Here’s a fascinating vintage photo shared from Mike Peter’s collection, which will be part of our presentation at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum on January 2. This early 20th-century image captures stern steerers racing on Lake Winnebago and shows a very different approach to racecourse marks.
In the photo, you’ll notice the mark (aka buoy) in use—a tall wooden pole mounted on a platform, with a flag waving from the top and a wooden barrel suspended below. This setup starkly contrasts the lightweight, triangular fluorescent fabric marks we use today. It’s hard not to imagine the chaos (and potential splinters!) if one of those massive stern steerers collided with such a substantial obstacle.
This photo likely predates the introduction of bow-steering boats, offering a window into a bygone era of ice sailing. It’s a reminder of how much the sport has evolved.
We’ve had several requests for the special Skeeter Vodka cocktail recipe featured at our event with the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. I’m working on getting that recipe so everyone can mix up their Skeeter cocktail and join us from home via Zoom. Stay tuned—I’ll share it soon so you can toast along with us!
Does it get any more Wisconsin than this? Ice sailing, maritime history, a Green Bay Packers connection, and a cocktail named in honor of the Skeeter class?
Mike Peters and I will be presenting a program for their Think & Drink series on ice sailing at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum on Thursday, January 2nd at 6:30 pm. I’ll be joining via Zoom, and Mike will be there in person at the museum to share the history of ice sailing in Wisconsin.
The event is free and will be available both in-person and virtually. The featured drink of the night will be a Skeeter, a vodka cocktail named after the fastest iceboat in the world. Doors and the bar open at 6:00 pm, and the program begins at 6:30 pm.
This presentation is part of the Ice Boating: A Wisconsin Tradition exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, which is on display from December 2024 through September 2025. The exhibit traces the history of ice boating in Wisconsin, spanning over 100 years, and showcases the evolution of iceboats and the culture surrounding the sport.
This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Green Bay Packers Foundation. For more info, check out the museum’s website.
Hope to see you there, whether in person or online!
WHAT TO KNOW Date & Time: Thursday, January 2nd, 6:30 pm (doors and bar open at 6:00 pm) Location: Wisconsin Maritime Museum, 75 Maritime Dr., Manitowoc, WI Cost: Free (both in-person and virtual) Virtual Access: Register here to attend via Zoom: Event Registration Link
DN Senior Shuffle Home Page
The 2025 DN Senior Shuffle is scheduled to take place after the 2025 DN Western Region Championship, from January 6-8, 2025. We are actively searching for suitable ice conditions in the DN Western Region, and updates will be provided as soon as we have more information.
If you paid for last year’s event, you won’t need to pay again. If you’d like to register for this year, here’s the link to sign up.
Stay tuned for the next update on Monday, December 30, 2024, for the latest news on the status of the DN Western Region Championship and Senior Shuffle. We look forward to another exciting event and hope to see you on the ice!
WHAT TO KNOW
2025 DN Senior Shuffle NOTICE OF RACE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS Dates: Tentatively 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.
Complete starter DN with composite fiberglass mast, an aluminum mast, and cover:
$1,200.
Located in Holland, Mich.
Call Jenn at 269-751-8443 ext 2 for more information.
All calls will be returned.
searching for suitable ice conditions in the DN Western Region, and updates will be provided as soon as we have more information.
