UPCOMING:
4LIYC Meeting :November 20, 2024 @ Elks Lodge More Information
4LIYC Shipstore: Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE: Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online
Time to ReShuffle: 2025 Senior Shuffle Notice of Race
Previous: Senior Shuffle Announcement from last season
The DN Senior Shuffle Regatta is ready for Round 2! We’re picking up where we left off last year, so if you already paid, you’re good to go – no extra shuffling required. Just make sure to send in your most recent proof of liability insurance. Please send to debwhitehorse@iceboat.org.
WHAT TO KNOW
2025 DN Senior Shuffle
NOTICE OF RACE
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Dates: January 6 – 8, 2025 (the 3 days after the 2025 Western Region Championship)
Location: TBA, same location at 2025 Western Region Championship
Eligibility:
• Open to Seniors (50-59), Masters (60-69) and Grand Masters (70+) who will race under Shuffle Rules with one start.
• Open to “aspiring” Seniors (49 or younger) who will also race under Shuffle Rules possibly with a separate start.
Entries: Click here to see list of entries.
Want to join the fun? Fill out the registration form below:
4LIYC Iceboats Make Master Plan
This may be a signal that the 4LIYC should purchase giant inflatable ducks.
The City of Madison has released its Lake Monona Waterfront redevelopment plan. I was surprised to see a computer-generated image featuring two iceboats on Lake Monona near John Nolen Drive.
Iceboating has been a fixture on Madison’s lakes for over 100 years. Our history is tied to the city’s identity—our photos are used to promote Madison, and our presence on the frozen lakes adds to the city’s uniqueness. It’s heartening to see our sport recognized as part of what makes Madison unique. Iceboating is not just a pastime; it’s a tradition and a celebration of the frozen beauty of our lakes. The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club is grateful for the acknowledgment. Madison’s lakes and shoreline are central to the city’s identity, and iceboating is proud to be part of that legacy.
So, as Madison continues to embrace its lakes and shoreline, we’ll keep sailing—just as we have for over 100 years. See you on the ice!
Remembering Lou Loenneke
Lou Loenneke flying the runner in his Class A Skeeter SLAVE SHIP
The ice sailing community mourns the loss of Lou Loenneke, a Skeeter Ice Boat Club member and a valued friend to many in the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club. Lou passed away peacefully in the hospital on November 15, 2024. Tributes have been pouring in on Facebook, where ice sailors are sharing memories, photos, and stories of a man who touched so many lives on and off the ice.
Lou was deeply committed to ice sailing and the community surrounding it. An avid sailor from an early age, he claimed the DN North American Junior Championship titles in 1962 and 1963. He was also an accomplished Skeeter sailor, where he won the 1970 Northwest Ice Yachting Association (NIYA) Regatta E Skeeter title and placed second in the Free For All race. His iconic Skeeter, SLAVE SHIP, appeared in a memorable advertisement for Lake Geneva’s Playboy Club during the 1970s.
Lou and life long friend, Bob Cave
In later years, Lou embraced the DN class and continued to excel. He captured the NIYA DN title six times (1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 2001) and won the DN North American Silver Fleet Championship in 1980. Lou was also a dedicated leader, serving as Commodore of the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association from 2002 to 2004.
Lou was known as a generous and approachable figure in ice sailing. He freely shared his lifelong knowledge with seasoned sailors and newcomers, always striving to help others improve and enjoy the sport he loved dearly. (As an example, previous: The Old Man and the C)
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club extends its deepest sympathies to Lou’s family, the Skeeter Ice Boat Club, and the global DN community. You will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
UPDATE: Via Jason Thompson, Commodore of the Skeeter Iceboat Club in Lake Geneva, WI
Lou grew up iceboating. Once he settled in to the DN class, he and Jane Pegel anchored a deep fleet of talented sailors. Names like Pete Johns, Robert Cummins, Bob Rast, Bob Cave, Pat Fitzgerald, John Zils, Erich Schloemer, Steve Orlebeke, Chris Berger, Mike Jankowski, Erik Lonnecke, Clinton Rengi, and Scottie Button were battling on the ice for many seasons.
Like Jane and Buddy, Lou was tireless in his promotion of iceboating. Lou was an open book when it came to sharing his knowledge. When I began to race DNs I called on Jane and Scottie for advice on how to tune up. Same answer, “Go see Lou…” In the fall, Lou’s garage was packed with iceboaters, projecting and getting tuned for the season. The Wizard of Zenda would always stop in if the driveway was full. Buddy would kick the door open, “I had to park in the damn street! What the hell we working on today??”
Lou was one of the pioneers of The Western Challenge Regatta for DNs. The annual event is an amazing gathering of iceboaters looking for the first, and maybe only, ‘Hollywood Ice’ of the season. Canadian and European sailors will travel to this event which takes place on the best ice in Minnesota the first weekend of December—90 boats last year. Back in the day before the regatta, an agitated Lou would phone up Bob Cave: “You know they’ve gotten in four days of sailing in already…” referring to the MN iceboaters. Lou began to recruit sailors to head north for weekend scrub racing, laying the foundation for the Western Challenge.
I am forever indebted to Lou and Bob Cave for the hours they spent with me trying to get me and the SIBC DNs up to speed. Both incredible ambassadors. I Invision Lou is now sailing on better than Hollywood ice without the bite of frost on his hands and toes. Sheet in, Lou.
Jason Thompson, SIBC Commodore
Lou’s SLAVE SHIP in the Playboy magazine ad
First in Finland!
Or should we say it in Finnish, Ensimmäinen! Via Swedish DNer Dideric Van Riemsdijk, here’s a look at the first runners on the ice at the first regatta of the season, DN Finland’s Week 46. They are just above the Arctic Circle at Onkamojärvi, Finland. Who will be the FIRST in North America?
Notice of 4LIYC Meetings – Now @ Elks Lodge
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Meetings Now at the Elks Lodge
Join us on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 for the first Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club meeting of the season at our new location. We’re now gathering at the Elks Lodge on Lake Monona, located at 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI. Meetings will kick off at 6:30 PM. We look forward to seeing you there to talk all things iceboating and keep the tradition alive!
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Meetings
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Elks Lodge, 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Meeting Dates
- November 6
- November 20 Elections
- December 4
- December 18
- January 2 THURSDAY Honor Roll Nominations
- January 15 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
- January 29
- February 12 Business Meeting
- February 26
- March 12 Last Meeting of the Season
The continuing series: Artificial intelligence still has not learned what an iceboat actually looks like.
Delavan Yacht Club Swap Meet On Nov 9
Talking ice.
Fred Stritt checked in to let us know about the upcoming Delavan Yacht Club Iceboat Swap Meet. Missed the recent swap meet at Harken? Or can’t get enough of the iceboating community? Here’s your chance! Join us at the Delavan Yacht Club on Saturday, November 9 from 11 am to 3 pm for another opportunity to buy, sell, or trade iceboat gear, meet fellow sailors, and prepare for the upcoming season.
The Delavan Yacht Club will serve homemade pizzas, and the bar will be open, so come hungry and thirsty! It’s the perfect setting to connect with the iceboating community, discover great gear, and enjoy good food and drinks.
Delavan Yacht Club Iceboat Swap Meet
Location: Delavan Yacht Club, 1501 Cedar Point Dr, Delavan, WI 5311
Map
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Time: 11am – 3pm
Information: Midwest Hard Water Sailing Facebook Page
Nite Celebration Recap
Via International Nite Class Association Commodore Maureen Bohleber
For The Love of Iceboating
The International Nite Class Association recently hosted an event at Harken Headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, bringing together Midwest iceboaters. The theme was “50 Years of Nite Racing,” attracting Skeeter, Stern Steerer, Renegade, DN, and, of course, Nite sailors of all ages.
The Nite was designed and built by Dick Slates at S & R Marine around 1968. The story goes that he aimed to create a side-but-side two-seater to take that “special” someone out for a night on sail on Pewaukee Lake. While Dick and his wife Gale were unable to participate in the activities, his sons Rich and Kevin Slates were able to join in.
It was wonderful to listen to sailors inquiring if a certain person would be attending, only to find out they hadn’t seen them or spoken to that individual in 20 years. It was amazing to watch friendships reignite as if they had seen each other on the ice last season. Additionally, guests could view a history of results displayed on the walls. Hearing the younger crowd react to names they recognized and discovering that many sailed a Nite was enjoyable.
During a roundtable discussion led by the Nite Fleet GOAT Tom Sweitzer, past champions offered advice to future champions. The discussion also included Bill Dale, Dave Koch, and Dave Navin.
Kyle Navin and Harry Melgas IV shared their recent experience sailing the American Magic Youth team alongside Bill Goggins, President of Harken, who facilitated the discussion.
Thank you to Harken, Inc. for hosting not only the Nite Fleet gala but also the Southern Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet, which took place on Sunday, October 27th. Rumor has it some new Nite owners emerged from this weekend’s events. To top it off, we had a surprise guest: Peter Harken, Nite #98, who had just returned home from Spain after attending the America’s Cup.
Maureen Bohleber
Kick Off the Iceboating Season in Pewaukee This Weekend!
See INSANITY at Harken
Historic Iceboats On Display This Weekend
It’s the unofficial opening weekend of the iceboating season!
Join the Midwest ice sailing community on Saturday and Sunday, October 26-27, at Harken, Inc. in Pewaukee, WI, where we’re excited to help the International Nite Class Association celebrate 50 years of Nite racing. Thanks to the Iceboat Foundation, you’ll see the legendary MARY B, INSANITY, their museum
Bucky Badger relaxes on the MARY B
trailer, and the newest addition, PANTHER a Class A Skeeter originally built for Chris Smith of Chris-Craft.
With the Swap Meet happening on Sunday, it’s the perfect weekend for iceboating enthusiasts and newcomers to check out the sport. Whether you’re looking to find your iceboat, chat with veteran ice sailors, or admire some of the most iconic iceboats in history, this weekend has it all.
Join us to celebrate the start of the ice sailing season—experience the boats, the history, and the excitement of the fastest sport on ice!
Southern Wisconsin Iceboat Swap Meet
Date: Sunday, October, 27, 2024
Time: 9 AM – Noon
Location: Harken parking lot
N15W24983 Bluemound Rd, Pewaukee, WI
Kyle Navin & Harry Melges IV to Speak at Nite 50th Anniversary Party!
Kyle Navin
Previous: Cheers to 50 Years
Nite sailors Kyle Navin and Harry Melges IV will be special guests at the Nite 50th Anniversary Party on October 26, sharing stories and insights from their recent experiences at the Youth America’s Cup in Barcelona. This is a unique opportunity to hear firsthand from two young, talented sailors who are deeply rooted in the Nite community.
Join the Nite Class at Harken Headquarters in Pewaukee to celebrate 50 years of the Nite Class and hear from Kyle and Harry about their incredible journey. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or just a fan of the sport, this is an event you won’t want to miss!
Sign up here for this event.
The Roundtable will begin at 4:00 pm with Tom Sweitzer the GOAT Hear some stories and learn some tips from the best Nite Sailors
Kyle and Harry will continue with videos and a Q&A of their experience on the American Magic Youth America’s Cup
October 26, 2024
5:30 Food and Cocktail at Harken, Inc. Pewaukee, WI
$25.00
RSVP: mkbohleber@gmail.com
or
https://niteracing.org/event/7NGFkfX0UX
Southern Wisconsin Swap Meet
Sunday October 27, 2024
9 – Noon
The Iceboat Foundation will be displaying the Mary B and the Insanity both days.
NOAA Abolishes Wind Chill?
Jay Yaeso hiking in his Class A Skeeter iceboat on Lake Winnebago. Photo by Gretchen Dorian.
Well, not quite. NOAA has officially retired “Wind Chill Warnings” and “Advisories,” streamlining their alerts with new, simplified Cold Weather Alerts instead. Read more here.
Tip of the Helmet: Mike Peters
Online Ship’s Store
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
4LIYC Governing Documents
Click for 4LIYC Meeting Dates
- November 6
- November 20 Elections
- December 4
- December 18
- January 2 THURSDAY Honor Roll Nominations
- January 15 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
- January 29
- February 12 Business Meeting
- 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.
