2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
Regatta Watch: 2021 Renegade Championship Called ON for Jan 15-17
Via International Renegade Ice Yacht Association Regatta Chairman Don Anderson:
The 2021 Renegade Championship has been tentatively called on for January 15-17, 2021. Primary site is Lake Mendota for this 3 day event. We are keeping an eye on the weather and will make final confirmation on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 by 1 PM CT.
Mendota Declared Safe for Canines by Area Coyote
An area coyote took advantage of Lake Mendota’s emptiness for a pleasant lake stroll on Saturday morning, January 9. He was last seen heading towards the Edgewater Hotel, presumably for breakfast. Tip of the Helmet: Jeff Russell
Land of the Polar Night
While we wait for ice, Norwegian ice sailors share videos and photos from Soløyvatnet Lake near Bodø, where the scenery is incredible. They appear to take advantage of every drop of daylight with a narrow window of opportunity to sail. The sun rises in Bodø at 10:30 AM and sets at 1:48 PM.
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed to Jan 23-24
Class C Stern Steerer: TWIN BEDS Peter McCormick Photo: Gretchen Dorian
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 23 and 24, 2021. The next update will be Sunday, January 17. Check back here at that time.
We still need more cold air, so get your friends to leave their freezer open, too.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
SOLD! November 4, 2020: DN in NY
SOLD! DN: Wooden mast (or an aluminum mast, or both), plate runners, wooden boom, nice sail. Very nice DN.
I have two of these available.
$1500
$900
SOLD! January 4, 2021: Nite in MI
SOLD! Nite #373 for sale, built in the 1980’s
Hull is in like new condition, never painter, repaired or left in the weather.
3 pristine, clean, crisp sails. Sails have had minimal use.
2 sets of cockpit cushions.
Extra set of new stays.
2 Jofa helmuts.
Sarns runner sharpening jig.
Ice screw and 3 horses.
Safety flares.
Padded runner carrier.
Trailer with new spare tire.
SOLD! November 30, 2020: DN Hull in MI
SOLD! DN Hull
Sitka Spruce with steering bushings .
Comes with misc. hardware
Located in Michigan.
Can help with delivery.
$600.00
Ice Invaders
Big lake, big ice, big booming Skeeter hike on Lake Winnebago at the 2010 Northwest Regatta. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Are you ready for some legendary arms-falling-off-from-pulling-sheet ice on big inland lakes? If we believe the weather forecasts this far out, ice sailing hotspots in Wisconsin like Menominee, Lakes Geneva, Winnebago, and Green should be coming online in the next two weeks. Fingers crossed.
Accuweather: Polar vortex set to unleash coldest air of season yet in US
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Jan. 9, 2021 3:11 AM CST
Accuweather January forecast for Madison, WI as of January 9, 2021.
SOLD! December 14, 2020: Nite in Montana
SOLD! Nite in Montana
The boat is “STORMIN” which came from Michigan, and now lives in Montana (Bozeman). It’s in good condition. Includes full set of covers, a Nite sail, straight mast, and full set of cockpit cushions. Runners not included; no trailer. Its been fun – selling because I have too many boats; downsizing! Always stored indoors.
$2300 obo.
4LIYC Club Racing Update for Jan 9-10, 2021
Greg Whitehorse sailing his Renegade BLADE RUNNER on Lake Monona
There will be no Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing for the weekend of January 9-10, 2021. Club members have been keeping a close watch on area lakes. Lakes Kegonsa and Monona are snow-covered. Lake Mendota’s “slow growth” ice holds much promise but needs a few more days of colder temperatures. The next update will be on Friday, January 15, 2021.
SOLD! January 5, 2021: Skeeter Runners in MT
Asking $600.00 or best offer, plus shipping from Montana.
SOLD! December 7, 2020: Skeeter in Iowa
SOLD! Class-A Skeeter with trailer and full covers. Good, solid iceboat.
$2,500
Clear Lake, Iowa
SOLD! December 8, 2020: Yankee
Turnkey iceboat, ready to sail this season with no work!
MUST SELL, no longer have room to store the boat
Located in Southampton, NY (eastern Long Island)
Always stored indoors
One of a few “Bite Me” boats (BITE ME in large letters is on the bottom of the boat, visible when you hike)
Meticulously restored by Keith Kennedy of NJ
One of the nicest looking Yankees you will ever see, all in outstanding condition
23ft mast, 18ft plan
Custom seat cushions in cockpit
Amazing paint job, pin striping and lettering
Dual steering, wheel and foot pedals
Two hull covers (storage and on ice)
Covers for plank, mast and sails
2 sails (one racing, one cruising)
Two sets of stainless runners (like new)
Hand brake
Custom trailer with storage box for runners and tools
Originally $6,500, price lowered to $4,500 firm
Regatta Watch: 2021 Renegade Championship Postponed
Via Renegade Secretary Ron Rosten:
The 2021 Renegade Championship has been postponed until January 15-17, 2021. The next update will be on Sunday, January 10, 2021.
News We Can Use: Polar Vortex Making an Appearance
Enjoying the Vortex
via Accuweather:
“Many of the chips are beginning to line up to suggest we will see a shift of the polar vortex and an Arctic invasion across the central and eastern U.S. and Canada toward the end of the month,” Pastelok warns.
“The pattern also looks favorable for the bitter Arctic blast to be ushered in by a big storm somewhere in the eastern U.S.”
“Enjoy the ‘warmth’ while it lasts,” Anderson says, “because Old Man Winter is looking to return with a vengeance.” Read more.
Regatta Watch: 2021 WI Stern-Steerers Championship Postponed
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 16 and 17, 2021. The next update will be Sunday, January 10. Check back here at that time.
We need more cold air, so if everyone leaves their freezer open it may help grow ice thickness on the lakes. This would be easier than making lighter boats.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
SOLD! December 23, 2020: Nite Trailer in WI
SOLD! NITE or small Skeeter galvanized trailer.
New tires, wiring and a Windward Boatworks sail/gear box.
Excellent condition.
$1000
$800
Wisconsin
The History of Iceboating Presentation
Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2020
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Your most comfortable chair
Zoom alert! 4LIYC members, you won’t want to miss this one, a PowerPoint presentation from Archie Call about the history and development of iceboating. Archie has made some significant discoveries about who exactly was the first to iceboat in America and the Hudson River-style iceboat lineage. Archie will also take questions during the presentation; please mute your microphone unless you have a comment or question for Archie. Watch for the link to the Zoom presentation in your email box.
Archie sailed Renegades for 46 years with the Toledo Ice Yacht Club and the 4LIYC and retired in 2017 from active sailing. Archie has worn many hats during his life, including computer programmer, production manager, manufacturing operations researcher, data scientist, and system IT management. He’s been busy giving talks on various topics such as U.S. Twelve Square Mile Reserve Survey: 1805, DNA: The code of all life, Human Mortality, Roads in America, Historic survey of Perrysburg in 1816, and Ice Boating on the Inland Seas.
Archie Call sailing his Renegade on Lake Mendota in 2011. Photo: Robert Resnick
Canyon Ferry, MT Report
Happy to see boats and sailors on the ice as we wait for conditions to improve here in the Four Lakes area. Thanks to MN ice sailor Mike Bloom for sending along.
Why snow ski when you’ve got ice!
Three Powder Hounds from Big Sky Montana, John Loomis, Russ Lucas and Jim Haeger, spent New Year’s Day iceboating with David Gluek on Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Thanks go to David for taking the picture.
Ice Glamping
Some enterprising folks on Airbnb are offering an opportunity to camp in a glamorous Oshkosh, WI “ice cave.” The ad brought to mind Andy Gratton’s recent visit to Lake Christina in Minnesota, where he sailed his new blue Renegade. Andy did something he said he always wanted to do; he pitched his tent and slept on the ice. Thanks, Andy, for being a good sport and letting me have some fun with this parody ad.
New! ISA News & Views Newsletter Archive
