Via Andy Gratton
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta for 2025 has been tentatively called on for February 1 and 2. The site selected is Lake Winnebago at Fond du Lac. Final confirmation will be made by 1 PM Thursday, January 30. Check back here after that time.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
Pat Heppert in his C Skeeter DRIFTER at the 2025 Northwest on Lake Winnebago, Fond Du Lac, WI. Photo by Jim Koepnick. See all Jim’s photos here.
Via ISA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk
The 2025 ISA Championship Regatta is postponed to Friday February 7th, 8th, and 9th 2025.
A week is being put in between the completed NIYA and the ISA.
With lots of ice thickness, warming temps may open up more locations. Next update is Sunday, February 2 2025.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
2025 Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta on Lake Winnebago. Photo: Jim Stevenson js170b
RESULTS
NIYA Regatta Update – Saturday, January 25, 2025
We wrapped up today’s racing after an E Skeeter, Stern Steerer, B Skeeter, and Renegade race. As the winds quickly built and exceeded the NIYA safety limits, the Race Committee decided to postpone further racing until Sunday morning, January 26. Racing will resume at 9:30 AM, starting with the Stern Steerers.
START ORDER AND SEQUENCE SUNDAY JANUARY 26TH
STERN STEERERS RACE 4
E SKEETER RACE 4
B+C RACE 4
STERNSTEERS RACE 5
DN RACE 5
RENEGADE RACE 5
E SKEETER RACE 5
B+C RACE 5
The sequence for race 6 uses race 5 order above.
1 PM IS CUT OFF TIME – ALL CLASSES HAVE 3 RACES
FREE FOR ALL RACE STARTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER 1 PM.
Section 9. On the last day of the regatta, a race shall be sailed to determine the Regatta Champion. The entries shall be limited to the skippers of the first and second place yachts in each race for classes A, B, C, D, E, Renegade and DN. The defending champion is also eligible. For this race, qualified skippers may sail a yacht from any of the above mentioned classes, except DN. The N.I.Y.A. is under no obligation to secure yachts for qualifying skippers.
Section 10. The length of the races for Classes A, B, C, D, E, and Renegade shall be eight (8) miles.
The length of the DN races shall be approximately two-thirds of the above distance.
The Championship Race shall be not less than fifteen (15) miles, or more than twenty (20) miles in length.
Section 9. On the last day of the regatta, a race shall be sailed to determine the Regatta Champion. The entries shall be limited to the skippers of the first and second place yachts in each race for classes A, B, C, D, E, Renegade and DN. The defending champion is also eligible. For this race, qualified skippers may sail a yacht from any of the above mentioned classes, except DN. The N.I.Y.A. is under no obligation to secure yachts for qualifying skippers.
Section 10. The length of the races for Classes A, B, C, D, E, and Renegade shall be eight (8) miles.
The length of the DN races shall be approximately two-thirds of the above distance.
The Championship Race shall be not less than fifteen (15) miles, or more than twenty (20) miles in length.
Reminder: Banquet DetailsÂ
TJ’s Harbor
7098 S US Hwy 45, Oshkosh, WI 54902
Social Hour: 5:00 PM Dinner: 7:00 PM
We’re looking forward to great conditions tomorrow. See you on the ice!
RESULTS
Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac
What an incredible start to the regatta. The fishing clubs on Lake Winnebago deserve a huge shoutout for their efforts. The Friendship Fishing Club installed a metal bridge over a heave near the shore, making it possible for us to reach the good ice. Their updates on Facebook keep everyone informed, and their commitment creates a sense of community for all who enjoy the lake.
The ice was rock-hard and exceptionally slick—so much so that even driving was challenging. Cars spun out quickly if you went too fast, but having the ability to score the regatta from a car was an extravagance I’ve missed. Lakes like Winnebago, Geneva, and Lake Michigan out of Menominee are a few where that’s possible.
Before racing began, Northwest Race Committee member Andy Gratton joked with me about the traditional Northwest course length. It’s meant to be 8 miles, and he pondered setting a single lap course with marks 4 miles apart, a nod to the stern steerer days. Sure would make scoring easier!
The day was cold but sunny, with steady winds that allowed us to complete a five-race rotation in just two hours. We completed two full rotations for all fleets by pushing hard and keeping things efficient. Watching the clock carefully, we squeezed in a third rotation for the DNs and Renegades, ensuring no starts happened within 45 minutes of sundown. Everyone was ready at the line, racing efficiently in the conditions we dream abou. Photographers were out all day capturing the action, and we’re looking forward to seeing their work..
This weekend promises to get even bigger, as the Nite fleet is also holding their regatta here. The social aspect of the Northwest is always a highlight—last night, many gathered at the Fond du Lac Yacht Club for the annual meeting, and others made the pilgrimage to the iconic South Side Ice Yacht Club. The camaraderie for this sport make events like this so special.
Preparing for the skipper’s meeting. Apologies for the lack of photos—car windows aren’t the best lens!
DN Class
RESULTS
The 2025 Northwestern Ice Yachting Regatta is on for Lake Winnebago northwest of Fond Du Lac. Dates are January 24th, 25th, and 26th.
The launch site is drive on the ice at the foot of Cemetery Road off of Highway 45. Cemetery Road is 1.4 miles north of the Wayside launch on the west shore of the lake. It is 5.8 miles from the center of downtown Fond Du Lac. Racing will start with DNs at 11 AM sharp on Friday January 24th. The skipper’s meeting for all classes will be held at 10:30 AM near the starting line. The annual meeting will be held at 6 PM Friday evening at the Fond Du Lac Yacht Club. A dinner is scheduled for 7 PM at TJ’s Harbor Restaurant, located 2 miles north of the launch at Cemetery Road where County Z crosses Hwy 45.
Online registration is mandatory. Please register here: https://www.iceboat.org/regattas/niya/
Date: January 24 – 26, 2025
Location: Lake Winnebago, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
Launch: Foot of Cemetery Road off of Highway 45. Cemetery Road is 1.4 miles north of the Wayside launch on the west shore of the lake. It is 5.8 miles from the center of downtown Fond Du Lac.
Lodging:
Comfort Inn, 77 Holiday Lane Fond du Lac WI Ice Boaters Special 82.00 night See Michelle 30+ rooms 920-933-1159
Holiday Inn Express, 55 Holiday Lane Fond du Lac WI 30+ rooms 129.00-155.00 920-322-0460
Hotel Retlaw, 1 North Main St Fond du Lac WI 920 204 0400 129.00 and up
Online registration is mandatory. Please register here: https://www.iceboat.org/regattas/niya/
To participate in the Northwest Ice Yacht Association (NIYA) regatta, all competitors must be members of a club that belongs to the NIYA. Below is a list of current member clubs. Please ensure you are a member of one of these clubs before registering:
During registration, please indicate your club affiliation in the appropriate field on the form. If you are not a member of one of these clubs, you will not be eligible to compete.
*2nd and 3rd round of races Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will start at a time announced by the Race Committee.
**If all classes have at least 3 races complete at the end of the day Saturday, Stern Steerers (A, B, C, D) will start first on Sunday.
As we prepare for the 2025 Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on the 1925 event, which was held 100 years ago. The 1925 Northwest was supposed to be held on Madison’s lakes, or so the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (4LIYC) thought. However, a twist of fate, or rather a ‘joker’ (as the Wisconsin State Journal put it) in the bylaws, changed everything. According to the Wisconsin State Journal (Feb. 3, 1925), the Northwest bylaw stated that if a regatta is canceled one year, it must be held on the same lake the following year. As a result, Pewaukee Lake retained the hosting rights, much to the disappointment of Madison sailors. The newspaper noted, “The general feeling among the local club is that Madison has not had an even break.”
Despite this setback, Madison sailors brought home significant victories:
1925 Northwest Class Champions
Class A Stern Steerer: – DEFIANCE – M.D. Bernard, P. Bernard (4LIYC)
Class B Stern Steerer: – LIBERTY – W.P. Bernard, E. Tetzlaff (4LIYC)
Free-for-All Winner: MISS MILWAUKEE Class A1, Camp Van Dyke, Pewaukee Ice Yacht Club
Interesting Notes from 1925
Class A1 Stern Steerers:
MISS MILWAUKEE, the free-for-all winner, competed in the now-defunct Class A1 division, which was for boats with a bigger sail area than Class A Stern Steerers. Built by Camp Van Dyke for $5,000, MISS MILWAUKEE was designed specifically to win the prestigious Stuart Cup but never managed to claim it. The Class A1 division was abolished in 1926, making this one of its last notable appearances in the Northwest.
Junior Division Announced:
The 1925 regatta saw the Northwest announce plans for a Junior Division to debut in 1926, open to sailors under 16 years old with boats limited to 150 square feet of sail area. However, it’s unclear whether this division ever came to fruition—stay tuned to the 2026 NIYA for that story!
100 Years Later
The Carl Bernard scrapbooks have been an invaluable resource for uncovering the history of the 1925 Northwest. Carl attended the regatta at Pewaukee and captured photos of his father’s winning boat, DEFIANCE, as well as the giant MISS MILWAUKEE. Most importantly, he preserved one of those special regatta moments by having someone snap a photo of him with all his pals on his stern-steerer.
Here we are, a century later, carrying on the tradition of the Northwest regatta on Lake Winnebago out of Fond du Lac. Ice sailors will once again compete for top honors—who will become the next champions in the Class A and B Stern Steerers? We are lucky to still be sailing the Northwest and honoring the legacy of those early champions and their stories.
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
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.
