The Breakwater

by | Feb 18, 2025 | ,

MARY B at Frozen Assets Festival

It’s been a while since we’ve been able to meet in person, but we’re finally getting together! Join us at The Breakwater in Monona on Wednesday, February 19, at 6:30 PM.

WHAT TO KNOW:
4LIYC Meeting
Breakwater
6308 Inland Way
Monona, WI
6:30 PM

There’s so much to talk about—don’t miss it! Looking forward to catching up with everyone. See you there!

Snow Got You Down? Tune In to Matt Struble’s Podcast Interview

by | Feb 16, 2025 | , ,

Matt Struble US183. Photo by Anna Suslova.

With the 4LIYC racing on pause thanks to all this snow, it’s a great time to catch up on some ice sailing talk. Sailing Anarchy just dropped a new podcast featuring none other than 2025 DN World & North American Champion Matt Struble! Fresh off his dominant performance at Lake Winnebago, Matt sat down with host Scott Tempesta to break down the regatta. While his scores made it look effortless, Matt shares just how tough the conditions were and what it took to come out on top. As Scott put it: “I just chatted him up, and I can tell he is going to be a great guest!” The episode is available this afternoon—perfect listening while we wait for sailable ice to return.
Listen here: https://sailinganarchy.com/sailing-anarchy-podcast/  Or check out the SA podcasts on Apple, Google, or Spotify podcasts.
Stay tuned, and hopefully, the Big Zamboni will arrive and we’ll be back on the ice soon!

 

Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to Feb 21 – 23

by | Feb 12, 2025 | , , ,

2025 Nite Nationals. Photo: Will Johnston

The ISA Race Committee has postponed the 2025 annual Championship to February 21, 22, 23, 2025. (Along with the Renegade Championship.)

The snow falling right now, along with the forecast for much additional snow Friday has put the regatta on hold for now. All possible locations are affected by the snow.

The next decision will be on Sunday the 16th, when the snow results will be known. There is a lot of regatta condition ice under the snow, so we are still early in the season and may yet see it melt off.

Steve Schalk

Secretary/Treasurer

International Skeeter Association

In The News – Again! Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

by | Feb 11, 2025 | , ,


Great article about our sport including recognition for Minnesota’s Sam Bartel, a young man who is bringing new sailors into the sport.

Iceboats can go 80 mph on Wisconsin’s frozen lakes
Iceboats, some a century old, are the speedsters and yachts of frozen lakes.
By Rick Barrett
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

CRIVITZ – On Lake Noquebay in Marinette County, the Ace of Spades, Miss Jane II, Rosemary, and other iceboats gather for a regatta on ice where the wind has cleared much of the snow. Continue reading.

SOLD! December 9, 2024: Arrow in PA

by | Feb 11, 2025 | ,

SOLD! Arrow #325
Arrow and Arrow jet
Hull rebuilt (2015) with access ports
OE and gull wing runner planks
Doyle sail in excellent condition
Storm sail
Custom fir mast
Custom blocks (skeeter design)
Spare (Arrow) blocks
OE shrouds and adjustable shrouds
OE and wrapped aluminum tillers
OE and wishbone boom
Steering cables, posts and hardware for both designs
(2) sets of Sarns skates
(3) front chocks, side chock lots of hardware
Upholstered cockpit cushion
Cover
$4300 OBO

February 10, 2025: Renegade in WI

by | Feb 10, 2025 | ,

Older Renegade (sail #222) in good condition for recreational sailing. Sails, runners, mast, hull and plank in good shape, no cracks or rot. Was raced by North sails rep in Ohio 15 years ago so plank was shaved and tuned for speed, has some carbon fiber underneath it. Has full hull, plank and mast covers. Price is $3350
$2750 or best offer.
Trailer is available for additional $600.
Madison, WI area
Contact Dan at schultzd977@gmail.com for more information.

SOLD! October 9, 2024: Mattison-Krueger Rumble-Seat Skeeter in WI – WHITEHORSES

by | Feb 10, 2025 | ,

WHITEHORSES
Mattison-/Krueger built rumble seat skeeter. Originally Ken Whitehorse’s old FAST BUCK.
Not competitive any longer but still a great boat to sail.
Complete with one set of runners, two sails, 24′ mast.
Hull, mast and boom covers. Also have a spare springboard.

If anyone is interested in both boats, I can make you a deal on both boats (WHITEHORSES & LANA) and include a
single axle trailer set-up for both.

$2200.

SOLD! December 3, 2024: Class A Skeeter in MN

by | Feb 10, 2025 | ,

SOLD! Predator A-Class Skeeter
Iceboats are sailing right now in Minnesota on Hollywood ice. A proven, highest performance iceboat and a turnkey program. Comes with two masts (28’, 26’) two rigs, five sails, full covers and one set of excellent runners, with brand new Harken runner bags.
The package also includes a fantastic trailer. Which holds the boat plus it can carry a Nite. The trailer has new tires, spare tire, new wiring, new bearing buddies.
Minnesota

Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Tentatively Called On for Feb 14 – 16

by | Feb 9, 2025 | , , ,

Photo: Marcus Berghahn

The ISA Championship Regatta is tentatively on for February 14th – 16th, 2025. Multiple locations are under review including Madison WI and Lake City MN.

The final call will be made by noon on Wednesday February 12th. Check back here at that time.

Steve Schalk

Secretary/Treasurer

International Skeeter Association

A Family Legacy on Ice: UW Student Eden Milan and the MARY B

by | Feb 9, 2025 | , ,

For UW-Madison student Eden Milan, a simple connection to Madison’s frozen lakes turned into an unexpected discovery of their family’s deep ice boating history. Milan’s great-grandfather, Carl Bernard, was one of Madison’s most accomplished iceboat skippers, winning numerous championships—including nine titles aboard the legendary Mary B. Though originally from Seattle, Milan had no idea they were connected to such a significant piece of Madison’s ice boating legacy until they arrived at UW.

This past weekend at the Frozen Assets Festival, Milan had the rare opportunity to ride aboard the Mary B, experiencing firsthand the ice yacht that helped define their great-grandfather’s legacy. If you haven’t seen this historic iceboat in action yet, there’s still time to visit the Mary B set up in front of The Edgewater.

On a chilly weekday morning in February, Eden Milan pulled a pair of ice creepers over their shoes (rubber grips with small spikes at the bottom) and walked out onto the frozen Lake Mendota.

On the lake, a group of enthusiastic ice boat sailors worked to reassemble the boat Milan’s great-grandfather collected so many of his trophies with, a boat that continues to represent Madison’s history as an ice boating haven. Continue reading.

Full circle on the ice—Eden Milan rides aboard the Mary B, the same legendary iceboat her great-grandfather, Carl Bernard, once raced to victory.

4LIYC Racing & Celebration on Lake Mendota for Feb 8 – 9

by | Feb 7, 2025 | ,

Hundreds of people watch as fireworks launch into the night sky above an inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch on frozen and ice-covered Lake Mendota during the conclusion of the Wisconsin Union’s Winter Carnival on Feb. 11, 2023. The event was held along the shoreline of the Memorial Union Terrace at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The Lady Liberty tradition began with a prank in 1979 by the Pail and Shovel Party which made a campaign promise. Read more

Madison Celebrates on the Lake Mendota Ice this weekend.
This weekend, Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (4LIYC) sailors are shifting gears a bit to focus on promoting the sport of iceboating while taking advantage of great conditions. Instead of official club racing, we’re focusing on a fun sailing day on Saturday, February 8, as part of the UW Winter Carnival and Frozen Assets celebrations at The Memorial Union and Edgewater. It’s also a good opportunity to see the MARY B set up at the Edgewater. Stop by and say hello to 4LIYC members from the Iceboat Foundation who help preserve this boat.

If you want to sail on Lake Mendota, you can set up at Lot 60 or Brearly Street and sail toward The Edgewater and the Union to give spectators a close-up look at the sport. If conditions remain favorable and the snow holds off, we may also hold 4LIYC club racing on Sunday, February 9, on Lake Mendota. We’ll have more information on possible 4LIYC racing on Saturday, February 8.

Bucky’s new ride, the MARY B

 

 

Lake Winnebago – The Place to Be for Ice Sailing

by | Feb 6, 2025 | , , ,

4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn takes first in Silver at the DN Worlds.Not pictured, second place Dave Elsmo.  Photo: Anna Suslova

Lake Winnebago – The Place to Be for Ice Sailing

Lake Winnebago has been the place to be for ice sailing this season. From the Northwest Regatta to the Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Regatta, the DN Western Region Championship, and now the DN World and North American Championships, it has been an incredible stretch of racing on one of the best venues in North America.

It’s great to be back on Winnebago for the DN Worlds and North Americans and even better to drive on the ice, making race logistics easier for sailors and officials. These back-to-back regatta weeks can be exhausting, but ice sailors have been waiting for years for this kind of ice. Beyond the racing, seeing everyone socializing at the hotel and gathering for a banquet at Sunset on the Water has been fantastic.

DN World Championship Recap

The World Championship is now complete, and congratulations to five-time champion Matt Struble. Watching the best ice sailors in the world at work is always incredible. Right behind Matt, the Polish sailors continue to be a massive force, along with the Swedes and Estonians, who have all shown their skill and consistency. The top Swedish sailors in this competition have a long history with my brother, Ron Rosten, who has followed their progress from junior racing all the way to the Gold Fleet. Ron attends the Junior World Championship held in Europe every year, and it has been amazing to see these young sailors grow into top competitors.

North American Championship Begins

Now, the focus shifts to the North American Championship, where four races have been completed. Every race has been like a high-speed chess match, where every move counts, and the slightest mistake can cost positions. The competition has been fierce, with no easy wins.

Today’s forecast calls for strong winds, and I’m sure PRO Pat Heppert is already driving to the lake to check conditions as I type this.

4LIYC Sailors at the DN World Championship

Closer to home, our Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (4LIYC) sailors had strong performances at the DN World Championship, battling through some of the toughest competition in recent memory. The Silver Fleet raced at a Gold Fleet level, and Bronze felt like Silver, making every finish hard-earned.

  • Chad Atkins finished 14th in Gold Fleet
  • 4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn won the Silver Fleet, securing an automatic spot in the Gold Fleet for the championship
  • Dave Elsmo was right behind him, taking 2nd place in Silver Fleet
  • Dale Gordon finished 20th in the Bronze Fleet

Great racing from our club members—congratulations to all!

It has been an incredible week, and we are hoping to finish out the North Americans with a complete seven-race series. Stay tuned for updates!

Stay updated with the latest results, photos, and behind-the-scenes coverage:

ANN 9043
ANN 9062
ANN 9176
ANN 9210
ANN 9221
ANN 9269
DJI 0173 Enhanced NR
DJI 0176 Enhanced NR

Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association 2025 Regatta Results & Photos

by | Feb 5, 2025 | , ,

Don Ward Flying Start trophy. Photo Gretchen Dorian.

RESULTS
The 2025 Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association (WSSA) Regatta took place on Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac, WI February 1 – 2.
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer Andy Gratton shared, “We had the first race for the Don Ward Flying Start Trophy, to be sailed for by D stern steerers only. Joe Terry is the winner.”
Photos: Gretchen Dorian

20250202 SS 7552
20250202 SS 7560
20250202 SS 7606
20250202 SS 7611

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