2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
January 9, 2025: DN in Poland
DN
Complete package
2 sets of Runners
$7000 USD
Poland
choomik44@gmail.
4LIYC Racing News: No Racing for Jan 10-11
Lake Kegonsa, January 9, 2026.
Iceboating is a bit like Goldilocks; we need conditions to be just right. Right now, we have too many ice holes.
Last weekend, snow on Lake Kegonsa kept us off the ice. This week’s rain and warm temperatures cleared much of that snow, but the same weather also created too many drain holes for safe sailing. Saturday’s forecast includes some snow, followed by colder temperatures. A few club members plan to check the lake again early Sunday morning to assess conditions and determine whether scrub racing is possible. Next update for 4LIYC racing is January 16.
Here’s the ice report straight from Damien:
The Zamboni has done a good job on Kegonsa snow cover. If not for iced drifts 1-1.5” tall, the surface would be an 8-9, but the inclusions bring that down to a roughish ride likely so 5-6. The landing is still good. The main issue is the holes! Any ice fishing hole from the last 2 weeks is open and growing. There are series of them that would eat a whole iceboat runner.
What the Daily Cardinal Adds to the Lindbergh Iceboating Story
PREVIOUS: Throw Back Thursday: Charles Lindbergh Learned About Speed on Lake Mendota’s Ice
Meade Gougeon’s Essential “Evolution of Modern Sailboat Design”
While we wait for Mother Nature’s super Zamboni to finish its work, with rain turning to snow over the next couple of days, there is time to look backward. A dive into the Daily Cardinal archives turned up an unexpected addition to Madison’s iceboating story.
The recent post about the UW student film Not Responsible led me into the University of Wisconsin newspaper The Daily Cardinal archives. While looking for references tied to the film, I started poking around more broadly to see what the paper had written about iceboating.
Iceboating appears in the Daily Cardinal from the late nineteenth century onward, and by the 1920s it was treated as routine winter life on campus. Boats were raced, rented, and rarely explained to readers. The paper assumed its audience already understood what iceboats were and how they fit into life on Lake Mendota.
One of the things I found along the way was a small but important addition to the Charles Lindbergh story in Madison.
For years, Lindbergh’s connection to iceboating here has been told through a story that centers on the motorized ice craft he helped build on Lake Mendota in 1921, powered by a motorcycle engine geared to an airplane propeller. That account is well documented, and it still stands.
What the Daily Cardinal archive adds is one more fact. In a 1929 article reflecting on Lindbergh’s Wisconsin years, the paper notes, without emphasis, that he owned an iceboat while he was a student. Iceboating was part of ordinary winter life on Lake Mendota at the time.
Lindbergh’s motorized iceboat looks like an extension of something he already understood well, speed on ice.
Family context helps explain why. Lindbergh’s maternal grandmother was a Lodge from Detroit, and his cousin Joe Lodge (part of the trio who designed the DN) was an active iceboater there. Detroit, like Madison, was a center of iceboating and mechanical experimentation in the early twentieth century. Iceboats there were not just raced but modified, tuned, and pushed. Lindbergh arrived in Madison already comfortable with machines, ice, and speed.
A later source adds more to Lindbergh’s connection to iceboating. In Evolution of Modern Sailboat Design, Meade Gougeon notes that Lindbergh is said to have assisted his cousin Joe Lodge with the design of a highly advanced rig installed on the Class A stern steerer DEUCE II in the mid 1930s. The boat featured a rotating wing mast believed to be the first of its kind. Although DEUCE II suffered repeated rigging failures, the concept carried forward, and Lodge went on to win the Stuart Cup and Hearst International Trophy in 1938 with the rebuilt DEUCE III. The account suggests that Lindbergh’s interest in iceboating did not end in Madison, but extended into later experimentation at the highest level of the sport.
SOLD! January 6, 2026: DN in OH
SOLD! DN US807
- Blue Clone Hull
- Kent Mast
- Luks Plank
- Extra Plank, Extra chocks
- Three sails (ABSS, 1D Power, North All-Speed)
- Fortsmann Boom
- Carbon C2C Tiller
- Covers for everything (hull, plank, mast, boom, runners)
- 7 Sets of runners (3/16, 1/4, slipper, slush, plates)
- Runner gun box
- Runner Aligners
- Runner Sharper (Bob Rast-style)
- Runner Sharpening flat/light for crown checking
Priced to sell at $7,500.
Equipment is located in Toledo, OH.
Also available:
SOLD! Composite Concepts “Steve-O” hull with hardware.
Minimum weight – Natural Finish. $2,500
Located in Toledo, OH.
January 6, 2025: Wanted: Dock Box for Trailer
Dock box for iceboat trailer.
Ideally ~10 ft fiberglass, but open to other options.
Located in southern Wisconsin; willing to travel for the right box.
(513) 560-7334
Iceboats on Film: A Lost UW Movie and an Edison First
How This Started
A brief glimpse of a mention of an iceboat movie, shared by a University of Wisconsin–affiliated Facebook account, sent me down the rabbit hole again. The link vanished almost immediately, but the fragment was enough to send me looking.
The Varsity Movie
The program belonged to a University of Wisconsin student silent film titled The Varsity Movie: “Not Responsible.” It was produced by the Edward Booth Dramatic Club and screened publicly in Madison theaters. It was shot on location around Madison, involved dozens of students and faculty, and was promoted at the time as something new. Link to program.
An Iceboat at the Center of the Story
What caught my attention was the plot.
YELLOW KID
According to multiple 1921 newspaper articles and the program text itself, a central element of the story is an iceboat race. When the male lead is unable to compete, the female lead takes his place, sails the race, and wins.
They did not have to search far for iceboats. William Bernard’s Lake Mendota iceboat rentals were a short walk from campus. The program indicates that filming used two Bernard stern steerers, PROM QUEEN and the better-known YELLOW KID.
Looking through the iceboat.org archives, YELLOW KID appears repeatedly, including in accounts of a race against an automobile. I have not been able to find an independent record of PROM QUEEN. It may have been renamed for the film, or it may have been a lesser-documented Bernard yacht.
What Survives and What Does Not
At that point, the question stopped being whether this was a serious production and became something else. Where does this sit in the history of iceboats on film?
Only paper appears to survive from the UW film. The program, cast lists, production credits, reviews, and newspaper coverage all exist. So far, no film elements have surfaced. I have contacted the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research to determine whether anything survives off catalog.
Even if the film itself is lost, the documentation is clear enough to establish that iceboat racing was used as a narrative device in a motion picture by 1921.
Looking for the Earliest Iceboat on Film
That discovery led to a larger question. What is the earliest filmed iceboating we can actually identify?
Rather than start from scratch, I reached out to iceboat historian and sailmaker Henry Bossett. He pointed me to an Edison actuality titled Ice-Boat Racing at Redbank, N.J., filmed in 1904.
This makes historical sense. By 1904, the Edison Manufacturing Company was actively producing short actuality films, with operations based in West Orange, New Jersey. Red Bank was nearby, and the region was a well-established center of ice yachting.
That Edison film now appears to be the earliest documented motion picture depiction of ice yachting that we can identify with confidence, at least in North America. Link to video.
Narrative Versus Actuality
Seen in that context, the UW film occupies a different and still important place because it may represent the earliest known narrative use of iceboat racing in a motion picture.
Henry also reminded me of a later silent feature, Fascinating Youth from 1926, which is sometimes mentioned in discussions of early youth or collegiate films. Fascinating Youth is a full Hollywood studio production, filled with established stars and directed by Sam Wood. There is no personnel or production connection to the UW film.
Thematically, it belongs to a popular 1920s genre of college stories, not to the experimental, institutionally supported student filmmaking seen at UW in 1921.
Why the UW Film Still Matters
The UW film appears to have been exactly what it looks like. A serious student production, endorsed by faculty, ambitious in scope, and willing to put people and equipment out on winter ice to get the shots.
One participant was Carl Russell Fish, a nationally known historian and senior faculty member. His involvement underscores that this was not treated as a joke or a stunt.
So Far, the Picture Looks Like This
In 1904, iceboat racing is filmed as actuality by Edison. By 1921, iceboat racing is embedded in a narrative student film in Madison. By the mid 1930s, Wisconsin ice regattas are being filmed for international newsreels with clear terminology and context.
The UW film tells us that iceboating was visually compelling, culturally familiar, and narratively useful far earlier than most people assume.
SOLD December 8, 2025: Sharpening Jigs in WI
SOLD! I have two jigs for sharpening iceboat runners. These work great with a simple belt sander. Each jig selling for $50. Easily shipped.
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.
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