International Skeeter Association Regatta
The International Skeeter Association (ISA) was organized in the late 1930s and the first ISA regatta was sailed in 1940. Skeeters were developed on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. They are piloted by a single skipper and steer from the front of the boat as opposed to the original iceboats which were crewed by two or more and steered from the rear.
The Skeeter is the “Formula One” of ice yachting, a wide open development class where state-of-the-art sailing is seen annually. The only restriction on the Skeeter builder is a 75 square foot sail maximum sail area. While the basic configuration for successful E Skeeters has long been established, significant design improvements have been developed within the Four Lakes fleet. Taller rigs and rear seat Skeeters designed and built by 4LIYC members Bill Mattison and Paul Krueger have brought world championship titles to Madison skippers. In 1989, New Jersey’s Dan Clapp took the ice boating world by storm with his first front-seater and dominated the ISA regatta during the 1990s. Skeeter builders are adept with high tech materials like carbon fiber, and Kevlar. The super powerful Skeeters are the fastest boats on the ice. Sufficiently committed skippers find the greatest challenge in these boats, where design, building, and maintenance skills share equal roles with sailing ability
INTERNATIONAL SKEETER ASSOCIATION DUES NOTICE
NEW! Pay your ISA dues online here.
Or pay through the U.S. Mail: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT AN ISA MEMBERSHIP FORM
President Jason Thompson
jsthompsdds@hotmail.com
Vice President Pat Heppert
Pat.T.Heppert@saint-gobain.com
Secretary/Treas. Steve Schalk
W6001 Brick Church Rd
Fontana, WI 53125
262-275-2871
I564@charter.net
The annual dues are $25.00 for the 2023-2023 season, payable to:
International Skeeter Association
Steve Schalk, W6001 Brick Church RD, Fontana, WI 53125
December 1st, 2023 is the deadline for new items to be placed on the 2024 agenda.
January 12, 13, & 14, 2023 (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) is the first scheduled weekend for the 2024 Regatta.
Regatta Watch: ISA Called Tentatively ON for March 30 – April 1
Photo: Gretchen Dorian – Class A Skeeters on Lake Winnebago
The International Skeeter Association Championship has been tentatively called ON for March 30 – April 1, 2018. Potential sites include Little Bay de Noc in Gladstone, Michigan. Final confirmation will be made by noon Wednesday, March 28.The word from acting regatta chair John Dennis is that the committee is optimistic about conditions at Gladstone.
Regatta Watch: ISA Postponed
Rounding the Pole Photo: Craig Wilson
The International Skeeter Association Regatta has been postponed. The Race Committee continues to remain optimistic that the regatta will be sailed. Next update is Sunday, March 24, 2018 by 7 PM CST.
Regatta Watch: ISA Called On for March 23-25
Boehmke B Skeeters on Green Lake in 2013. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
The International Skeeter Association Championship has been tentatively called ON for March 23-25, 2018. Potential sites include Little Bay de Noc in Gladstone, Michigan and Houghton Lake in Michigan. Final confirmation will be made by noon Wednesday, March 21.
Regatta Watch: Broken Record Edition
Heeere’s Your Wednesday Regatta Update!
Both the ISA and Northwest Regattas have been postponed. Next update for the ISA regatta will be Sunday, March 18.
Via NIYA Chair Tim McCormick:
The NIYA Regatta is postponed until March 23-25. Gladstone, MI is the most promising site but they still have 2” of hard crust snow and the wind forecast for this weekend is light. Ice thickness is more than 18” and trucks are driving on and off the ice without a problem. We need a moderate melt for that site to become good enough for a regatta and the forecast for the next week indicates that should happen. Next update is Sunday, March 18 at 8pm CST.
Regatta Watch: ISA Called ON for March 16-18
Via International Skeeter Association Chair Jay Yaeso:
The ISA Championship Regatta is tentatively called on for March 16-18, 2018. We are hopeful a venue comes into play between now and Wednesday. If you have potential conditions, please advise.
Final confirmation will be noon Wednesday, March 14.
Skeeter Spring Fling Suamico Style
Group shot of a Skeeter from yesteryear.
Via WSA Correspondent Jay Yaeso:
The Wisconsin Skeeter Association held a Spring Fling on March 3-4, 2018 in Suamico, Wi on Green Bay. Friday night’s Smoker was a festive event; stories were told and Commodore Ken Whitehorse reflected on past events dating back to the 70’s. We sure we’re impressed with Ken’s recollection of these events in years past.
A discussion was had with regard to the lack of wind on Friday. Ken graciously volunteered to chat with Mother Nature hoping to convince her to show up Saturday.
Photos below are proof that we did sail. Tom Hyslop and Mark Isabel at top mark. John Dennis was the speed demon on Sunday demonstrating his fine sailing ability along with the perfect setup. John is crowned champion of the Spring Fling with one race completed
Regatta Watch: NIYA & ISA Postponed
Both the ISA and Northwest Regattas have been postponed. Next update, March 11.
Via NIYA Chair Tim McCormick
The NIYA Regatta is postponed until March 16-18. Gladstone, MI is the most promising site but they still have 2” of hard crust snow covered by 1” of fresh snow. Ice thickness is more than 18” and trucks are driving on and off the ice without a problem. We need a melt for that site to become good enough for a regatta. Next update is Sunday, March 11 at 8pm CST.
Regatta Watch: NIYA & ISA Tentatively Called ON For March 10-12
ISA News Via Jay Yaeso:
The ISA is called on for March 10,11,12. Potential sites are: Escanaba,Mi. Elk Lake, Mi. and Newport, VT.Final call Wednesday, March 7 at noon.
Northwest Regatta News Via Tim McCormick:
The Northwest Regatta is tentatively called ON for March 9-11. We’re keeping our eyes on ice in upper Michigan and Elk Lake and will monitor the snow event Monday-Tuesday. Final determination will be Wednesday, March 7th at Noon CST.
ISA Postponed
From Jay Yaeso:
The ISA Race Committee is postponing another week. Ice checkers
found 20″ of ice but current ramp conditions will not be able to
tolerate a regatta.
We continue our search for having a 2018 ISA championship.
Next update March 4, 2018
ISA Called ON
ISA called ON. Green Bay primary location.
Final call Wednesday noon.
Regatta Watch: NIYA & ISA Postponed
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
UPDATE:ISA postponed as well. Next ISA update is February 25, 2018.
Via NIYA Regatta Chair Tim McCormick:
The Northwest Regatta is postponed until March 2-4. We have a number of potential sites which are close to racing conditions. Madison lakes have smoothed out nicely but they have shell ice; ¾” ice above 1-3” of liquid. Geneva has drain holes with skimmed ice over them. Green Lake is similar to Madison plus it has some hard 4” snow drifts. Lake Winnebago and Green Bay are getting smoother but are still too rough for a regatta. Next update is Sunday, February 25th at 7pm CST.
ISA & NIYA: Nines!
Via Tim McCormick
DID YOU KNOW?
The racing format for the NIYA, ISA, and Renegade regattas has changed from five races to nine races. Three races are scheduled for each day (Friday through Sunday) and races may be made up if missed on prior days. For example, if only one race is completed on Friday, then we may sail up to 5 races on Saturday. Here’s hoping for smooth ice, fair winds, and lots of good racing soon!
Kenny Krieder in POON, a classic rear seat Class A Skeeter
Regatta Watch: ISA Tentatively Called ON for Feb 23-24
Photo: Craig Wilson
Via ISA Regatta Chair, Jay Yaeso:
The International Skeeter Association Regatta is tentatively called ON for February 23-25, 2018. The Northwest has precedence. Currently, conditions do not exist. A weather system early in the week could present an opportunity for an event. The Northwest is also called on and takes precedence over the ISA. Final confirmation will be noon, Wednesday, February 21.
Palmer Boat Company of Lake Geneva
Photo of a Palmer iceboat, LINGWES, from Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club website. PS. This boat is still for sale. Contact Bill Bucholz.
Waiting for ice sailing conditions to return gives more time to post the historical items. The invaluable Brian Reid of New York recently shared some history in the form of a letter from the Palmer Boat Company written in 1936 to a New Jersey iceboater. Brian wrote:
I was going through some images on a snow day here and came upon a few things from out your way. These come from a scrapbook that Greg Strand recently acquired on behalf of the North Shrewsbury Iceboat & Yacht Club of New Jersey; Greg is archivist/historian of the Red Bank crew.The scrap book belonged to George Seger – an active NJ ice boater in the 30s and 40s – he’s in Wings on the Ice (p. 59). Greg called me and I took digital images of as much as I could. Great stuff.
As you see in their elegant letter head, the Palmer Boat Company of Fontana, Wisconsin was an early builder of scows and iceboats. Many vintage Palmers have come across the Buy and Sell page of this website over the years. A quick internet search about Palmer boats turned up some interesting facts. Buddy Melges’ father, Harry Sr., worked for Palmer before starting Melges Boatworks. Maine iceboater Bill Bucholz wrote a story about a Palmer, LINGWES, for the Chickawaukee Iceboat Club that referenced the same Richard Moeller as in this letter to Mr. Seger. Thank you, Brian, for sending this out our way.
Previous: Palmer on the Prairie,, December 2, 2016 on iceboat.org.
If you interested in the early history of ice sailing in the United States and efforts to maintain and sail historic Stern Steerers, Brian’s website, White Wings and Black Ice is a must read.
Regatta Watch: ISA & NIYA Postponed
Photo: Chris John Sailing legend Buddy Melges takes a first place finish in his Skeeter at the 2007 Northwest sailed on Green Bay in Menominee, Michigan
The International Skeeter Association (ISA) and Northwest Regattas are postponed because all of Wisconsin and Michigan are snow covered. Next update for both regattas is Sunday, February 18.
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