Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed

Joe Terry V36 at the tiller of his Class D Stern Steerer LACINDA MAE at the 2019 Northwest Regatta on Lake Pepin in MN                                                                                                               Photo: Pat Heppert

The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to February 23 and 24, 2019. The next update will be Sunday, February 17. Check back here at that time. Too much snow, shell ice, and roughness.

Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer

The 1901 Minnesota Ice War


50 racing Stern-Steers and an ice harvesting business around Lake Calhoun were not a good mix back in 1901. Read the whole story, “Competition on the ice” from the Southwest Journal.

The people took matters into their own hands. They poured kerosene oil on the ice. The Cedar Lake Ice Company retaliated by laughing that those responsible would simply have to pay more for their unspoiled ice in the summer. And when that didn’t stop them, the ice company started spreading ashes on the ice tracks used by the ice boaters.

WISCONSIN: Fine Art in America

Scott Smith Art Print Stern Steerer Iceboat

“Iceboat” by Scott Smith

Here is something for the Labor Day weekend to get you thinking ice. Via stern-steerer skipper Andy Gratton who recognized his WISCONSIN iceboat but not the shoreline, though he thinks it may be Pewaukee. The image was created by Wauwatosa artist, Scott Smith, and can be purchased as a print or greeting cards on the fineartamerica website. Below is another great image of WISCONSIN in hiking mode.

Photo: Gretchen Dorian