UPCOMING:
4LIYC Meeting : February 26, 2025. Location to be determined.
WSSA Regatta: Tentatively called on for Feb 1-2 @ Lake Winnebago. More information.
DN World & North American Championship: Feb 2 – 8 More information
International Skeeter Association Regatta: Postponed until Feb 7 – 9. More information.
Northwest Regatta: Sailed @ Winnebago January 24 – 26. More information
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
Think & Drink: Iceboating History Presentation @ Wisconsin Maritime Museum
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.
To join virtually, please register here: Event Registration Link.
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.
2025 DN Senior Shuffle Update
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.
Ice Yachts Return to the FDR Museum & Library
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!
Bob
New Video Playlist: Racing Rules of Iceboating
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.
Watch the videos here on the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club YouTube channel playlist:
4LIYC Meeting Update for Dec 18
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.
Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Newsletter Update
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 
ISA & Renegade Championship Regatta Recap
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
ISA & Renegade Championship Results
The final day of the ISA Regatta was a challenging one, with foggy, overcast, and damp conditions that limited visibility in the morning. Fortunately, the wind was steady enough for racing, though the Race Committee postponed the start in hopes of weather improvement.
The B Skeeters decided to conclude their regatta early, holding their trophy ceremony on the ice before heading back to Lake Geneva. The A Skeeters also opted not to race, celebrating their champions with a trophy presentation on the ice. Meanwhile, the Renegades and Nite fleets stayed out later in the morning and managed to get in some solid racing before calling it a day.
By the afternoon, all participants gathered at the Water’s Edge Restaurant to warm up with hot chili and hold the regatta’s final trophy ceremony.
A special thanks to everyone who made this regatta possible: Ann Foeller, working remotely from Toledo, Ohio, for tabulating results for both the ISA and DN Western Region Championship; Julie Jankowski and Fred Stritt, for monitoring the weather mark on both courses; John Dennis, the ISA Regatta Chair, for organizing a successful event; and Pat Heppert for keeping the schedule on track. We’re also grateful to veteran photographer Gretchen Dorian for her coverage. Although she couldn’t make it to the ISA course, you can spot the Skeeters in the background of her always amazing DN photos. And finally, our heartfelt thanks to the people of Starbuck, Minnesota, for their always warm welcome and to the Water’s Edge Restaurant for graciously putting up with us throughout the event
2024 ISA Day 2 & DN Western Region Day 1 Report
DN Junior Sailor Maggie McGary US2453. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
ISA Results
DN Western Region Results
Saturday brought a different set of weather conditions—overcast and warmer, but with a dampness that felt more chilling than the 10°F temperatures of Friday. Thankfully, the wind remained steady, making it easier to run races efficiently.
I assisted on the DN course, while Pat Heppert, Jim McDonough, and others pitched in to manage the ISA course. Fred Stritt and Julie Jankowski, our dedicated DN Western Region weather mark crew, had the best vantage point of the day. Their position near the ISA pits allowed them to witness races on both courses.
On the DN side, we completed an impressive 10 races and were back at Water’s Edge Restaurant (add this place to the list of iceboaters favorite bars) by 2:30 PM. Chris Berger US5166 and Steve Orlebeke US4926 battled fiercely for the top spot throughout the day, while Dale Gordon and Alexander Leach are tied for first in the Silver fleet heading into the final day.
A special highlight was junior DN sailor Maggie McGary US2453, who placed second in the Silver fleet during the first race. Maggie is racing alongside her dad, John McGary, and it’s safe to say she’s the one showing him the ropes!
Veteran iceboat photographer Gretchen Dorian is also here capturing the action. Yesterday, she focused on the DN course, and today, she plans to shoot the ISA races. You can check out her amazing photos from yesterday here:.
Today marks the final day of racing for both the ISA and the DN Western Region Championship.
2024 ISA Day 1 Report
2024 ISA & Renegade Championship Information
Day One Report – ISA
Friday, December 13, 2024
Day one of the ISA was marked by brutally cold conditions. Racing was postponed initially as we waited for the temperatures to rise to at least 10°F. After a delay to wait for the temperature to ride, a quick skipper’s meeting was held, and the Race Committee efficiently sent everyone out to the course.
At exactly noon, George Gerhardt dropped the flag for the B and C Skeeters to start their first race. Throughout the day, temperatures gradually rose while the breeze picked up, allowing each fleet to complete three races—except for the A Skeeters, who were unable to start their third race due to running out of daylight.
Meanwhile, the DNs are set to to sail on a separate course today for their Western Region Championship.
ISA & Renegade Championship: Day 1 AM Update
Via ISA Regatta Chair John Dennis
The regatta is postponed this morning, Friday, December 13 because temperatures are below 10 F.
Skipper’s meeting is at 11 AM at the launch and first race is noon.
Online Ship’s Store
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
4LIYC Governing Documents
Click for 4LIYC Meeting Dates
- January 2 THURSDAY Honor Roll Nominations
- January 15 Deadline for By-Law or Racing Rules Amendment Submission
- January 29
- February 12 Business Meeting
- February 26
- March 12 Last Meeting of the Season
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.
