Staging the perfect shot back in the day —no filters, no drones, just a guy in a business suit on the ice and a camera.
I recently visited with Mauretta Mattison and her daughter, Lynn. Mauretta handed over a box overflowing with iceboating memorabilia that she had meticulously collected over the years, detailing her late husband Bill’s and family’s extraordinary life on the ice. It’s a collection that could keep an iceboating historian busy for months. As I quickly flipped through it, two items caught my attention: a pair of photos capturing what looks to be a lazy, light-air day on the ice and another featuring Elmer Millenbach, the Renegade’s mastermind
The first photo is a behind-the-scenes look at a photo shoot on the ice. Wisconsin State Journal photographer Edward Stein is lying on his side, dressed in a business suit and dress shoes—no winter gear.. He’s aiming at Bill Mattison, relaxed on the runner plank of his Skeeter, with another guy peering up at the sail from behind the boom. Next to it in the scrapbook is the finished product—the photo Stein snapped that day, which ran in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Then there’s a second photo that caught my eye—a classically cool image featuring Elmer Millenbach and his wife, Cora Lee, standing beside their Ford Thunderbird (possibly a 1964?) with Elmer’s Renegade on top of the car. Elmer, the Detroit innovator who designed the Renegade, was known for transporting his hull on top of cars instead of using a trailer. The Thunderbird is stylish match for the sleek lines of the Renegade.
Stay tuned as I dig deeper into this box of history.
Elmer and Cora Lee Millenbach have Fun Fun Fun cruising with style.
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.
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
Nite Class Champions: From left Mike Jankowski 4th, Kyle Navin 3rd, Dave Navin 2nd, and Chris Wiberg 1st
Renegade Champions: From left 3rd Skip Dieball, 4th Mike Maloney, 2nd Andy Gratton. Not pictured, Mike Derusha 1st.
Daniel Hearn, winner of the first Renegade Race.
DN Western Region Silver fleet top 5: From left, Maggie McGary US2453 5th, Ben Garber US5667 3rd, Alexander Leach US244 2nd, and 4LIYC DNer Dale Gordon US5696 1st. Not pictured Bill Eklund US5432 4th
2024 DN Western Region Gold fleet top 5: From left, Mike Bloom US321 3rd, Jeff Roseberry US5687 4th, Bill Cutting US5430 5th, 4LIYC Skeeter and DN sailor Steve Orlebeke US4926, 2nd, and Chris Berger US5166 1st.
The regatta is postponed this morning, Friday, December 13 because temperatures are below 10 F. Skipper’s meeting is at 11 AM at the launch and first race is noon.
Renegade Regatta Race Committee Chair Don Anderson has reported that Lake Puckaway is unsuitable for sailing due to numerous holes. As a result, the 2024 Renegade Championship has been postponed. The next update will be posted on Sunday evening, December 8, 2024.
Via ISA Regatta Chair John Dennis
