UPCOMING:
4LIYC Meeting : February 19 at the Breakwater in Monona
International Skeeter Association Regatta: Postponed. Next update Feb 23
Senior Shuffle DN Regatta: Postponed More information
4LIYC Shipstore:Â Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE:Â Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online
4LIYC Meeting – Wednesday, February 19 at The Breakwater
MARY B at Frozen Assets Festival
It’s been a while since we’ve been able to meet in person, but we’re finally getting together! Join us at The Breakwater in Monona on Wednesday, February 19, at 6:30 PM.
WHAT TO KNOW:
4LIYC Meeting
Breakwater
6308 Inland Way
Monona, WI
6:30 PM
There’s so much to talk about—don’t miss it! Looking forward to catching up with everyone. See you there!
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to Feb 28, March 1-2
Gretchen Dorian Photo
The ISA & Renegade Championship have been postponed to February 28th, March 1st and 2nd, 2025. All racing areas are snowbound right now, but a warm up is coming. The next update will be Sunday February 23rd.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Snow Got You Down? Tune In to Matt Struble’s Podcast Interview
Matt Struble US183. Photo by Anna Suslova.
With the 4LIYC racing on pause thanks to all this snow, it’s a great time to catch up on some ice sailing talk. Sailing Anarchy just dropped a new podcast featuring none other than 2025 DN World & North American Champion Matt Struble! Fresh off his dominant performance at Lake Winnebago, Matt sat down with host Scott Tempesta to break down the regatta. While his scores made it look effortless, Matt shares just how tough the conditions were and what it took to come out on top. As Scott put it: “I just chatted him up, and I can tell he is going to be a great guest!” The episode is available this afternoon—perfect listening while we wait for sailable ice to return.
Listen here: https://sailinganarchy.com/sailing-anarchy-podcast/ Â Or check out the SA podcasts on Apple, Google, or Spotify podcasts.
Stay tuned, and hopefully, the Big Zamboni will arrive and we’ll be back on the ice soon!
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to Feb 21 – 23
2025 Nite Nationals. Photo: Will Johnston
The ISA Race Committee has postponed the 2025 annual Championship to February 21, 22, 23, 2025. (Along with the Renegade Championship.)
The snow falling right now, along with the forecast for much additional snow Friday has put the regatta on hold for now. All possible locations are affected by the snow.
The next decision will be on Sunday the 16th, when the snow results will be known. There is a lot of regatta condition ice under the snow, so we are still early in the season and may yet see it melt off.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
In The News – Again! Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Great article about our sport including recognition for Minnesota’s Sam Bartel, a young man who is bringing new sailors into the sport.
Iceboats can go 80 mph on Wisconsin’s frozen lakes
Iceboats, some a century old, are the speedsters and yachts of frozen lakes.
By Rick Barrett
Milwaukee Journal SentinelCRIVITZ – On Lake Noquebay in Marinette County, the Ace of Spades, Miss Jane II, Rosemary, and other iceboats gather for a regatta on ice where the wind has cleared much of the snow. Continue reading.
In the News: The 2024 Northwest
Minnesota station KARE joined us at the 2024 Northwest in Waconia, Minnesota last season. Check out their coverage at the 8 minute mark. Watch here.
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Tentatively Called On for Feb 14 – 16
Photo: Marcus Berghahn
The ISA Championship Regatta is tentatively on for February 14th – 16th, 2025. Multiple locations are under review including Madison WI and Lake City MN.
The final call will be made by noon on Wednesday February 12th. Check back here at that time.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
A Family Legacy on Ice: UW Student Eden Milan and the MARY B
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.
4LIYC Racing & Celebration on Lake Mendota for Feb 8 – 9
Hundreds of people watch as fireworks launch into the night sky above an inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch on frozen and ice-covered Lake Mendota during the conclusion of the Wisconsin Union’s Winter Carnival on Feb. 11, 2023. The event was held along the shoreline of the Memorial Union Terrace at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The Lady Liberty tradition began with a prank in 1979 by the Pail and Shovel Party which made a campaign promise. Read more
Madison Celebrates on the Lake Mendota Ice this weekend.
This weekend, Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (4LIYC) sailors are shifting gears a bit to focus on promoting the sport of iceboating while taking advantage of great conditions. Instead of official club racing, we’re focusing on a fun sailing day on Saturday, February 8, as part of the UW Winter Carnival and Frozen Assets celebrations at The Memorial Union and Edgewater. It’s also a good opportunity to see the MARY B set up at the Edgewater. Stop by and say hello to 4LIYC members from the Iceboat Foundation who help preserve this boat.
If you want to sail on Lake Mendota, you can set up at Lot 60 or Brearly Street and sail toward The Edgewater and the Union to give spectators a close-up look at the sport. If conditions remain favorable and the snow holds off, we may also hold 4LIYC club racing on Sunday, February 9, on Lake Mendota. We’ll have more information on possible 4LIYC racing on Saturday, February 8.
Bucky’s new ride, the MARY B
Lake Winnebago – The Place to Be for Ice Sailing
4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn takes first in Silver at the DN Worlds.Not pictured, second place Dave Elsmo. Photo: Anna Suslova
Lake Winnebago – The Place to Be for Ice Sailing
Lake Winnebago has been the place to be for ice sailing this season. From the Northwest Regatta to the Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Regatta, the DN Western Region Championship, and now the DN World and North American Championships, it has been an incredible stretch of racing on one of the best venues in North America.
It’s great to be back on Winnebago for the DN Worlds and North Americans and even better to drive on the ice, making race logistics easier for sailors and officials. These back-to-back regatta weeks can be exhausting, but ice sailors have been waiting for years for this kind of ice. Beyond the racing, seeing everyone socializing at the hotel and gathering for a banquet at Sunset on the Water has been fantastic.
DN World Championship Recap
The World Championship is now complete, and congratulations to five-time champion Matt Struble. Watching the best ice sailors in the world at work is always incredible. Right behind Matt, the Polish sailors continue to be a massive force, along with the Swedes and Estonians, who have all shown their skill and consistency. The top Swedish sailors in this competition have a long history with my brother, Ron Rosten, who has followed their progress from junior racing all the way to the Gold Fleet. Ron attends the Junior World Championship held in Europe every year, and it has been amazing to see these young sailors grow into top competitors.
North American Championship Begins
Now, the focus shifts to the North American Championship, where four races have been completed. Every race has been like a high-speed chess match, where every move counts, and the slightest mistake can cost positions. The competition has been fierce, with no easy wins.
Today’s forecast calls for strong winds, and I’m sure PRO Pat Heppert is already driving to the lake to check conditions as I type this.
4LIYC Sailors at the DN World Championship
Closer to home, our Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (4LIYC) sailors had strong performances at the DN World Championship, battling through some of the toughest competition in recent memory. The Silver Fleet raced at a Gold Fleet level, and Bronze felt like Silver, making every finish hard-earned.
- Chad Atkins finished 14th in Gold Fleet
- 4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn won the Silver Fleet, securing an automatic spot in the Gold Fleet for the championship
- Dave Elsmo was right behind him, taking 2nd place in Silver Fleet
- Dale Gordon finished 20th in the Bronze Fleet
Great racing from our club members—congratulations to all!
It has been an incredible week, and we are hoping to finish out the North Americans with a complete seven-race series. Stay tuned for updates!
Stay updated with the latest results, photos, and behind-the-scenes coverage:
- Website – Visit IDNIYRA.org for official announcements, race updates, and results.
- Website – Visit the New England Ice Yachting Association for race updates from the New England contingent
- Event Photos: Anna Suslova Gallery. Link Password: sail
- Gretchen Dorian Photo Gallery
- Instagram – Follow @idniyra
- Facebook – IDNIYRA – DN North America for live updates, videos, and community discussions.
- 2025 North American Championship Results – View the full competitor list and follow live results
- 2025 World Championship Results – View here.
- New to Iceboat Racing? – Learn how it works by watching this short video:- How Ice Boat Racing Works.
- For media inquiries – Please contact secretary.idniyira@gmail.com. Or text 608-347 3513
 Photo Gallery by Anna Suslova – Gallery Link Password: sail
Online Ship’s Store
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
4LIYC Governing Documents
Click for 4LIYC Meeting Dates
- January 2 THURSDAY Honor Roll Nominations
- January 15 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
- January 29
- February 12 Business MeetingÂ
- February 26
- March 12 Last Meeting of the Season
Location: In person at the Elks Lodge 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Time: 6:30 PM
YOU ARE SKIPPER NUMBER
TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
