About Us
Welcome to iceboat.org, the
website of the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club. We are one of the most active
ice boat clubs in North America and have been building and racing ice
boats for over 100 years.
SAIL
SAFE AND SMART! The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club cannot guarantee
your safety when on the ice. Read the Safety
Page.
What's New On
iceboat.org:
May 9, 2008 Little Red Updated #2: Back in Madison! Byron Tetzlaff & Ed Newcomb Photo Credit: Geoff
Sobering I received an unexpected email from Byron Tetzlaff this
week that the little red stern-steerer is in his garage ready for
restoration. To recap (original post below), the boat had been hanging in
a basement on Park Street in Madison for quite a few decades when the
Commodore of Lake Pepin, Ed Newcomb, purchased her as a restoration
project. Ed discovered a metal plate engraved with the builder's name, Frank
Tetzlaff, attached to the boat. Frank's grandson, Byron, contacted Ed to
make arrangements just to see the boat.
Here's the rest of the story from Byron: "I wanted to send you a
sincere thank you. I was talking to Ed Newcomb about coming up to Pepin to
take some pictures of the little boat. During the email exchange, he
offered to sell it for his purchase price and some gas money. Long story
short... It's now in my garage, just beginning the process of restoration.
I had my folks come and look at it, and there were a few misty eyes. (must
have got something in them...eh?) Another bit of trivia... at the very end
of the 4LIYC "video tape", (not the CD) the short takes of a little stern
steerer on Monona bay are the same boat. If anyone knows of the family
that owned it, it would be one more piece of info for the history of the
boat. Once again, I owe a very big thank you to Ed Newcomb.
Thanks guys
B jr."
I'm happy to report that Lake Pepin ice boater Ed Newcomb purchased the
little red stern steerer that was for sale recently on the Buy and Sell
page. The boat was hanging in an old sporting goods store in Madison for
many years and Ed plans to restore her. Ed writes, "The little red boat is
very similar to a plan published in a 1938 Mechanics Illustrated magazine,
which was more of a full how to build an iceboat article. Only differences
are the addition of a jib and a gull wing plank. Should be a fun little
boat when I get it back together. Pepin had a wonderful iceboat season
this year, unfortunately it was only one day long! We did get our old
family boat "Comet" re-done with a brand new gaff rig. I have been sailing
this boat since my dad built it in 1960. UPDATE: The Little Red Stern
Steerer was built by Frank Tetzlaff, builder of the Mary B and the Fritz.
Ed writes, "When I was putting the boat away for the summer, I noticed
that the aluminum plate covering the steering runner post was stamped.
Although badly pitted, when I got it in under the shop lights, I could
read the builder's name:
Built by
Frank Tetzlaff
Madison, Wis
Best regards
E.C.Newcomb
Lake Pepin Ice Yacht Club"
May 2, 2008
Attention
UW Credit Union members, here's a Visa card design available for you.
I think the photo was taken about ten years ago at a regatta on Lake
Monona.
April 26, 2008 Cleaning Off the Desk
Here are a few items I've been
meaning to post.
ISA & DN Western Regional Photos
These were taken by Greg Rasberry, a friend
of Geoff Sobering, at the 2008 ISA and DN Western Regionals on Geneva
Lake.
2008 Land Sailing
Regatta Reports
Here are is a report and video from
dirt boat skipper John Eisenlohr detailing his experience at the 2008
America's Cup of Land Sailing Regatta.
Report
Helmet-cam video
Class 4 race
April 7, 2008 Another One Bites the Dust!
Update:
See more photos of this crazy expedition
When you see a Laser sailing on Lake Kegonsa
before the trophy banquet, the season is definitely over in the Four Lakes
area. Via Geoff Sobering.
Lake Monona was completely open today
also.
April 3, 2008 Not an April Fools Day Joke
The Lake Charlevoix ice boaters were sailing on Lake Charlevoix in
Michigan on April 1!. The season isn't over yet.
Video #1
Video #2
March 16, 2008 Fauerbach Pennant Back on Fauerbach Ice
Boat Then
...
Detail
This shot of Emil Fauerbach's
Princess II is from the first Northwest Ice Yacht Regatta sailed in
Menominee, Michigan in 1913. Note the Fauerbach pennant which always flew
on the Princess boats. ...And 95 Years Later Photo Credit: Geoff Sobering
Here's Emil's great great nephew (not sure how many greats in there-ed.),
Peter Fauerbach proudly flying the Fauerbach pennant on his Renegade on
March 16, 2008.
A few weeks ago, 4LIYC Club Historian Greg Whitehorse happened to be
moving some boxes around in his garage containing old club trophies and
memorabilia. Deciding to take a closer look, Greg discovered the old
Fauerbach pennant folded in the bottom of the box. He brought it to Lake
Mendota today so that the latest Fauerbach to sail an ice boat could
follow in the family tradition. Peter writes, "Be sure to thank Greg
Whitehorse for us. This is likely about 100 years old. It is a sewn on
Fauerbach on a thin cotton navy background – very light to give a good
indication of wind.
I’m really touched by this find. I have been searching for any remnant of
the Princess for 15 years. Now my search is over!!!!!"
March 13, 2008 Seen at the ISA & DN
Western Regionals on Geneva
March 12, 2008
He Was Looking For Gloria at the GYC...
when he (Buddy) found some shell ice on
Saturday at the ISA.
By Greg Simon #213 "Three races were sail on Friday in a variety of wind
conditions. The first race was 12-15mph from the north. The wind held for
the second race, but the angles were changing dramatically...Who said old
guys can’t push! Near the finish of race #4 on Saturday the wind shut off.
The over 60 crowd of Archie Call, Jerry Simon, and Glen Betzoldt just
happened to appear two hundred yards short of the finish line. Knowing
that THE trophy was at stake, the old geezers all jumped out of their
boats and started to push. The short legged Simon jumped off to the
sprinters start for the early lead. Archie took longer to get up to speed,
but with his longer legs he still had a shot.
Continue reading story.
DN Western Regional Results
Now posted on the
DN America Forum. Photo Credits: Geoff Sobering
4LIYC Daniel Hearn: 1st in Silver Fleet
John Dennis: 1st in Gold Fleet
March 9, 2008 Regatta Wrap Ups
Daniel Hearn wins DN Western Regional Silver Fleet at
Geneva Just heard
from 4LIYC Commodore Geoff Sobering who relayed the news that Daniel Hearn
won the DN Western Regional Silver Fleet. Congratulations Daniel! John
Dennis won the Gold Fleet. Meanwhile at the ISA, congratulations go to the
following: Renegades-our own 4LIYC skipper Greg Simon; A Skeeter-NSIBC Dan
Clapp; B Skeeter-SIBC Bob Mereness; C Skeeter-M&M John Lamont; Nite-Dave
Navin, Grant Frautschi, 4LIYC finished second in the Nites.. As soon as I
have official results from the ISA, they'll be posted on the
web page.
March 6, 2008
ISA & IRIYA Championship Regatta Updates
I most likely won't be posting on this page
until after the regattas. For the latest in ice boating news, be sure and
check the ISA & IRIYA Regatta
web page.
March 5, 2008
ISA & IRIYA Championship Regatta CALLED ON!
FINAL CONFIRMATION: The ISA & IRIYA
Championship Regattas have been called ON for Geneva Lake in Fontana,
Wisconsin. Fleets that sail in this regatta include A,B, and C Skeeters,
Renegades, and Nites.
Here's the
web page for the ISA and IRIYA regatta.
February 29, 2008 NIYA Sail Graphics
Jane Pegel: DN 805
Dan Clapp: Skeeter Class N53
Seen on Geneva Lake at the
2008 Northwest Ice Yacht Regatta.
February 27, 2008
Northwest Regatta Wrap Up Be sure to keep checking the NIYA
Regatta page. I've been posting
photosand will continue to do so
through out the week.
February 24, 2008
NIYA Results Now Posted
Be sure and check back for more photos and
reports throughout the week.
Kiddie Stern Steerer
Here's some new competition for the stern steerers. Bill Korsgard ran
across this on an RC forum. This mini stern steerer was recently built in
Montana from plans that were published in a magazine in 1914. Canyon Ferry
skippers in Montana might see this boat on the ice some day soon.
December 4, 2007
First Ride...
Fond Du Lac skipper Dave Lallier sends this
photo taken today, December 4, of his brother, Jeff sailing on Lake
Winnebago in his latest acquisition, a Renegade.
Dave writes, "Just wanted to pass this on from my brother Jeff today. He
is still sailing. He wants to thank Mike Derusha and Ron Rosten for making
the connection to Greg Whitehorse for a Renegade hull and parts. And
thanks to Greg and Mother Nature, first sail was today off the southwest
corner of Winnebago on 5" of ice with a pebbly surface.
About 1 1/2 inch snow ice over black ice."
June 9, 2007 Carl Bernard Scrap Book Summer
Series
Photos from the first NIYA
Regatta sailed in Menominee, MI in 1913.
May 31, 2007
Carl Bernard Scrap Book Summer
Series
During our summer building season, I'll be posting the
vintage photos and newspaper clippings from the Carl Bernard Scrapbooks.
Carl Bernard, a Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club champion skipper, and his
father, William, put together these scrapbooks which detail North American
ice sailing spanning the late 1800s to the 1980s.
Pewaukee, Wi. ice boating
"Miss Wiswell" is Jane Pegel,
Williams Bay's Skeeter Ice Boat Club
many time DN champion.
DN, and Renegade. The front is
screened with a smaller pocket club logo. The necks are solid-not baggy.
Whether you're telling stories at the Southside Ice Yacht Club or eating
popcorn at Chuck's after a days sailing on Geneva Lake, these warm
sweatshirts are sized large enough to keep you comfortable after a long
day on the ice.
June 20, 2006 The Carl Bernard Scrapbooks:
Madison Sports Hall of Fame Induction
On June 5, 1963, Carl Bernard was in the
first group to be inducted into
Madison's Sports Hall Fame.
Click on the photo-the man in the background, who was the evening's
keynote speaker, might look familiar. A short paragraph about the
event is to the right.
The top photo was taken for the Encyclopedia Britannica in the 1930s.
I'm not sure of the boat, but I believe it may be Carl's father,
Bill Bernard, pushing off.
The center photo dates from 1934. The Princess and Miss Madison (still
sailing area lakes with owner Dick Lichtfeld) are in the photo.
The photo on the bottom is unidentified which is unusual because
thankfully, Carl was good about captioning photos.
May 26, 2006
The Carl Bernard Scrapbooks: Remembering the Mary B
Electrical contractor O.T. Havey commissioned the buiding of one of
Madison's most beloved stern steerers, the Mary B, named after his wife.
Carl Bernard won many trophies sailing the "B". Here are just a few
photos from the six scrapbooks.
The christening of the Mary B.
Building Mary B's plank in
Frank Tetzlaff's basement.
Charlie Johnson gets ready to send them off.
O.T. Havey, original owner
of the Mary B.
Carl Bernard, O.T. Havey, Norm Braith, and Charlie Johnson
May 5, 2006
The Carl Bernard Scrapbook Project
Tim Murray
continues to photograph the Bernard scrapbooks. Here is just a very small
sample of another of the scrapbooks.
1934 Stuart Races with ice boat legend John Buckstaff
Stern-steerer models including one of the Princess.
More models.
1930 Hearst with all the important names in ice boating.
1939 Hearst timing sheet. The race was timed by Lolly Boston. Also a
nice photo of the Deuce.
May 1, 200666
Carl Bernard Slide Collection
That doesn't look like ice to me....
Carl captioned this slide "Repair
job-Jim Payton & Dave Schmidt".
Carl captioned this slide "Clancy".
Great shot of Elmer Millenbach.
Bill Perrigo
April 20, 2006
The Carl Bernard Scrapbooks: Part 2
Tim Murray
has begun the ambitious job of photographing each page of Carl Bernard's
scrapbooks. Carl Bernard (1905-1983) won numerous stern-steerer trophies
including the Hearst, Stuart Cup, and NIYA Class A championships. Here are
some more interesting pages from his scrapbook.
1949 article about Andy Flom and Jim Lunder and their Hearst win in
the Fritz.
1947 regatta news...
Spectacular shot of a Lake Winnebago stern steerer just before she
went over.
Harry Melges (Buddy's father) wins the 1947 Class E NIYA Championship.
SAILING
SAFE AND SMART!
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club cannot
guarantee your safety when on the ice. A vast
majority of the time one can participate in ice boating and enjoy a
reasonable and acceptable safety margin. But, occasionally we must
be reminded that ice boats are still very fast and the ice is still very
hard. While knowing the Right-of-way rules and using common sense
works most of the time, accidents may still occur. The 4LIYC cannot
guarantee your safety when sailing, whether you follow the
safety guidelines
and the Right-of- Way rules or not.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SELF!!