2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
Regatta Watch: ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to Jan 16-18
Photo: Rob Resnick Revelations of Design
The 2026 ISA Regatta and Renegade Championship are postponed one week to January 16-18. 2026.
There is no suitable ice available for a Championship regatta for January 9th.
The next scheduled weekend is concurrent with the first possible date for the Northwestern Ice Yachting Championship. If the Northwest is held on those dates, the ISA will be postponed. Next update is January 11, 2026.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed to Jan 17-18
Photo: Rob Resnick – Revelations of Design
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 17-18, 2026. The next update will be Sunday, January 11. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
Unofficial Eye Opener and New Year’s Speed on Lake Kegonsa
LINK TO VIDEO
Lake Kegonsa has seen serious traffic this week.
Skeeters or DNs, no matter what, alignment is key.
Multiple DN World Champion Matt Struble arrived Monday to get acquainted with his new Class A Skeeter, recently acquired from Tom Hyslop. (Previously: The Bubble Expands) The boat is a Clapp build with a solid pedigree. Matt spent two long days in Daniel Hearn’s shop learning the boat inside and out, and quickly learned that sharpening Skeeter runners is heavier work and a much longer commitment than anything he’s used to with DN runners.
On Thursday, the Skeeter fleet welcomed him on Lake Kegonsa. Ken Whitehorse and Mark Isabell set up under the watchful eye of Paul Krueger, with pit help from Daniel Hearn and Damien Luyet. Conditions weren’t ideal, but they managed a few solid rides. For Matt, it was exactly what he needed, time on the boat, learning how it behaves. Ken Whitehorse sent in this report from the day:
New Year Eye Opener – Wisconsin Skeeter Racing
Results:
1st – M197 (Ken Whitehorse)
2nd – Matt Struble (sailing with an “M” on his usual DN number for now)
Mark Isabell – DNSTwo races were sailed. M197 finished first in both. Matt followed, with Isabell DNS. Speeds were good.
M197 carried 50 pounds of lead in the trunk, a winning setup that helped punch through the drifts. Tried to keep that quiet.
Excellent hard ice under the snow. A great day of tuning and racing. Best of all, the boats are safe and back on the trailers.
Huge thanks to Daniel Hearn and Damien Luyet for organizing the day. We’re lucky to have club members like them.
Matt was offered $100, a wheel of cheddar, and a Packers hat to put an “M” on his sails. Mostly kidding. Mostly. Also trying to stack our roster for the Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant of America.
Ken Whitehorse M197
“Now listen up, Enzo and Dash—if anyone tries to port-tack you…”
Midweek also brought a visit from the Geneva Nite gang. Olympic sailor Paris Henken, Harry Melges IV, Kyle Navin, and RJ Porter were among several Nites that rolled in on New Year’s Eve and ripped it up on Lake Kegonsa. Two future 4LIYC members, Dash and Enzo, made their debut on the ice, sailing all day with their grandfather, Daniel Hearn. Geneva Nites pushing off on Lake Kegonsa (short video)
January 3, 2025: Renegade Parts & Trailers in WI
Renegade parts for sale: Planks, springboards and runners.
Also complete C-rigs including like new mast, sail and boom.
$1500
I also have several iceboat trailers for sale.
Madison, WI
Donny Anderson
Boats@madisonboathouse.com
Look, Don’t Touch (From Space) – Mendota & Monona Edition
January 2, 2026 view from space.
This Sentinel satellite image tells the story pretty well.
Lakes Mendota and Monona are currently Swiss cheese after a strange, uneven freeze. However, Lake Kegonsa is locked and covered, consistent and predictable by comparison. Lake Winnebago looks solid from space and remains our most reliable big-lake option right now.
Next week’s forecast shows daytime highs in the upper 30s to low 40s, with a few wet systems mixed in. If that holds, we’re hoping the snow cover on Lake Kegonsa melts down, which would improve surface conditions significantly. That kind of weather is the right direction.
Worth noting: Sentinel satellite imagery is now available through the Copernicus browser, which makes checking current ice conditions faster and easier than before. It’s another useful tool to keep in the kit, but still no substitute for cleats on the ice.
More updates as conditions evolve.
4LIYC Racing News: No Racing for Jan 3-4
Racing postponed. Couch committee is in session.
No 4LIYC racing this weekend, January 3–4, on Lake Kegonsa.
There’s just a bit too much snow at the moment, not nearly as bad as this photo, but enough to keep things marginal coupled with the wind forecast.
We’re optimistic that next week’s warmer temperatures will help improve conditions.
Lake Mendota went over on December 31, so we still have Monona and Mendota in the bank. We’ll continue to keep an eye on all options.
Next 4LIYC racing update: Friday, January 9.
4LIYC Racing News: No New Year’s Day Racing
There will be no club racing on New Year’s Day. (Jan 1, 2026)
Lake Kegonsa ice conditions are currently too marginal, and the light wind forecast doesn’t improve the risk–reward equation.
We’ll check ice conditions again on Friday January 2, with the hope of calling club racing for Saturday and Sunday if things line up.
Updates will be posted once we’ve taken another look.
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed to Jan 10-11
Photo: Rob Resnick Revelations of Design
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 10 and 11, 2026. The next update will be Sunday, January 4. Check back here at that time. Happy New Year.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
No 4LIYC Racing Dec 27 – 28 But Keep Your Runners Sharp
There will be no 4LIYC racing this weekend, December 27 and 28.
With rain in the forecast and recent warm temperatures, we’re taking a break to protect the Kegonsa landing and the racing track. That gives us more racing later. To be clear: Lake Monona looks good but has many holes. We still have Lake Mendota is still in the bank as well.
It’s also a good weekend to slow down and watch Wizard of Zenda, the Buddy Melges documentary. The full film is now on YouTube.
The screenshot here shows Buddy with 4LIYC’s Bill Mattison at an ISA regatta in Lake Geneva, around 1999 with other familiar faces in the background.
As Buddy would say, keep your runners sharp.
Winter looks ready to return Sunday night. We still have a big season ahead. If things line up, we may even be able to race the historic Bloody Mary Eye Opener on January 1, a long-time 4LIYC favorite. Stay tuned.
Holiday Greetings from the 4LIYC!
SOLD! October 30, 2025: 2 Vintage DNs in NY
SOLD! Complete with sails and runners in mint condition. Great recreational boats.
Boats stored inside
Asking $1,000 for the pair
SOLD! December 2, 2025: Nite in WI
SOLD! Nite #113, complete package located in Madison WI.
Includes: Original runners, boom, plank and springboard in great shape. Replacement mast sourced through Bill Mattison – Was told it’s a Sitka mast, came un-finished and only partially shaped when I bought it and was completed in my shop in 2016. Sailed only a few times. New – never used Sailcrafters Nite AP sail as well as a good condition Inland sail. Custom built aluminum trailer with fiberglass storage box (lockable). Trailer is very light and easy to tow, easy to push out on the ice. Only 4 foot wide so it packs in the garage easy. New Harken seat cover and full boat cover. Full mast and plank covers. This boat was rarely used throughout its life, last sailed in 2017 and in storage since. This is a great boat, complete package ready to go. More photos available on request. Madison, WI
Asking $7500
4LIYC Grand Slam Open Report Day 1
Aerial Photos: Jim Stevenson
Day one (Saturday, December 20) of the Grand Slam Open brought Renegades and DNs to Lake Kegonsa. The Nite fleet chose to race locally and when your home club has ice, that’s the right call. That’s how clubs survive and grow.
Ice was hard and bumpy. Everyone agreed with Daniel Hearn’s call of a 6 or 7.
Pat Heppert brought his C Skeeter and spent all of Friday working her around the lake. On Saturday he set the course and ran the races. Pat knew the wind would build. He set the Skeeter up for a 25 mph blow, figuring the day would end with a few extra laps just for him. Those of us still near the leeward mark were in awe when he came around. Fastest many of us have ever seen that boat go. He was clearly having fun.
We ran five races in each fleet.
Renegade highlights came early. Damien Luyet won his first race ever. The fleet opened with a missing man formation in honor of Tim McCormick. Fittingly, cousin Greg won that race. The Renegades mixed it up all day with tight racing. Runner to runner at the leeward mark more than once. You didn’t know who had it until the line. New member Matt Critchley jumped straight into racing. He started the day hanging back and watching. By the end, he was making moves. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
View through a bar window.
In the DN fleet, Chris Berger dominated. So much so that he finished a race early enough to grab the flags and hold the checkers as the rest of the DNs crossed the line while Pat went to move the weather mark. First time I’ve seen that.
There was drama at one DN finish when Frankie Hearn lost a runner just before the finish line. (Pro tip. Always check your bolts.) Frankie kept it together, finished the race, and pointed hard at his plank to get his dad’s attention.
The wind came up hard in the final DN race. The fleet handled it well, turning it into a lesson on managing big downwind pressure and avoiding spinouts. Best part for me was seeing new DN racers out there. With a small fleet, it’s the perfect place to learn. Congratulations to all of you.
As I write this Sunday morning, it’s 10°F. Windy says we may see 6 mph. Enough to move the boats? We’ll find out.
Thanks to everyone who came out. One of the best parts of the day was ending it at Springers, some arriving by iceboat, replaying the races and warming up with a hot meal and a beverage.
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
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