Photo: Marcus Berghahn
The ISA Championship Regatta is tentatively on for February 14th – 16th, 2025. Multiple locations are under review including Madison WI and Lake City MN.
The final call will be made by noon on Wednesday February 12th. Check back here at that time.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
For UW-Madison student Eden Milan, a simple connection to Madison’s frozen lakes turned into an unexpected discovery of their family’s deep ice boating history. Milan’s great-grandfather, Carl Bernard, was one of Madison’s most accomplished iceboat skippers, winning numerous championships—including nine titles aboard the legendary Mary B. Though originally from Seattle, Milan had no idea they were connected to such a significant piece of Madison’s ice boating legacy until they arrived at UW.
This past weekend at the Frozen Assets Festival, Milan had the rare opportunity to ride aboard the Mary B, experiencing firsthand the ice yacht that helped define their great-grandfather’s legacy. If you haven’t seen this historic iceboat in action yet, there’s still time to visit the Mary B set up in front of The Edgewater.
On a chilly weekday morning in February, Eden Milan pulled a pair of ice creepers over their shoes (rubber grips with small spikes at the bottom) and walked out onto the frozen Lake Mendota.
On the lake, a group of enthusiastic ice boat sailors worked to reassemble the boat Milan’s great-grandfather collected so many of his trophies with, a boat that continues to represent Madison’s history as an ice boating haven. Continue reading.
Full circle on the ice—Eden Milan rides aboard the Mary B, the same legendary iceboat her great-grandfather, Carl Bernard, once raced to victory.
Hundreds of people watch as fireworks launch into the night sky above an inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch on frozen and ice-covered Lake Mendota during the conclusion of the Wisconsin Union’s Winter Carnival on Feb. 11, 2023. The event was held along the shoreline of the Memorial Union Terrace at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The Lady Liberty tradition began with a prank in 1979 by the Pail and Shovel Party which made a campaign promise. Read more
Madison Celebrates on the Lake Mendota Ice this weekend.
This weekend, Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (4LIYC) sailors are shifting gears a bit to focus on promoting the sport of iceboating while taking advantage of great conditions. Instead of official club racing, we’re focusing on a fun sailing day on Saturday, February 8, as part of the UW Winter Carnival and Frozen Assets celebrations at The Memorial Union and Edgewater. It’s also a good opportunity to see the MARY B set up at the Edgewater. Stop by and say hello to 4LIYC members from the Iceboat Foundation who help preserve this boat.
If you want to sail on Lake Mendota, you can set up at Lot 60 or Brearly Street and sail toward The Edgewater and the Union to give spectators a close-up look at the sport. If conditions remain favorable and the snow holds off, we may also hold 4LIYC club racing on Sunday, February 9, on Lake Mendota. We’ll have more information on possible 4LIYC racing on Saturday, February 8.
Bucky’s new ride, the MARY B
4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn takes first in Silver at the DN Worlds.Not pictured, second place Dave Elsmo. Photo: Anna Suslova
Lake Winnebago has been the place to be for ice sailing this season. From the Northwest Regatta to the Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Regatta, the DN Western Region Championship, and now the DN World and North American Championships, it has been an incredible stretch of racing on one of the best venues in North America.
It’s great to be back on Winnebago for the DN Worlds and North Americans and even better to drive on the ice, making race logistics easier for sailors and officials. These back-to-back regatta weeks can be exhausting, but ice sailors have been waiting for years for this kind of ice. Beyond the racing, seeing everyone socializing at the hotel and gathering for a banquet at Sunset on the Water has been fantastic.
The World Championship is now complete, and congratulations to five-time champion Matt Struble. Watching the best ice sailors in the world at work is always incredible. Right behind Matt, the Polish sailors continue to be a massive force, along with the Swedes and Estonians, who have all shown their skill and consistency. The top Swedish sailors in this competition have a long history with my brother, Ron Rosten, who has followed their progress from junior racing all the way to the Gold Fleet. Ron attends the Junior World Championship held in Europe every year, and it has been amazing to see these young sailors grow into top competitors.
Now, the focus shifts to the North American Championship, where four races have been completed. Every race has been like a high-speed chess match, where every move counts, and the slightest mistake can cost positions. The competition has been fierce, with no easy wins.
Today’s forecast calls for strong winds, and I’m sure PRO Pat Heppert is already driving to the lake to check conditions as I type this.
Closer to home, our Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (4LIYC) sailors had strong performances at the DN World Championship, battling through some of the toughest competition in recent memory. The Silver Fleet raced at a Gold Fleet level, and Bronze felt like Silver, making every finish hard-earned.
Great racing from our club members—congratulations to all!
It has been an incredible week, and we are hoping to finish out the North Americans with a complete seven-race series. Stay tuned for updates!
Stay updated with the latest results, photos, and behind-the-scenes coverage:
Photo Gallery by Anna Suslova – Gallery Link Password: sail
The 2025 ISA and Renegade Championship has been postponed until February 14 – 16. The weather forecast of little to no wind on Friday, with a full day of vision blocking snow on Saturday made the decision to postpone clear.The next update will be posted here on Sunday, February 9.
Don Ward Flying Start trophy. Photo Gretchen Dorian.
RESULTS
The 2025 Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association (WSSA) Regatta took place on Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac, WI February 1 – 2.
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer Andy Gratton shared, “We had the first race for the Don Ward Flying Start Trophy, to be sailed for by D stern steerers only. Joe Terry is the winner.”
Photos: Gretchen Dorian
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.
