A Night to Remember: 4LIYC Spring Gathering Honors Krueger and Simon
The 4LIYC Spring Gathering at Breakwater turned into something better than a banquet and more like a family reunion with old friends, new sailors, and people who had not seen one another in years. What made the evening even more meaningful was that it unfolded as a surprise for Paul Krueger and Jerry Simon, a room full of people gathered to recognize them without their knowing it in advance.
The turnout reflected the depth of the club, with many making the trip from a distance to be there. There were too many to name without risking leaving someone out, but the effort it took for people to show up was not lost on anyone in the room. The evening focused on honoring two longtime members whose influence runs through both the club and the sport, Paul Krueger and Jerry Simon.
Paul Krueger
Greg Whitehorse traced Paul’s path back to the 1950s, when he was introduced to iceboating by Tom Krehl, and followed it through decades of racing, building, and leadership that shaped not only his own career but the direction of the Skeeter class itself. Along the way, Greg pointed to a strong connection between ice sailing and open wheel auto racing, a world in which Paul was equally accomplished, running a successful midget racing team and later earning recognition in both the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association and the National Midget Racing Hall of Fame. That crossover between ice and track has long been part of the culture, and Paul stood at the center of it.
Paul’s influence extended well beyond results, reaching into the evolution of design as he helped move the class from under the boom configurations to rear seaters and forward into the modern era, adapting as conditions and materials changed and often anticipating those changes before others did.
For nearly forty years, Paul served as Secretary Treasurer of the International Skeeter Association and the Northwest. Greg described him as someone who, in sports often driven by strong personalities, had a way of keeping things running smoothly by settling disputes and unruffling feathers. Read Greg’s full tribute: LINK
Jerry Simon
Jerry Simon
If Paul’s legacy reflects continuity and leadership, Jerry Simon’s reflects a lasting contribution that continues to show itself in the boats on the ice and the work behind the scenes. During his racing career, Jerry won two Renegade Championships and one Northwest Championship, yet his influence did not fade when he stepped away from competition.
Instead, Jerry made sure the boats he built found their way into the hands of sailors who would keep them active, and he turned his attention toward supporting the club and the Mary B and Iceboat Foundation, taking on the work that holds things together. In his own words, the reward has been simple, seeing the boats he built still sailing, which for him remains the best possible outcome.
He also brought attention back to a piece of club identity that once marked its presence at regattas, the red jackets worn in the 1970s that made it clear who you were and where you came from. His call to bring them back carried both humor and intent, a reminder that tradition does not maintain itself without someone willing to carry it forward. Read Jerry’s full remarks: LINK
Our Community
Throughout the evening, one idea surfaced again and again, not as a slogan but as something understood through experience, people show up. That idea came into focus through the story of the MARY B recovery, when honeycombed ice and a warm spell contributed to the MARY B and its trailer sinking into the ice at the landing. A call for help went out, bringing a response that included a large construction crane, waders, tools, and a group of sailors willing to spend the time and effort required to get the boat and trailer back to shore. (Somehow, the entire episode stayed off social media!)
There was also a glimpse of the future in the room. Daniel Hearn’s grandsons, both under six years old, brought energy that was hard to miss as they moved through the crowd. Whether they remember the night or not, they are already being steeped in the rhythms of the ice sailing community, and it was a pleasure to watch them take it all in.
The Season That Was
There was not much local sailing this winter, though one weekend on Lake Kegonsa delivered the Grand Slam. The season opened with a missing man formation for Renegader Tim McCormick, setting a tone that carried through the gathering. Grand Slam winners in both the Renegade and DN fleets were recognized, along with highlights from the ISA regatta in Green Lake, Wisconsin.
Looking Ahead
This night made it clear that the club is not defined by conditions alone. It depends on people, those who built it over time, those who continue to carry it forward, and those just beginning to find their place within it. When the ice returns, as it always does, the group will be ready to meet it again.
Speaking of iceboat frenzy, for a little of our own Four Lakes frenzy, head down to the Edgewater this weekend (February 7 – 8). The MARY B is on display on Lake Mendota at Frozen Assets.
It was a beautiful evening yesterday at the 4LIYC trophy banquet at the Mariner’s Inn on Lake Mendota. With the lake just steps away and the venue decorated in a nautical theme, it couldn’t have been a more suitable setting for an ice sailing gathering. We’re going to miss that restaurant — and after last night, we’re even more grateful for the many years the von Rutenberg family has supported the sailing community.
Renegader Don Anderson served as the evening’s master of ceremonies. He reminded us of the von Rutenbergs’ long history with sailing and the famous Edgewater to Mariner’s race that used to take place in softwater days on Lake Mendota. It was a casual race where simply not falling in was considered a win.
The von Rutenberg family’s generosity didn’t stop at hosting us — they also donated a raffle prize: a spot on their famous Betty Lou Cruise. Barb Sanford won the raffle, which was especially fun because her husband, Nite sailor Don Sanford, was a longtime captain of the Betty Lou Cruise boats!
Before dinner, we gathered in the bar to mingle and catch up. It was amazing to see so many out-of-town guests, including IDNIYRA Commodore (and stern steerer owner) David Frost, who made the trip from Michigan via Thunder Bay, Ontario where he had hoped to get one last DN ride in. Andy Gratton came down from Fond du Lac, and George Gerhardt joined us from Oshkosh — strong stern steerer representation all around. Pete Johns also made the trip from Illinois, combining the banquet with picking up a brand-new Ron Sherry DN hull. We were also happy to see Maureen Bohleber from Green Lake and long-time club member Gary Sternberg in the crowd.
Even though we sat for dinner a bit earlier than planned, it worked out perfectly. Ken Whitehorse kicked off the awards by presenting trophies to Paul Krueger from the Skeeter fleet. Ken shared the story of how a “magic sail” rediscovered in their inventory made PK’s boat fly this season. He also talked about a memorable day on Lake Monona when they weren’t planning to sail — but seeing German DNers Anja Fiedler and Holger Petzke (here on a year-long U.S. sabbatical) inspired them to rig up and head out.
Don Anderson took a moment to update everyone on the MARY B’s success this winter. He reflected on how much the boat has sailed since coming under the Foundation’s care. Several people in the room raised their hands when Don asked who had a chance to ride the B this year. Don also gave a shoutout to Andy Gratton for jumping in at Frozen Assets Festival to help with the MARY B, making important improvements to her steering and rigging. Andy even hopes to bring his famous red stern steerer WISCONSIN down to Frozen Assets next year.
After a hearty dinner and dessert, it was time for the main event: handing out the trophies. A big thank you to our Trophy Chair, Damien Luyet, for the countless hours he put into organizing, polishing, and preparing the trophies — even making new bases where needed — to ensure everything looked perfect for the banquet.
On display was a pencil sketch of Tim McCormick sailing his Renegade AIM against the Lake Monona skyline, drawn by Greg Whitehorse and brought by Greg McCormick — a meaningful reminder of Tim’s contributions to the sport we all love.
Among the specialty awards, the “Pin Clipper” prize — given for notable mark mishaps — was awarded to Renegader Doug Kolner this year for an incident on Lake Monona where he gave a cone a ride for a few laps.
Ron Sherry was the evening’s highlight, captivating the room with his stories about ice sailing, boat setup, and racing tactics. Ron talked about advice he received from Buddy Melges on setting up a Renegade, and shared memories of sailing Renegades with his dad, Lorne Sherry, on Lakes Geneva and Mendota. He was in his element as he delved into the subtleties of setup and tactics with an audience that valued every detail. I strongly recommend that all yacht clubs invite Ron as a speaker — he is an outstanding storyteller. He closed with one of my favorite stories: the time he won the Northwest Free-For-All Trophy on Lake Geneva, made even more special because so many of the people involved were right there in the room, including my brother, Ron Rosten.
We did miss our Commodore Daniel Hearn, who was on vacation with his family — but he was with us in spirit. It was a night full of storytelling and memories — the very best of what iceboating is all about.
For UW-Madison student Eden Milan, a simple connection to Madison’s frozen lakes turned into an unexpected discovery of their family’s deep ice boating history. Milan’s great-grandfather, Carl Bernard, was one of Madison’s most accomplished iceboat skippers, winning numerous championships—including nine titles aboard the legendary Mary B. Though originally from Seattle, Milan had no idea they were connected to such a significant piece of Madison’s ice boating legacy until they arrived at UW.
This past weekend at the Frozen Assets Festival, Milan had the rare opportunity to ride aboard the Mary B, experiencing firsthand the ice yacht that helped define their great-grandfather’s legacy. If you haven’t seen this historic iceboat in action yet, there’s still time to visit the Mary B set up in front of The Edgewater.
On a chilly weekday morning in February, Eden Milan pulled a pair of ice creepers over their shoes (rubber grips with small spikes at the bottom) and walked out onto the frozen Lake Mendota.
On the lake, a group of enthusiastic ice boat sailors worked to reassemble the boat Milan’s great-grandfather collected so many of his trophies with, a boat that continues to represent Madison’s history as an ice boating haven. Continue reading.
Full circle on the ice—Eden Milan rides aboard the Mary B, the same legendary iceboat her great-grandfather, Carl Bernard, once raced to victory.
Paul Krueger
