WSSA

Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association

Stern Steerers

Where it all began.

Innovation

Modern hardware and improvements in aerodynamic rigs
have allowed today’s stern-steerer to easily outclass its ancestors.

Class A Stern Steerer

Class A Stern Steerers carry a sail area of over 600 square feet.

Class B Stern Steerer

Class B Stern Steerers carry a sail area between 450 to 650 square feet.

Class C Stern Steerer

Class C Stern Steerers carry a sail area between 350 to 450 square feet.

Class D Stern Steerer

Class D Stern Steerers carry a sail area less than 350 square feet.

Tradition

Tradition-oriented skippers and crews maintain an active class organization.

Looking Forward

The renaissance of the big boats, especially the big A Boats,
is one of the best stories in our sport in recent years.

Regatta Watch: 2026 WSSA Postponed

Stern-Steerers on Lake Monona at the 2016 Northwest. Photo: Joe Stanton

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 21 and 22, 2026. The next update will be Sunday, Feb 15. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence and has been scheduled for this coming weekend, Feb 13-15.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

In The News – AFTER 135 YEARS, RED BANK ICE BOATERS RELINQUISH CUP

Photo: Brian Donahue for Red Bank Green

ice sailors never forget! Talk about patience, this is next level. Congratulations to the Hudson River crew on winning back the Van Nostrand Cup after 135 years and for keeping this remarkable piece of ice sailing history alive. And thank you to Red Bank Green, the independent local news outlet, for giving this regatta practically play by play and for their continuing coverage of ice sailing at Red Banks.

As the boat built by 19th-century architect Archibald Rogers came to a stop after their second straight win in the best of three, skipper Luke Lawrence and sheet tender Max Lopez exchanged hugs and gloved high fives with friends and family. One of several drones filming the action crashed into the sail and fell to the ice.

Then, Lawrence paused for a quiet emotional moment, kneeling silently in the basket amid the hoots and hubbub.

“I did this one for pop pop,” he said a few moments later, referring to his grandfather, Bob Lawrence, a boat builder and sailor. “He won a lot of stuff, but never this one. So this one is for him. Read more

Regatta Watch: WSSA Tentatively Called ON for Feb 14-15 @ Green Lake, WI

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta for 2026 has been tentatively called on for February 14 and 15. The site selected is Green Lake. Final confirmation will be made by 1 PM Thursday, February 12. Check back here after that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association has scheduled their regatta for the same weekend and place, that regatta takes precedence. There is some snow on the ice that needs to melt down, or at least remain soft for the regatta.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasure

Regatta Watch: Northwest Tentatively Called On for Green Lake, WI Feb 13-15

Sebastion Sørensen. Photo: Rachel Bartel for @harken_inc

The NIYA Race Committee has tentatively called the Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Championship Regatta on starting Friday February 13th at Green Lake Wisconsin.

The final call will be made after an ice check on Wednesday February 10th at noon.

Steve Schalk

Secretary/Treasurer

NIYA

The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association regatta was first sailed in Menominee, Michigan, in 1913. Originally a Stern-Steerer regatta, it now also includes Skeeters, Renegades, and DNs.
Northwest Home Page

In The News: Iceboats Create a Frenzy

Photo: Red Bank Green

Iceboats returned to the frozen Navesink River and Red Bank, New Jersey reacted like Taylor Swift was in town. Fences were treated as optional, everyone wanted a front-row view.

Our good friends at the historic North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club and the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club are back racing for a Tiffany silver cup first made in 1886, while the public presses toward the ice like it’s the pit at Madison Square Garden. When iceboats appear, winter suddenly has a main event.

 

RED BANK: ICE BOATING “AMERICA’S CUP” ON TAP, WITH WARNINGS
By BRIAN DONOHUE

Stay out of the way of the ice boats. And stay off the construction site.

Those are the messages being sent by dual entities as Red Bank gets set to host the Van Nostrand Cup, an ice boat contest the NY Times in 2003 called possibly “the oldest and longest-deferred grudge match in sports history.”

For a second straight weekend, the frozen Navesink River is likely to draw not only ice boat race spectators to see it, but visitors looking to skate, frolic, or shoot selfies. Continue reading.

Regatta Watch: 2026 WSSA Postponed to Feb 14 – 15

Stern-Steerers at the 2025 Northwest- Photo by Rob Resnick

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 14 and 15 due to lack of wind for this weekend. The next update will be Sunday, February 8. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Regatta Watch: WSSA Tentatively Called ON for Green Lake Feb 7 – 8 @ Green Lake

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta for 2026 has been tentatively called on for February 7 and 8. The site selected is Green Lake. Final confirmation will be made by 1 PM Thursday, February 5. Check back here after that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association has scheduled their regatta for the same weekend and place, that regatta takes precedence.

Andy Gratton

WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Contact

WISCONSIN ICE BOATING HOTLINE 608-204-9876

WSSA DUES
W.S.S.A. dues are $20.00 and can be mailed to Andy Gratton at the following address:

W.S.S.A.
c/o Andy Gratton, Secretary/Treasure
2102 Doty Street
Oshkosh, WI. 54902

***NOTICE*** Due to the high cost of “snail” mailing newsletters it is encouraged that you send in your $20 dues and an e-mail address. If not, your name MAY be removed from the mailing list. If you are no longer interested in receiving the newsletter please respond or email to Andy Gratton