UPCOMING:
4LIYC Meeting : March 12 @ Breakwater
International Skeeter Association Regatta: Postponed
Senior Shuffle DN Regatta: Postponed More information
4LIYC Shipstore: Order custom iceboat shirts, hats, and gear. More information.
BURGEE: Order your 4LIYC Burgee
Pay Your Dues Online
Newsletter From the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club

Racing trophies that are still cherished by iceboat builder Samuel Rogers’ family. Photo from White Wings & Black Ice
Here is the latest Hudson River Ice Yacht Club newsletter for those who enjoy following the stories of the original historic stern steerers that sailed the Hudson River many years ago. One highlight from the newsletter is a report about the recent exhibit at the FDR Museum and Library in Hyde Park, which showcased the legacy of an iceboat builder and racer, Samuel R. Rogers.
If you’d like to learn more about Samuel R. Rogers and the history of Hudson River ice yachts, visit Brian Reid’s incredible website White Wings and Black Ice. Check out the full Hudson River Ice Yacht Club newsletter or more stories and updates.
We’re Shuffling to Madison! DN Senior Shuffle Called ON for Lake Monona Jan 13-15
SENIOR SHUFFLE HOME PAGE
We’ve got a beautiful sheet of ice on Lake Monona in Madison, but it’s not quite thick enough for this weekend. So, we’ll be 76 minutes north of Madison in Fond du Lac for the 2025 Western Regional.
When things wrap up on Sunday, we’ll head to Madison for the kick off of the first annual Senior Shuffle. We’ve got a great rate lined up at our oft used HQ hotel, The Clarion. Just $79/night and less than a mile from the Olin Park Launch.
We will have group social functions on both Monday and Tuesday nights. Standby for details. Prize giving on the ice Wednesday to wrap things up. All fun…no running…all are welcome, whether you are a “Senior” or not. All will race under the special senior rules. See you there!
SENIOR SHUFFLE
DATES: January 13 – 15, 2025
LOCATION: Lake Monona, Madison, WI
LAUNCH SITE:
Olin Park Launch
LODGING
Clarion Suites
2110 Rimrock Rd, Madison, WI 53713
+16083501766

Lake Monona, Thursday, January 9, 2025
Rocket Ice Yacht Foundation Raffle: Win a Fully Loaded DN!
The Rocket Ice Yacht Foundation is raffling a fully loaded Ron Sherry Composite Concepts DN. This is an opportunity to support the Foundation and win a top-tier DN. For all details, including how to enter, please refer to the graphic above. Don’t miss out—help support the future of ice sailing and maybe win the ride of your life!
4LIYC Meeting Update for Jan 8, 2025
Our next Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 8, at 6:30 PM at Daniel Hearn’s office:
S/B Marketing
1352 E Wilson Street
Madison, WI
We are fortunate this year to have so much ice and sailing activity to enjoy, and there will be plenty to discuss. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Regatta Watch: 2025 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to January 17-19
The ISA and Renegade Championships are postponed a week.
It appears that multiple potential destinations for the regatta will need to be checked in the week ahead to locate the best ice. Next update is January 12, 2025.
Steve Schalk
ISA Secretary/Treasurer
4LIYC Racing Recap for January 5, 2025

At the start of the first race, block 1 was left empty to honor the late Tim McCormick. Tim’s brother Andy, is in the 2 block.
The 4LIYC Renegades took to Lake Kegonsa on Sunday afternoon for three races in very cold conditions. Despite the chill, it was a competitive day on the ice, with Don Anderson dominating the fleet and claiming three bullets. The ice was super hard and fast, but somewhat rough. Sailors did their best to avoid occasional sticky snow drifts. The wind started out shifty, keeping sailors on their toes, but it filled in steadily toward the end of the racing, making for a solid finish to the day. Nite sailor Lars Barber represented the 4LIYC Nite fleet, lining up with the Renegades and racing alongside them.
The Renegades also took time to honor one of their own. A missing man formation lineup paid tribute to a member who would no longer be lining up at the start. At the start of the first race, starting block one was held in reserve to honor the memory of the late Tim McCormick who passed away in 2024. Tim’s brother, Andy McCormick, stepped into the two block to carry on the family’s presence on the ice along with cousin Greg who lined up in block four..
Scores will be posted soon.
The Ice Boaters Dream
Video Link
Iceboaters have long imagined the possibility of clearing snow from frozen lakes to create ideal sailing conditions. The challenge lies in needing thick, solid ice to support vehicles capable of clearing the snow—an effort that often seems insurmountable.
Years ago, the late DN sailor Mark Keifer of Minnesota pioneered snow removal efforts for the Ice Racing Circuit at the St. Paul Winter Carnival. On a snow-covered lake in Tianchi, near Urumqi in western China, crews are clearing the ice for the first Tianshan Tianchi International Ice Yacht Open in conjunction with their winter festival. This historic event will feature DN sailors from Germany, Sweden, and China, competing against the backdrop of the snow-covered Tianshan Mountains.
This event demonstrates that removing snow for ice sailing can be done with enough will and equipment (and likely an unlimited budget.)
WSSA Drone Video
Check out this drone video from John Touscany from the weekend’s Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Regatta in Crivitz, WI.
Link to Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/touscany/videos/1268421577607171
Regatta Watch: Nite Nationals Postponed
Your Nite Board have decided to postponed Nite Nationals. We will keep searching for the right conditions.
In the meantime, there is a wonderful video out there on YouTube about the “Racing Rules of Iceboating: Learn, Understand, Race…”
It is sponsored by the Four Lakes Ice Yacht ClubContinue to monitor Facebook Group, the Nite Website, and your email for further communication.
We are always open to you sharing the conditions of your local lake or of a lake you have pertinent info on.
Keep your runners sharp and your boats tuned. The ride of your life awaits.
Sail Safe, Sail Fast,
Commodore Maureen Bohleber #497
Vice Commodore David Navin #549
Secretary/Treasurer Chris Wiberg #434
Tech Mike Peters #544
Made for the Sky

Andy Gratton and ROSEMARY Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Regatta on Lake Noquebay near Crivitz, Wisconsin on Jan 4, 2025. Photo by Mike Roemer
The Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association regatta on Lake Noquebay in Crivitz, WI, wraps up today, but not before leaving us with some photos captured from above. Mike Roemer shared some amazing drone photos on Facebook that showcase the majesty of the big boats. Stern Steerers are made for drone photography, with their impressive size and striking presence on the ice.
You can see more of Mike’s amazing photos on the 4LIYC Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/iceboat