Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association

WSSA

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: 2022 WSSA Postponed to Feb 12 – 13

by Deb Whitehorse | Feb 1, 2022 | Home Page, Regattas, WSSA

ACE OF SPADES, 2010 Northwest on Lake Winnebago. Photo: Kevin Chapman

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 12 – 13, 2022. The next update will be Sunday, February 6. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

In The News: Gratton & Kroll Back in Action

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 31, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page, WSSA

Via the Oshkosh, WI Herald

Andy Gratton and Michael Kroll were the first in the Oshkosh area to iceboat this year off south shore, launching from the Fugleberg Park landing recently. Both live nearby in Oshkosh so when any equipment breaks or needs replacement, it is a quick trip home for the needed parts.
Continue reading.

Hudson River Stern Steerers Come Out to Play

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 24, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page, WSSA

VIXEN, Photo via White Wings and Black Ice. Photo Credit: Robert Near

It’s always a big occasion when America’s founding iceboats, the classic Hudson River stern-steerers, are able to get on the ice. Stay tuned to Brian Reed’s “White Wings and Black Ice” in the coming days keep up to date on the Hudson River iceboating scene.

The extended cold in 2022 has brought us good ice in several locations in the Hudson Valley. On Saturday Vixen was assembled at the NYS boat launch at Murderers Creek, in Athens, NY, and by Sunday afternoon there were 5 vintage stern steerers and an Arrow. Continue reading.

WSSA Postponed

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 23, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page, Regattas, WSSA

Photo: Gretchen Dorian

Via WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton: The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 5 and 6. The next update will be Sunday, January 30. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.

Is this too rough? Green Bay

Regatta Watch: 2022 WSSA Postponed

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 16, 2022 | Home Page, Regattas, WSSA

Via Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Secretary Andy Gratton

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 29 and 30. The next update will be Sunday, January 23. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.
Winnebago has over 12″ of older ice, 10″ on newer, but too much snow and rough seams on the black ice. Mendota doesn’t have the 12″ thickness and is not likely to grow enough by the weekend.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 6, 2022 | Home Page, Regattas, WSSA

Advertising image via Henry Bossett.

Via Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Secretary/ Treasurer Andy Gratton

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 22 and 23. The next update will be Sunday, January 16. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Bobcat On Ice

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 4, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page, WSSA

A short video via Andy Gratton. Minnesota ice sailor Kurt Martinson’s pandemic project was to convert a Bolger Bobcat (an adaptation of the Beetle Cat.)

Via Kurt Martinson: Hoping for enough wind to power thru some snow cover tomorrow. It’s a Bolger Bobcat I converted. 12’x 6’ plus the bowsprit. A pandemic project. Still working on getting the sail plan balanced. Think ice.

Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed

by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 1, 2022 | Home Page, Regattas, WSSA

MICHIGANDER

WSSA Home Page

Via Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Secretary Andy Gratton:

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 15 and 16. The next update will be Sunday, January 9. Check back here at that time. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association regatta takes precedence.
Some places on Winnebago have 4 to 6 inches with 1/2″ of snow. Sailing has occurred there.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

Iceboating in the Olympics

by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 23, 2021 | Home Page, WSSA

John Buckstaff Archives
Ice sailing as an Olympic event has been a hot topic in the DN class for years. (See Runner Tracks, September 2017 for that story.) Iceboat sail maker and historian, Henry Bossett, has come across an extraordinary 1933 Oshkosh, WI newspaper article about John Buckstaff receiving an invitation from the German Yachting Union to compete at the 1936 Olympics. I can find no mention in further news reports as to what transpired. For now, here’s the article that ran in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Click on the newspaper column image to enlarge it.
Tip of the Helmet: Henry!