International Skeeter Association Regatta
The International Skeeter Association (ISA) was organized in the late 1930s and the first ISA regatta was sailed in 1940. Skeeters were developed on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. They are piloted by a single skipper and steer from the front of the boat as opposed to the original iceboats which were crewed by two or more and steered from the rear.
The Skeeter is the “Formula One” of ice yachting, a wide open development class where state-of-the-art sailing is seen annually. The only restriction on the Skeeter builder is a 75 square foot sail maximum sail area. While the basic configuration for successful E Skeeters has long been established, significant design improvements have been developed within the Four Lakes fleet. Taller rigs and rear seat Skeeters designed and built by 4LIYC members Bill Mattison and Paul Krueger have brought world championship titles to Madison skippers. In 1989, New Jersey’s Dan Clapp took the ice boating world by storm with his first front-seater and dominated the ISA regatta during the 1990s. Skeeter builders are adept with high tech materials like carbon fiber, and Kevlar. The super powerful Skeeters are the fastest boats on the ice. Sufficiently committed skippers find the greatest challenge in these boats, where design, building, and maintenance skills share equal roles with sailing ability
REGISTER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SKEETER ASSOCIATION REGATTA
INTERNATIONAL SKEETER ASSOCIATION DUES NOTICE
NEW! Pay your ISA dues online here.
Or pay through the U.S. Mail: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT AN ISA MEMBERSHIP FORM
President Jason Thompson
jsthompsdds@hotmail.com
Vice President Pat Heppert
Pat.T.Heppert@saint-gobain.com
Secretary/Treas. Steve Schalk
W6001 Brick Church Rd
Fontana, WI 53125
262-275-2871
I564@charter.net
The annual dues are $25.00 for the 2023-2023 season, payable to:
International Skeeter Association
Steve Schalk, W6001 Brick Church RD, Fontana, WI 53125
December 1st, 2023 is the deadline for new items to be placed on the 2024 agenda.
January 12, 13, & 14, 2023 (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) is the first scheduled weekend for the 2024 Regatta.
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to March 21-23
Very warm temperatures upcoming for next weekend have moved the 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship out a week to March 21-23. A cool down is forecast starting Sunday the 16 giving a chance for some sailable ice in the vicinity of Boulder Junction, WI for the 21. Next update March 16.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to March 14-16
The ISA and Renegade championship regatta for 2025 is postponed to March 14th -16th, 2025. The Race Committee is hoping for a freezing period to stabilize some of the locations that still have thick ice. Next update, Sunday, March 9, 2025.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to March 7 – 9
Photo: Kevin Chapman
The ISA Race Committee has postponed the regatta to March 7-9, 2025.. The weather forecast of high temperatures and high winds for February 28th made it impossible to predict the ice condition for the following two days, and the Sunday wind forecast made it unlikely to get two race days in any case.
The forecast ahead looks very promising for both Lake City (24” of ice) and Madison (18” of ice). Temperatures go to 40 degree highs with mid 20 degree lows, with at least half of each 24 hours below freezing.
Both locations will be sailed and thoroughly checked prior to March 7th. We have a good chance for a solid three day regatta this time, so check your equipment and sharpen your runners. Next update is Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Called ON for Lake City, MN
Photo: Will Johnston
The 2025 ISA and Renegade Championship are on for Lake City, Minnesota for Friday February 28th, Saturday March 1st and Sunday March 2nd 2025. The ice thickness is over 18 inches of smooth black stuff.
The snow cover is now an average of 2” but it will likely be gone by the time the Wednesday check is done, based on the forecast temperatures upcoming.
The final call will be made by noon Wednesday February 26th. Next update will be Wednesday, February 26.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to Feb 28, March 1-2
Gretchen Dorian Photo
The ISA & Renegade Championship have been postponed to February 28th, March 1st and 2nd, 2025. All racing areas are snowbound right now, but a warm up is coming. The next update will be Sunday February 23rd.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to Feb 21 – 23
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
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Tentatively Called On for Feb 14 – 16
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
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to Feb14 – 16
Via ISA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk
The 2025 ISA and Renegade Championship has been postponed until February 14 – 16. The weather forecast of little to no wind on Friday, with a full day of vision blocking snow on Saturday made the decision to postpone clear.The next update will be posted here on Sunday, February 9.
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Tentatively Called ON for Feb 7-9
Greg McCormick sailing a Renegade on Lake Monona, Feb 2, 2025. Photo: Marcus Berghahn
Via International Skeeter Association Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk
The 2025 International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championship regattas are tentatively called on for the February 7 – 9.
Primary site is Lake Monona, Madison, WI. Secondary site is Lake Pepin, Lake City, MN. Final confirmation will be made by Wednesday, February 5, by noon.Steve Schalk
Secretary / Treasurer ISA
Regatta Watch: 2025 International Skeeter Association Regatta Postponed to Feb 7 – 9
Pat Heppert in his C Skeeter DRIFTER at the 2025 Northwest on Lake Winnebago, Fond Du Lac, WI. Photo by Jim Koepnick. See all Jim’s photos here.
Via ISA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk
The 2025 ISA Championship Regatta is postponed to Friday February 7th, 8th, and 9th 2025.
A week is being put in between the completed NIYA and the ISA.
With lots of ice thickness, warming temps may open up more locations. Next update is Sunday, February 2 2025.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: 2025 International Skeeter Association Regatta Postponed
E Skeeter: Dan Clapp
ISA Home Page
Via ISA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:
The International Skeeter Association Championship is postponed one week while the NIYA Championship is being sailed.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: 2025 Northwest Called ON for Fond du Lac Jan 17-19
ACE OF SPADES & LITTLE WIND line up to race.
Via NIYA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk
The 2025 NIYA Regatta is called on for Fond Du Lac,, January 17 – 19 with the final call at noon Wednesday January 15th. Launch will be drive on at the Sunset Bar.
UPDATE: The International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championship regattas are postponed. The NIYA regatta takes precedence.
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to January 17-19
The ISA and Renegade Championships are postponed a week.
It appears that multiple potential destinations for the regatta will need to be checked in the week ahead to locate the best ice. Next update is January 12, 2025.
Steve Schalk
ISA Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association Updates – 2025 Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, and Dues
B Skeeters on Lake Monona. Photo: Will Johnston
ISA Home Page
Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions & Conditions
Annual Meeting Agenda Items
The 2025 Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, and Annual Meeting Agenda items are now available online! Be sure to review them and prepare for another great season.
Additionally, if you’re not up to date on your ISA dues, now is the time to take care of it. A list of current paid members has been uploaded for your convenience. (See it here.) If you don’t see your name on the list, you can quickly pay your dues online here.
Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s get ready for the 2025 season!
ISA & Renegade Championship Regatta Recap
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
ISA & Renegade Championship Results
The final day of the ISA Regatta was a challenging one, with foggy, overcast, and damp conditions that limited visibility in the morning. Fortunately, the wind was steady enough for racing, though the Race Committee postponed the start in hopes of weather improvement.
The B Skeeters decided to conclude their regatta early, holding their trophy ceremony on the ice before heading back to Lake Geneva. The A Skeeters also opted not to race, celebrating their champions with a trophy presentation on the ice. Meanwhile, the Renegades and Nite fleets stayed out later in the morning and managed to get in some solid racing before calling it a day.
By the afternoon, all participants gathered at the Water’s Edge Restaurant to warm up with hot chili and hold the regatta’s final trophy ceremony.
A special thanks to everyone who made this regatta possible: Ann Foeller, working remotely from Toledo, Ohio, for tabulating results for both the ISA and DN Western Region Championship; Julie Jankowski and Fred Stritt, for monitoring the weather mark on both courses; John Dennis, the ISA Regatta Chair, for organizing a successful event; and Pat Heppert for keeping the schedule on track. We’re also grateful to veteran photographer Gretchen Dorian for her coverage. Although she couldn’t make it to the ISA course, you can spot the Skeeters in the background of her always amazing DN photos. And finally, our heartfelt thanks to the people of Starbuck, Minnesota, for their always warm welcome and to the Water’s Edge Restaurant for graciously putting up with us throughout the event
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