2020 Northwest Ice Yacht Racing Association Information
March 13-15,2020
Lake Waconia, Minnesota
DN Western Challenge Called ON 3-5 Dec @ Christina
It’s on. Picture from Lake Christina near Ashby, MN n Sunday, November 28, 2021.
DECEMBER 1: UPDATE: Final confirmation. Regatta is called ON. Via John Dennis, the Western Challenge is called on for Lake Christina in Ashby, MN December 3 – 5, 2021. The Western Challenge is a an informal tune-up fun regatta for DNs.
What: Western Challenge
Date: December 3 – 5, 2021
Where: Lake Christina in Ashby, MN
Lodging: Recommended nearest Battle Lake, Minnesota
Battle Lake Inn and Suites (almost full, no vacancies for Friday night)
102 Glenhaven Dr, Battle Lake, MN 56515
+12188622500
Bonnie Beach Resort
20341 Bonnie Beach Road
Battle Lake, MN 56515
$175 night 3 bedrooms, (sleeps 4) with kitchen
218-864-5534
The Hideaway at Xanadu Island
35484 235th St, Battle Lake, MN 56515
+12188648096
The Otter
306 MN-78, Ottertail, MN 56571
+12183672525
Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association 2022 Newsletter
The big boats are Thinking Ice. Via WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton, here’s the 2022 newsletter.
SOLD! November 26, 2021: Sitka Spruce in WI
1. 18.5 ‘ x 5.5 ” x 1”
1. 18’ x 6” x 1”
Renegade Swing
Iceboaters are problem solvers, and Andy Gratton is one of the best. Based upon his experience at Lake Christina near Ashby, MN, last season, Andy figured out a way to make it easier to ferry a Renegade up and down a steep bank. Having “lifted hulls up and down banks one too many times,” he built a helpful device that easily picks up a Renegade hull.
“The crane will easily pick a Renegade (or perhaps a C skeeter hull.) It has a pick point about 11 feet aft of the trailer axle. I think that will do for getting the hulls over the bank we were using last year. As you can see from the photos, the slings and spreader bar works well for a Renegade hull. Both slings are the same length.”
Spaight Street Syndicate Update: The Other Deuce
And now for something completely different, via Daniel Hearn at the Spaight Street Syndicate.
The World According to Dash
If you’re like me, time always seems to run short when you’re prepping for the first regatta of the season. So, when nature calls, “ain’t nobody got time for dat.” Well, fret no more! Just get yourself a combo rolling work bench/changing station, like my Pappy’s, and do what I do. Drop that deuce right in your pants. Faster than a Struble start, you’ll be back at it before your runner even cools. Critical Hack–Make sure your sanitation engineer clears the bench of any carbon fiber dust. That can be very unpleasant on a fella’s bum.
SOLD! November 30, 2021: Renegade in WI
SOLD! Renegade
Two sets runners
Two sails (maybe three)
Full cover
Sail number 260
Price $3,600
SOLD! November 22, 2021: DN in MI
SOLD! Wolfe (Canada) built DN to tall skipper (+6’) w/ cover. New ash runner plank (+200# skipper) and dual front chock spring (Composite Concepts). Quantum F01 race sail, excellent condition w/cover. Composite Concepts fiberglass mast w/ cover. Complete set of runners w/ Boston Doyle runner bag. Two sets of shrouds w/ hardware backpack. Fast & light DN, always stored in a heated basement.
Southeast Michigan.
$2,750.
SOLD! December 2, 2020: B Skeeter
SOLD! Icefall: All West System B-Skeeter built by Bob Pegel about 1990.
Refurbished trailer.
Refinished two years ago, less than five days outside since.
See the www.Boecraft.com FOR SALE page for more pictures and
details.
This boat is 100% ready to sail in like new condition.
Asking price: $15,500
$12,000
Vassar Brewery: The First Iceboat Bar
America’s First Iceboating Bar & Club House
The Adventures of Iceboat Ike at Chucks by Harry Whitehorse
Chuck’s on Geneva, the Southside Ice Yacht Club on Winnebago, and Springer’s on Kegonsa, are a few bars that shape the social fabric of iceboating. After a day of good racing, walk into one of these establishments, and you’ll find boots with creepers scattered around the door, helmets, and coats piled on the pool tables. They are places where racers recount the day’s lap roundings and hash out ideas about finding more speed.
It’s not surprising that America’s first iceboating bar was in Poughkeepsie, New York, acknowledged as the sport’s American birthplace. Though he is often incorrectly cited as being America’s first iceboater, Poughkeepsie resident Oliver Booth and Jacob Buckhout were instrumental in sport’s growth. When Booth, Buckhout, and friends were ready for a cold one, they could have sailed their stern-steers up to the Vassar Brewery on the waterfront, which served as the think tank for early American ice sailing. The brewery also served as the start and finish line for Hudson River regattas.
“The Vassar Brewery office was the club house where all the river sportsmen gathered to discuss matters and partake of Mr. Booth’s specially brewed ale. About 1858 the possibilities of the development of the skate-boats was under consideration among the brewery coterie, and experiments of various kinds were tried with steel runners, heavy and light centre timbers and various cuts of sails.”
THE EAGLE’S HISTORY OF POUGHKEEPSIE BY EDMUND PLATT PUBLISHED IN 1905
I’ve stumbled across many odd connections in the sport’s history, and Vassar University is one of them. The name Vassar is familiar because it is associated with the college founded by the brewer, Matthew Vassar. The brewery building no longer exists, but if you are ever in Poughkeepsie, stop by the waterfront park and hoist a cold one to those who started it all.
I am indebted to Archie Call and Henry Bossett for sharing their early iceboating history research with me.
Season Approaches…Montana Calls
Season Approaches…Montana Calls
With the chill in the air and the shallower lakes starting to change form, no doubt many of you are dreaming of the ice sailing season ahead. If you haven’t already, now is the time to mark your calendar for the 2022 Hard Water Summit in Montana, this March. If this event is news to you, check out the details at https://montana.iceboat.org/
The event will take place during one of the first three weeks of March–
March 14-18 Target Week
March 7-11 Earliest Option
March 21-25 Latest Option
As we get closer to these dates and conditions are known, a call will be made. So, keep your schedules loose and be ready to go. We’ll be headed to “The Middle of Nowhere”, from all over the country and other parts of the world. All ice sailors are welcome. There are 73 already registered!
If you’re interested in being on our list for ongoing information, please subscribe by filling out the short survey on our website.
The city of Glasgow, Montana is looking forward to hosting our group with great enthusiasm. So much so, that the Glasgow Tourism Board has awarded us a sizable grant to help make the event spectacular. In addition to epic ice sailing, plans are underway for nightly social events, daily adventures for ice sailors’ guests who prefer other activities, and much more.
If you’re headed to the Great Western Challenge next week, bring your local knowledge questions, as Sean Heavey, Glasgow, Montana resident and ice sailing photographer/videographer extraordinaire will be there. https://www.seanrheavey.com/ Sean is bringing all his hi-tech gear, including his new video-equipped racing drone that is fast enough to keep up with any iceboat. You’ll see from Sean’s website that he is also a storm chaser, so this guy knows how to shoot extreme!
Stay safe everyone and hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving.
Daniel Hearn
New 4LIYC Officers Elected
In 1878, Harper’s Bazaar Magazine recognized Madison’s prominence in the sport in an article with a now famous engraving that depicts ice yachts and the scenic isthmus. We are still here.
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club elections were held Wednesday evening, and our new officers represent every fleet in the club. Daniel Hearn, who sails a DN, C Skeeter, Nite, and Renegade, is our new Commodore. Nite sailor Lars Barber is our new Vice Commodore. Treasurer Jerry Simon will serve another year along with myself as Secretary.
The club extends much gratitude to the previous Commodore Don Anderson and Vice Commodore Tim McCormick for their service.
SOLD! November 16, 2021: Nite in WI
SOLD! Nite #181
Full covers for boat and all parts
Trailer
3 Sails
2 Masts
2 Sets of runners
Many battens
Runner sharpening fixture
Asking $5,000
SOLD! November 4, 2021: Iceboat Trailer for Nite
SOLD! Iceboat trailer set up for a Nite. Trailer condition is good, newer tires, rims, spare, lights and trailer jack. Large storage tube for sails and boom, small wood box for runners or tools. Trailer accommodates boat, plank and mast.
Asking $500.
SOLD! November 9, 2021: Renegade in WI
Green Bay, WI
First!
Canadians, start your engines! DNer Mike Madge inaugurated the ice sailing season in North America on Whitefish Lake near Thunder Bay, Ontario, which often has the longest ice sailing seasons in the world. Video here.
Iceboat in National Sailing Hall of Fame Museum
Ever since Buddy Melges’ induction in the first class of 2011, ice boaters have numbered among the elite sailors honored by the National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF). Other hard water inductees include Peter Barrett, Olaf & Peter Harken, Jan & Meade Gougeon, Bill Bensten, Herbert Lawrence Stone (who authored books and articles), Bill Mattison, and Jane Pegel.
The sailing community’s full recognition of the sport of ice yachting has culminated with the inclusion of an iceboat in the new NSHOF museum in Newport, Rhode Island.
When visitors enter the impressive interactive exhibition hall, they will notice six boats hanging overhead from the exposed wooden rafters of the historic former armory. One of those six is an iceboat representing our community and those who live to “Think Ice.”
The NSHOF asked Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Nite sailor Don Sanford (the driving force behind Bill Mattison’s induction), myself, and others for an iceboat. The museum had hoped to hang a Class A Skeeter, but the wide plank would have taken up too much space. They chose one that would fit – the most popular iceboat globally, a DN.
Peter Harken asked that the boat not be a “fixer-upper” but a fully fitted racing boat. The NSHOF accepted Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club member Doug Kolner’s offer to donate his complete modern DN.
The DNs natural wood hull and plank, built in a small garage in Monona, Wisconsin, are true to the roots of the DN’s humble beginnings at the Detroit News hobby shop in the 1930s. Doug built the boat using standard DN plans, and it symbolizes all the iceboat builders who enjoy kicking up some dust and mixing epoxy in their garage shops.
Current members of the NSHOF’s influence is evident in the fact that the boat was built using Gougeon brothers epoxy and Harken brothers fittings technology. Doug recognized NSHOF member Bill Mattison and Green Lake Ice Yacht Club’s Joe Norton as the builders who had influenced his iceboat building know-how.
Northwest News: 2022 NOR Posted
ACE OF SPADES & LITTLE WIND line up to race.
Northwest Ice Yachting Association Secretary Steve Schalk has shared the 2022 Northwest Regatta Notice of Race. See it here.
SOLD! October 26, 2021: DN Sails in MN
SOLD! Two DN sails for sale
Boston F01 $550
North ABSS $550
Both in great shape with rat battens
Buy & Sell Page Maintenance
Paul Krueger next door at the Past Champions Iceboat Shop works on a Class A skeeter plank.
iceboat.org’s Buy and Sell page has evolved to keep relevant over the past 23 years. In 2020, by popular demand, we added a “Sold” column on the Buy and Sell page so that you can get an idea of the interest in iceboating. The “Sold” column took up so much space, especially on mobile devices, that I created an archive page where all the previously listed and sold iceboats and components will live. A much shorter “Sold” column will remain on the Buy and Sell page with fewer listings and links to the Sold Archive page.
BUY & SELL PAGESOLD! November 19, 2021: Runners in WI
SOLD! Skeeter runners:
1/2″ thick
2 5′ side runners
1 42″ front runner
$400
Madison, WI
New! ISA News & Views Newsletter Archive
