NIYA

Northwest Ice Yachting Association An iceboat regatta first sailed in 1913 in Menominee, Michigan.
Contact US

Stern Steerers

The NIYA was originally a stern-steerer regatta organized to determine ice yacht supremacy in the Midwest. A,B,C,& D stern-steerers continue to compete in the NIYA.

Skeeters

Class E Skeeters first raced the NIYA in 1936 when Lake Geneva sailor Harry Melges won in MICKEY FINN.

DN Class

Skip Boston of Detroit was the first winner of the NIYA in the DN class in 1954.

Renegade

First sailed as a seperate class in 1958 and won by “Mr. Iceboat”, Elmer Millenbach.

NIYA Centennial

The NIYA celebrated 100 years of iceboat racing in 2013 on Green Lake in Wisconsin.

2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information

March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota

Iceboat Swap Meet Mega Weekend- Nov 2-3

by | Nov 2, 2019 | ,

Looking to attend an iceboat swap meet? We’ve got you covered across iceboating country, from east to west. If you are new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, swap meets are the perfect place to kick the tires, shop for parts, and meet ice sailors. Have a boat or parts to sell? Take them to your local swap meet.

EAST:
New England Ice Yacht Club
Saturday November 2, 2019
10 AM with lunch at noon
Hudson-Concord Elks Hall
99 Park Street, Hudson, MA 01749
More information.

CENTRAL:
West Michigan Swap Meet at the Muskegon Yacht Club
Saturday, November 2, 2019
9 AM – 1 PM
3198 Edgewater St, Muskegon, MI 49441

WEST
Skeeter Iceboat Club Swap Meet
Sunday, November 3, 2019
9 AM to Noon
Lucke’s Cantina
220 N. Elkhorn Rd. (WI Hwy 67), Williams Bay, WI.
More information

FAR WEST
Minnesota Ice Sailors Swap Meet
Saturday, November 2, 2019
9 AM – Noon
Sailcrafters
7450 Oxford St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
More information

2018 SIBC Swap Meet: November 4, 2018

by | Oct 31, 2018 | ,

iceboat-swap-meet

Get them fresh and hot!

Another milestone that brings us closet to the season! If you are looking to buy an iceboat, don’t miss this important event.
Via Jane Pegel:

Skeeter Ice Boat Club: 33rd Annual Swap Meet

Date: Sunday, November 4, 2018
Time: 9:00 to noon
With a free raffle at 11:30 a.m.There is no charge for participating.
Location: Lucke’s Cantina
220 N. Elkhorn Rd. (WI Hwy 67), Williams Bay, WI.
Map

For more info, email sailing19@charter.net

This is the day to swap, buy, and sell new and used iceboats and equipment. Boat builders & hardware manufacturers will display new products. Breakfast and/or lunch will be available at Lucke’s.

Display area:
Items for sale can be set up on the black top parking area at Lucke’s
and in the vacant lot to the south of the old Sailing Specialists building.

Please do not park your cars in the display area.
Please do not park or set up your displays adjacent to neighboring businesses. A short distance to the north there is a municipal parking lot located at the intersection of Elkhorn Rd. and Stark St. (on the north side of Stark St., opposite Burrough’s Floor Coverings).

4LIYC Fall Ice Sailing Event

by | Oct 6, 2018 | ,

For well over 50 years, this iceboat club has kicked off the season with some sort of fall gathering to get iceboating back on everyone’s minds. For many years, we’ve hosted picnics. Two years ago, we held a very successful iceboat show at Dick Lichtfeld’s property.
This year, we are excited to announce an event in conjunction with Hoofer’s Sailing Club at the famous University of Wisconsin Memorial Union. (Sailing iceboats on Lake Mendota to the Union for lunch is part of what makes Madison a unique ice sailing center.)
DN ice sailor Dideric van Riemsdijk H467 from the Netherlands (where it all began) will present a program on the annual ice sailing regatta that takes place every spring at one of the planet’s most remote places, Lake Baikal in Siberia. We will have iceboats set up in historic Tripp Commons on the 2nd floor of the Union.
Please join us on Sunday, October 14, 2018 for this free event where you can meet up with old friends or learn about the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club and how to get started in the sport. All are welcome  including area iceboat and sailing clubs. The planets have aligned (at least here in Wisconsin) because there’s no Packer game that Sunday. 

ICE SAILING LAKE BAIKAL

A Free Program & Iceboat Exhibit Sponsored by the 4LIYC and Hoofer’s Sailing Club
Date: Sunday, October 14, 2018
Time: Noon to 3 PM Program at 1 PM
Location: University of Wisconsin Memorial Union, Tripp Commons, 2nd Floor of the Union
800 Langdon St, Madison, WI    MAP

DETAILS
Parking: Helen C. White Parking Garage  MAP
State Street Campus Parking Garage MAP
Food: Your favorite Wisconsin beverages and food will be available for purchase at Der Rathskeller and other restaurants located in the Memorial Union.
Questions? Please email us: debwhitehorse@iceboat.org

December 18, 2024: Melges 80 Skeeter in WI

by | Dec 18, 2024 |

Melges 80 Skeeter. Complete with two sails, full covers and bags for sails & boom. Carbon fiber mast, stainless cables, Harken pulleys. Very comfortable to sail. Easy to set up and take down. Plank is 16′ wide, mast 22′ tall, hull 19′ long, spring board 4’6″ to hull and 6’9″ total. Both foot & wheeling steering. Pillow block chocks. Custom built boat trailer that is set up to transport two ice boats. Trailer has new wheels & tires. Boat always stored inside.
Located in Oshkosh, WI.
Delivery available – $7,800.00
(920) 850-8265.

New Video Playlist: Racing Rules of Iceboating

by | Dec 17, 2024 | ,


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

by | Dec 17, 2024 | ,


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.

ISA & Renegade Championship Regatta Recap

by | Dec 16, 2024 | , , , , , ,

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

nite-champions
Nite Class Champions: From left Mike Jankowski 4th, Kyle Navin 3rd, Dave Navin 2nd, and Chris Wiberg 1st
renegade-champions
Renegade Champions: From left 3rd Skip Dieball, 4th Mike Maloney, 2nd Andy Gratton. Not pictured, Mike Derusha 1st.
Renegade Race 1champ
Daniel Hearn, winner of the first Renegade Race.
2024 Wr Silver Fleet Westerns
DN Western Region Silver fleet top 5: From left, Maggie McGary US2453 5th, Ben Garber US5667 3rd, Alexander Leach US244 2nd, and 4LIYC DNer Dale Gordon US5696 1st. Not pictured Bill Eklund US5432 4th
2024 Wr Gold Fleet Westerns
2024 DN Western Region Gold fleet top 5: From left, Mike Bloom US321 3rd, Jeff Roseberry US5687 4th, Bill Cutting US5430 5th, 4LIYC Skeeter and DN sailor Steve Orlebeke US4926, 2nd, and Chris Berger US5166 1st.

 

2024 ISA Day 2 & DN Western Region Day 1 Report

by | Dec 15, 2024 | , , , , ,

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

by | Dec 14, 2024 | , , ,


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 Starting Positions

by | Dec 13, 2024 | , ,

ISA AND RENEGADE CHAMPIONSHIP
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024
DAY 1 STARTING POSITIONS

STARTING ORDER PER SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
COMBINES B & C SKEETERS

B & C SKEETERS
1 James Smith I-34
2 Billy Barrett I-711
3 Rich Popovich I-422
4 Jason Thompson I-248
5 Jim McDonagh I-234
6 Pat Heppert I-291
7 Chris Hibbard 51
8 Regin Schwaen D-181

RENEGADES
1 Damien LUyet 244/213
2 Chris Gordon 582
3 Ron Rosten R-161
4 Doug Kolner 515
5 George Gerhardt 123
6 Michael Maloney 599
7 Chad Atkins 500
8 Mike Derusha R-188
9 Andrew Gratton 81
10 Peter Sarelis 406
11 Daniel Hearn 507
12 Skip Dieball 555

NITES
1 Mike Jankowski 559
2 John Heigis 160
3 Mike Peters 544
4 Rich Popovich 422
5 Terry Reynolds 58
6 Daniel Hearn 595
7 Marek Valasek 444
8 Drew Vandervelde 556
9 Dave Navin 549
10 Bill Andersen 432
11 Daniel Bierman 517
12 Kyle Navin 419
13 Maureen Bohleber 497
14 Chris Wiberg 434

A SKEETERS
1 John Dennis U-194
2 Alex Peterson U-420
3 Jay Yaeso U-311

Regatta Watch: 2024 ISA & Renegade Championship Called ON for Dec 13 – 15

by | Dec 11, 2024 | , , , ,

LAUNCH & REGISTRATION INFO

The 2024 International Skeeter Association (ISA) Regatta and Renegade Championship have been called ON for this weekend, December 13-15 on Lake Minnewaska, Starbuck, Minnesota!
Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions & Conditions

  • ISA & Renegade Championship Regatta: A three-day event beginning Friday, December 13.
  • This is a regatta for the following classes. A, B, and C Skeeters, Renegades, and Nites.
  • The DN Western Region Championship has also been called on at the same location. We will be sharing the launch, the fun, and possibly the race course with the DN fleet. The Race Committees will decide on the ice whether all fleets will race on one course or have separate courses based upon conditions.
  • DO NOT DRIVE ON THE ICE! Back your trailers on the ice.

Important: Registration is ONLINE ONLY and closes Friday morning at 7 AM CT. There will be no in-person registration, so please ensure you register online before the deadline.

Everything else you need to know – launch, lodging and registration posted here.

December 9, 2024: Arrow in PA

by | Dec 9, 2024 |

Arrow #325
Arrow and Arrow jet
Hull rebuilt (2015) with access ports
OE and gull wing runner planks
Doyle sail in excellent condition
Storm sail
Custom fir mast
Custom blocks (skeeter design)
Spare (Arrow) blocks
OE shrouds and adjustable shrouds
OE and wrapped aluminum tillers
OE and wishbone boom
Steering cables, posts and hardware for both designs
(2) sets of Sarns skates
(3) front chocks, side chock lots of hardware
Upholstered cockpit cushion
Cover
in Erie, PA
$4300 OBO
Contact Chris Wolford at (814) 218-0090 or e-mail to Andicappp@aol.com

Regatta Watch: 2024 ISA Called ON for Starbuck, MN

by | Dec 8, 2024 | , , ,

Big lake, big ice, big hiking on Lake Winnebago at the 2010 Northwest Regatta. Photo: Gretchen Dorian

Via ISA Regatta Chair John Dennis

The 2024 International Skeeter Association Regatta has been tentatively called on for Lake Minnewaska in Starbuck, MN, from December 13–15. This is a regatta for the Skeeter, Nite, and Renegade classes. This is the same venue where the 2024 DN Western Challenge took place.

 

Adding to the excitement, the 2024 DN Western Region Championship has also been called on with this regatta, creating a unique opportunity for camaraderie and fun.

 

Additionally, if conditions are favorable, the Renegade fleet may choose to hold their 2024 Championship at Lake Puckaway in Princeton, Wisconsin.

 

Final confirmation for the regatta will be posted by noon on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

4LIYC Meeting Update! Zoom for Dec 4

by | Dec 3, 2024 | ,


ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION!
4LIYC Members: This week’s meeting will be held on Zoom only, giving everyone a bit more time in the shop to prep for the season. Club members are gearing up for the first sails of the season—at the DN Western Challenge in Minnesota and a possible Renegade and Nite regatta on Lake Puckaway. The Zoom format also gives us the chance to hear ice reports from out-of-town members. Check your email from Tuesday morning for the Zoom link!

What to know:
4LIYC Meeting
Wednesday, December 4
6:30 PM
Zoom Only

December 3, 2024: Class A Skeeter in MN

by | Dec 3, 2024 |

Predator A-Class Skeeter
Iceboats are sailing right now in Minnesota on Hollywood ice. A proven, highest performance iceboat and a turnkey program. Comes with two masts (28’, 26’) two rigs, five sails, full covers and one set of excellent runners, with brand new Harken runner bags.
The package also includes a fantastic trailer. Which holds the boat plus it can carry a Nite. The trailer has new tires, spare tire, new wiring, new bearing buddies.
Minnesota
$14,500
$13,000
$12,500 OBO
revansm1@gmail.com
612-275-6010

December 3, 2024: DN in MI

by | Dec 3, 2024 |

DN Wood and fiberglass mast, all stainless rigging with stainless barrel adjusters. Aluminum boom, composite plank, telescoping tiller. Two sets of runners, bull nose plate and wood slush runners. Braided sheet line. Polish speed sail, like new with battens and sail bag.
$1,750.
Essexville, MI
989-909-5103

December 3, 2024: Boe-Craft B Skeeter in WI

by | Dec 3, 2024 |

Boe-Craft B Skeeter
Jack in the Green – Formerly Rumrunner
Rebuilt in 2008.
Comes with a painted mast tuned to match the original spar by Paul Krueger.
On trailer with new wheels and tires, welded aluminum box. Low bunks for easy lifting.
Since rebuild sailed just in 2010 season in the NIYA Regatta and the Boecraft Championship. Won both events.
Sold with a competitive Henry Bossett sail, so no need for a $2000 upgrade.
The boat has been stored inside my shop as a spare. Never been outside or wet since the 2010 Boecraft Championship.
This boat won ISA B championships sailed by Skip Wadewitz, John Eck and Steve Schalk.
Time for it to go back into competition with a new owner.
$12,000
$11,000
Southern Wisconsin
Steve Schalk i564@charter.net

Regatta Watch: 2024 Nite Nationals Tentatively Called On

by | Dec 2, 2024 | ,


Via International Nite Class Commodore Maureen Bohleber:

The 2024 Nite Nationals are tentatively called on for December 7-8. Come a day early and enjoy some pick up races to get those spider webs out of the way.

Lake Puckaway, WI is looking good. Located west of Green Lake it has produced early ice before with regatta performance ice. Presently it has at least 2 inches of solid ice near shore and looks like a 10. We will give you an additional update on Wednesday 12/4. There is a good possibility we may share the course with the Renegades.

Regatta Watch: 2024 Renegade Championship Tentatively Called ON

by | Dec 1, 2024 | , ,

The 2024 International Renegade Association Championship is tentatively called on for Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8, 2024.

The potential location is Lake Puckaway near Princeton, WI. While final confirmation will be posted by Thursday, December 5, at noon, our scouts expect to have an update by Wednesday, December 4.

Stay tuned for updates as we finalize the plans. Dust off your gear, prepare your Renegades, and get ready for a weekend of sailing

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