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.
Feb 18, 2024 Regatta Watch: NIYA, ISA & Renegade Championship Called ON for Feb 23-25
NORTHWEST
The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Race Committee has called the 2024 regatta on for a yet to be determined Minnesota location north and west of St. Cloud. The dates are February 23rd-25th.The lakes are still to be final checked for surface and launch conditions. There are potential lakes in the Alexandria area, where lodging may be an issue, and lakes further north.
The final call will be made as soon as possible, but Wednesday February 21st by noon at the latest.
ISA
The International Skeeter Association Race Committee has made the same call on for February 23rd-25th. In the event the Northwest is held the ISA will defer and postpone.Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA & ISA
A Big Thanks to NIYA & ISA Ice Checkers
A message from NIYA & ISA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:
The Race Committees for the Northwest and ISA regattas, would like to acknowledge all the efforts of our ice checkers who have been scouting and sailing potential regatta sites. Pat Heppert and Chris Wiberg spent an entire weekend driving the width of Minnesota setting up their boats and test sailing multiple lakes. Terry Reynolds and Mike Peters sailed Little Bay De Noc, and Jim McDonagh drove up to Lake Osakis on Wednesday at dawn sailed his DN all over the lake, then drove back in a whiteout. We all owe them a big thank you for the huge efforts made to find a place for us to have an event. Many thanks to you guys.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA & ISA
Feb 14, 2024 Regatta Watch: Postponement for ISA & NIYA
Patience
NORTHWEST
The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Race Committee has postponed the 2024 Regatta to February 23rd, 24th, and 25th. A combination of incoming snow, snowy travel, 5.5 rated surface with high winds forecast led to the postponement.ISA
The International Skeeter Association Race Committee has postponed one week to February 23rd-25th. If the Northwest is held that weekend the ISA will defer.Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA & ISA
Regatta Watch: NIYA Or ISA Called ON for Feb 16-18 in MN or WI
NORTHWEST:
The 2024 Northwestern Regatta is on for Lake Osakis Minnesota for February 16th, 17th and 18th. The final call with details on the launch site located off Lake street in downtown Osakis will be made on Wednesday by noon.INTERNATIONAL SKEETER ASSOCIATION & RENEGADE CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2024 ISA Regatta and Renegade Championship is also called on for a location to be determined in Minnesota or Wisconsin. If the Northwest is confirmed on Wednesday, the ISA will defer and postpone.NEXT UPDATE: Wednesday, February 14 by 12 PM CT.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA and ISA
Regatta Watch: ISA & Northwest Postponed
Rob Evans sails his A Class Skeeter on Lake Monona, January 15, 2022. Photo: Joe Berger
NORTHWEST:
The NIYA is postponed one week to February 16th, 17th, and 18th 2024. Colder weather returning The week of the 12th should provide one or more viable locations.Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
Northwestern Ice Yachting Association
ISA:
The ISA Regatta is postponed to February 16th, 17th, and 18th, 2024. Colder temperatures the week of February 12th will allow for multiple locations to become available.Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
Regatta Watch: 2024 ISA & NIYA Postponed to Feb 9-11
Greg McCormick
The Northwest and International Skeeter Association & Renegade Championship Race Committees have postponed for one week to February 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2024. Both Committees determined that the high temperatures, sun, and lack of overnight freezing will make the ice too soft for acceptable regatta conditions. The presence of plenty of ice that should stay in place until colder weather arrives gives us a good chance coming later in February.
Steve Schalk
NIYA & ISA Secretary/Treasurer
Waconia PUFFER
Link to Video
Speaking of Lake Waconia, here’s Jim McDonagh’s video from Sunday, January 28, 2024 on Lake Waconia in Minnesota sailing the B Skeeter PUFFER.
Regatta Watch: Northwest AND ISA Called ON for Feb 2-4 on Lake Waconia, MN
Ken Whitehorse / Photo: Dave Delap
A Regatta Watch two-for-one tonight:
The Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta is called on for Lake Waconia, Minnesota for February 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 2024. The final call will be made by noon on Wednesday January 31st.
The International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championship are also called on for the same location and date. If the Northwest is called on Wednesday, the ISA & Renegade Championship will be postponed. If the Northwest postpones on Wednesday, the ISA Race Committee will determine if the ISA & Renegade Championship can proceed or be postponed. That decision will be announced at noon on Wednesday January 31st as well.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA & ISA
Capturing Skeeter Chill – Photos of the Week
Ken Whitehorse in WARRIOR Photo: @aspiring_astro_boy on Instagram
On Sunday, January 21st, Dave Delap skillfully captured the action of our day of club racing on Lake Monona. Follow @aspiring_astro_boy on Instagram. Many thanks to Dave for sharing. Scores from Sunday’s racing have been updated.
Regatta Watch: 2024 ISA & Renegade Championship is POSTPONED
Rob Evans sails his A Class Skeeter on Lake Monona, January 15, 2022. Photo: Joe Berger
The 2024 International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championship have been postponed until February 2, 3, 4 because of foggy conditions and a poor wind forecast in the Madison area. Next update is Sunday evening, January 28, 2024.
John Dennis ISA Regatta Chair
Regatta Watch: ISA & Renegade Championship Called ON for Jan 26 – 28 on Lake Monona
Steve Schalk sailing a B Skeeter on Lake Kegonsa at the 2023 ISA. Photo: Will Johnston
The International Skeeter Association regatta and Renegade Championship have been called on for January 26, 27, 28 on Lake Monona in Madison, WI. Final confirmation will be posted by noon on Wednesday, January 24. The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club held racing on Lake Monona today in all fleets. There is 8″ of ice. Next update: Wednesday, January 24.
John Dennis ISA Regatta Chair
Ken Whitehorse Nominated for 4LIYC Honor Roll
Photo: Sean R. Heavy
Ken Whitehorse Archives
4LIYC Honor Roll
Ken Whitehorse has been nominated for induction in to the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Honor Roll by Greg McCormick and Daniel Hearn. Congratulations, Ken, and thank you for contributing so much of your time and effort to this club and the sport of iceboating. The club will vote on the recent Bylaw proposal and Ken’s induction into the Honor Roll at our February 15, 2024 business meeting.
Never in the history of competitive iceboating has the name of a boat more clearly reflected the heart and character of its skipper. This is especially true in the case of Kenny Whitehorse, sailing his A skeeter WARRIOR. Kenny’s tenacious and competitive spirit was never more evident than when he won the 1977 Northwest regatta, claiming victory in an epic battle over the Skeeter Iceboat Club’s Sparky Lundberg. Kenny won the regatta on the last leg of the final race, with the lead changing right up to the finish. Those in attendance witnessed one of the sport’s most epic battles. Kenny’s cousin, Greg Whitehorse, reflected on his many years of racing Ken and stated, “I could never manage to beat him in the close ones.”
Kenny’s indomitable spirit could also be observed off the ice, squaring up with Buddy himself in one of Fontana’s favorite haunts: “Chucks.”
Details can get lost over time, but one thing is perfectly clear: somebuddy poked the bear.Remarkably, Kenny’s most lasting contributions to the sport may not be on the ice but in the countless hours of painting, welding, building, tuning, and repairing club equipment and competitors’ boats. Ken has fixed or repaired four-wheelers for both the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club and the DN Western Regional Association. Without skilled sailors like Kenny lending their time and talent, safe and competitive racing would not happen.
Ken Whitehorse has competed and won against the legends of the sport, including Mattison, Melges, and Kruger. One of those legends is Kenny’s trailer and shop partner, Paul Kruger. Their teamwork has enabled them to sail recreationally and competitively into their 7th and 8th decades—a remarkable achievement. Ken has proven to be a fierce competitor and loyal friend and truly deserves to be inducted into the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club’s Honor Roll.
Submitted by Greg McCormick and Daniel Hearn
Regatta Watch: 2024 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed to January 26 – 28, 2024
Photo: Will Johnston
The 2024 International Skeeter Association Regatta and Renegade Championship has been postponed until January 26 – 28. We are waiting for recently frozen ice to build. Next weekend’s extremely cold forecasted temperatures are also a factor in postponement. Next update is on Sunday, January 21, 2024.
John Dennis, ISA Regatta Chair
2024 ISA & Renegade Championship Postponed Until Jan 19-21
2023 ISA on Lake Kegonsa. Photo: Will Johnston
Via ISA Regatta Chair John Dennis:
The International Skeeter Association Regatta and Renegade Championship has been postponed until January 19, 20, 21, 2024. Extreme cold temperatures forecasted for next weekend should give us more options for ice. The next update is on Sunday, January 14, 2024
John Dennis
Buddy Melges Documentary Feb 6 @ Union South
If you’d like to attend this viewing, act now to secure your space in this 300-seat theater. This event is open to the public.
WIZARD OF ZENDA DOCUMENTARY
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Location: Marquee Cinema at Union South
1308 W. Dayton Street #245
Madison, Wisconsin 53715
Time: 6:15 p.m., followed by a short discussion.
Cost: $10
Register: https://my.mendotayc.org/event/240
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