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
UPDATE: The Wisconsin Maritime Museum has unveiled a signature drink for their Think and Drink presentation—a twist on the classic Sidecar, featuring vodka and blue curaçao. The Skeeter
2 oz vodka
1 oz blue curaçao
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup (optional, for a hint of sweetness)
Lemon twist or orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add vodka, blue curaçao, lemon juice, and simple syrup (if desired).
Shake well until chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist or orange slice.
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.
Hudson River Stern Steerer ALLONS will be on display at the FDR Library. Photo Courtesy of White Wings & Black Ice
Hey East Coasters! Looking for something unique to do this holiday season? Don’t miss the chance to see three historic Hyde Park ice yachts on display at the Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home. Where: FDR Library & Museum
4079 Albany Post Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538 When: Monday, December 23, 2024
Friday, January 3, 2025 (A benefit from 4 PM – 6 PM)
Sunday, January 5, 2025
Via Bob Wills President Hudson River Ice Yacht Preservation Trust
SNATCHING VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEAT
THE SHOW OF THREE HISTORIC HYDE PARK ICE YACHTS WILL OPEN ON MONDAY 12/23
Upon hearing that the Budget Crisis had been resolved without a Government Shutdown, we sprung into action. An emergency crew of Hudson River Ice Yacht Club (and Trust) members, ten in total with many more on standby, made the rounds to the barns where ALLONS, HOUND, and COMET were stored, loaded them onto our trucks, transported them to the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home, and assembled and rigged them. Final touches will be completed today. https://www.fdrlibrary.org/events-calendar https://www.facebook.com/fdrlibrary https://hudsonrivericeyachting.blogspot.com/
We hope to see you there between Monday, December 23, 2024 and January 5, 2025. And please add to your calendars our fantastic Benefit, “SOIREE AMONGST THE ICE YACHTS”, Friday, January 3, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
We have much to be thankful for during this Holiday Season, and extending our best wishes to you!
The Skeeter Ice Boat Club (SIBC) of Lake Geneva, WI, has shared a new resource for the ice sailing community: a YouTube playlist breaking down the National Iceboat Authority’s Racing Rules of Iceboating into easy-to-digest sections.
Edited by SIBC member Dave Navin, these videos provide a guide to understanding and applying the racing rules, helping sailors of all experience levels navigate the course safely and confidently. Whether you’re looking to refresh your knowledge or learn the rules for the first time, this playlist is a valuable tool for anyone passionate about iceboating.
IN PERSON AT THE FOUR LAKES YACHT CLUB, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024
Please join us for our next Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club meeting. We will meet at the Four Lakes Yacht Club on the Yahara River in Monona. We’ll recap the weekend’s DN Western Region Championship and the ISA and Renegade Regattas, along with plenty of great stories to share.
WHAT TO KNOW:
Date: Wednesday, December18, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM CT
Location: The Four Lakes Yacht Club
6312 Metropolitan Ln, Monona, WI
What to Bring: $10 cash if you want to join in for pizza and cash for beverages.
WSSA HOME PAGE Link to video
Remember that kid-sized stern steerer sailing around a skating rink, yelling with pure joy? It serves as a reminder of how fun iceboats can be.
Speaking of Stern Steerers, the Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association latest newsletter is now uploaded! Check it out here.
2025 Wisconsin Stern Steerers Newsletter
searching for suitable ice conditions in the DN Western Region, and updates will be provided as soon as we have more information.
