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

Regatta Watch: Northwest Postponed

by | Jan 9, 2022 | , ,

Renegade fleet at the 2008 Northwest Regatta on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin.

Via Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Secretary Steve Schalk:

The Northwest Regatta has been postponed until January 21-23, 2022. Next update will be on Sunday, January 16, 2022.

 

4LIYC Lake Monona Gallery Jan 8, 2022

by | Jan 9, 2022 | ,

Here are some of the photos from Saturday’s Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing on Lake Monona. I was busy helping Pat Heppert line them up and send them off, so Arden Patton took my camera and was our photographer of the day. I’ll post more later tonight. 

Conditions: Winds were 12 – 15 mph with some higher gusts. Ice is hard and black with minimal sticky drifts. We had about a .75 mile race track with 13 DNs and 7 Renegades. Both classes raced four times. More photos and scores will be posted tonight.

 

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4LIYC Racing Called on for Jan 8-9, 2022

by | Jan 7, 2022 |

Lake Monona January 7, 2022

Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing is called ON for January 7-8, 2022.
Ice checkers found 4-6″ of mostly smooth ice with spotty snow patches. The open spots from yesterday (Thursday, Jan 6) were frozen over but will be marked. Remember, the entire lake is never safe. Review safety here.
Launch is the Tonyawatha landing in Monona. Do not drive on the ice.
First race starts at 10 AM on Saturday, January 8. 2022.

Lakemonona Jan 7 3
Lakemonona Jan 7 1

SOLD! April 7, 2021: Arrow in PA

by | Jan 7, 2022 | ,

SOLD! Arrow #353 for sale in Erie, PA. 2 passenger iceboat. Carbon fiber spring board, newer runners (used 4 times), newer stays, cockpit cover, full mast up top cover, jack stands and aluminum spars. Trailer carries all gear. Located at Erie Yacht Club.
Asking $3,500 with trailer or $2,500 with no trailer. In great shape and ready to sail.

Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed

by | Jan 6, 2022 | , ,

Advertising image via Henry Bossett.

Via Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Secretary/ Treasurer Andy Gratton

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 22 and 23. The next update will be Sunday, January 16. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

4LIYC Ice Check for Friday, January 7, 2022

by | Jan 6, 2022 | ,

Lake Monona from the south shore on Wednesday, January 6, 2022.

4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn and Doug Kolner scouted Lake Monona today for the DN Western Region Championship. Though they didn’t find regatta quality ice and the regatta was postponed, Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club sailing for Saturday and Sunday is a distinct possibility.

Daniel reported, “Plenty of ice thickness onshore with 2-3″ of black ice in the middle with an open hole dead center in the middle of the lake. There may be enough space on the east end for club sailing. There was very little snow. The hole could firm up by the weekend.”

Please meet at the Tonyawatha Landing at noon on Friday, January 6, 2022, for a Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club ice check. We will post our decision about club racing by 5 PM on Friday.

The State of Monona

by | Jan 4, 2022 | ,

Lake Monona, January 4, 2022

Four Lakes ice sailors have been busy sharing pictures, talking, and thinking Lake Monona ice which has come in with a beautiful freeze. This morning, there are a few goose holes, but most of the lake is glass. It needs a few days to build thickness and then the club can check conditions. Ice cam checkers will want to to keep their browser on Mendota Today for a live look at Lake Mendota.

Bobcat On Ice

by | Jan 4, 2022 | , ,

A short video via Andy Gratton. Minnesota ice sailor Kurt Martinson’s pandemic project was to convert a Bolger Bobcat (an adaptation of the Beetle Cat.)

Via Kurt Martinson: Hoping for enough wind to power thru some snow cover tomorrow. It’s a Bolger Bobcat I converted. 12’x 6’ plus the bowsprit. A pandemic project. Still working on getting the sail plan balanced. Think ice.

Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed

by | Jan 1, 2022 | , ,

MICHIGANDER

WSSA Home Page

Via Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Secretary Andy Gratton:

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 15 and 16. The next update will be Sunday, January 9. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.

Some places on Winnebago have 4 to 6 inches with 1/2″ of snow. Sailing has occurred there.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

SOLD! December 30, 2021: DN in WI

by | Jan 1, 2022 | ,

SOLD! Pewaukee, WI DN ready to sail. My brother won the 100th Northwest regatta in this boat. This would be a great boat for someone getting started:
Fiberglass hull built by Jeff Kent
Steve O designed titanium aft steering post and arm with breakaway tiller head
Jeff Kent CSI composite mast with shrouds
Aluminum boom
JD speed sail in good shape
Ash stripped plank with Struble chocks
Plate runners
$2500.00

4LIYC Meeting News: Join Us or Zoom Us, You Choose

by | Dec 31, 2021 | ,

Join Us or Zoom Us, You Choose

We’re kicking off our hybrid meeting format next week Wednesday, January 5. With the cold weather coming, maybe we’ll even have local ice sailing tales to share!

WHAT TO KNOW:
Date: Wednesday, January 5, 2022
IN-PERSON MEETING
Food will be delivered at 6 PM
Meeting begins at 6:30 PM
At Daniel Hearn’s Office–S/B Strategic Marketing, 1352 E. Wilson St
Tex Tubb’s Menu

For those who’d like to meet in-person and enjoy a good meal together, we’ll be ordering takeout from a different restaurant each meeting. Tex Tubbs Taco Palace will be our first provider. Here’s a link to their menu. Tex Tubb’s Menu

Once you know what you want, submit your order using the form below. Please place your order no later than 3:00 p.m. day of meeting. Food will deliver at 6:00 p.m. Bring cash to pay Deb for food and delivery driver tip. Word has it that club members are bringing beer, otherwise BYOB.

ZOOM MEETING
4LIYC members will receive the Zoom link via email as usual. Not getting the emails? Please contact Deb.

For those who are out of town or feel more comfortable plugging in electronically, we’ll look forward to seeing your smiling face on the big screen in the conference room.

SOLD! December 17, 2021: Starter DN in Madison, WI

by | Dec 30, 2021 | ,

SOLD! Vintage wood DN in good condition with trailer in excellent condition. Complete boat includes runners, heavy black mast, aluminum boom, wood plank, cable stays, sail and sail bag.
Garage-stored on trailer for years in current location, Madison WI.
$1200 or best offer

Regatta Watch: 2022 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed Until Jan 14-16

by | Dec 29, 2021 | , , , ,

Skeeter skippers Ken Whitehorse, Paul Krueger, and Tom Hyslop (along with the Stern-Steerer ROSEMARY) on Lake Michigan at Menominee in March 2021. Photo: gretchendorian.com

INTERNATIONAL SKEETER ASSOCIATION
2022 ISA Notice of Race

ISA Home Page

Via International Skeeter Association (ISA) Race Chair, John Dennis: “The 2022 ISA Championship has been postponed until January 14, 15, 16, 2022. The next update is Sunday, January 9, 2022. The Northwest Regatta takes precedence.”
The ISA Championship races are held for A, B, C Class Skeeters, Nites and Renegades should Renegades choose to hold their national championship regatta in conjunction with the ISA Championship Regatta.

INTERNATIONAL RENEGADE ICE YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION
Renegade Home Page
Via IRIYRA Secretary Ron Rosten: “The Renegade Championship has been postponed until January 14, 15, 16, 2022. The next update is Sunday, January 9, 2022.”

SOLD! November 15, 2021: Vintage Skeeter in WI

by | Dec 28, 2021 | ,

SOLD! Mead two seater Skeeter. Perfect boat to give people rides to introduce them to Iceboating. Jim Nordhaus quote, “Rides like a big Cadillac”
We believe it was built after WW 2. Foot pedal steering, Passenger seat in front of the mast. Includes trailer and full covers. Trailer needs lights installed after it was refurbished.
Completely restored boat in excellent condition. All runners, Sail and boom. $5000 invested. Will sell for $2500 or best offer. Boat in Madison area.
Repainted by the Boathouse last year!

 

Iceboating in the Olympics

by | Dec 23, 2021 | ,

John Buckstaff Archives
Ice sailing as an Olympic event has been a hot topic in the DN class for years. (See Runner Tracks, September 2017 for that story.) Iceboat sail maker and historian, Henry Bossett, has come across an extraordinary 1933 Oshkosh, WI newspaper article about John Buckstaff receiving an invitation from the German Yachting Union to compete at the 1936 Olympics. I can find no mention in further news reports as to what transpired. For now, here’s the article that ran in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Click on the newspaper column image to enlarge it.
Tip of the Helmet: Henry!

In The News: “Cool Running” from Lakeland Boating Magazine

by | Dec 22, 2021 | ,

Lakeland Boating Magaine
BY HEATHER STEINBERGER

Got a need for speed this winter? Just hoist the sails.
In my career as a boating journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a few serious adventurers who actively seek hard water when the temperatures go down and the wind pipes up. Winter weather has most Great Lakes residents curled up in their cozy homes, dreaming of warm summer afternoons, yet these folks are hurtling toward any inland lake that offers smooth, stable, snow-free ice.

They are iceboaters, and their sport isn’t for the faint of heart. Continue reading.

SPOKEN FOR! December 17, 2021: FREE DN Plank Jig in MN

by | Dec 21, 2021 | ,

SPOKEN FOR! FREE to a good home. JD’s original DN plank-building jig with clamps, waxed boards and instructions. Steel channel is a heavy motha, but produces consistent work. Great for a group looking to produce multiple planks.Giving away to make room for a shop re-design. Needs to go by first of year, or it’s scrap city.

 

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