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A Brief Overview of Northwest Regatta History
Welcome to the home page of the Northwestern Ice Yacht Association Regatta. This historic regatta was first sailed in 1913 in Menominee, Michigan. Skeeters, DNs, and Renegades weren’t even invented back then when the big stern steerers ruled the ice.
Learn more.
Dateline January 13, 1913. Wisconsin State Journal.“Representatives of Oshkosh, Madison, Menominee, and Marinette met at the Hotel Menominee this morning and discussed future of the new NIYA….. LF Porter, of Madison, a man who has been connected with several water and ice craft organizations, gave some timely and instructive suggestions in regard to the proper manner of conducting the association. He proposed having two delegates from each club present at a future gathering and from a constitution and by laws at that time.”
In 1913, Menominee skipper E. Peterson won the first Class A championship in “Square People”. Madison, Wisconsin’s Emil Fauerbach won the 1914 championship in the famed Princess II, a boat that went on the win the Hearst International Trophy.
Other notable Class A winners throughout the years include John Buckstaff of Oshkosh, Fritz Jungbluth and Carl Bernard of Madison in the Fritz, Harry Melges of Lake Geneva (Buddy’s father), Carl Bernard again in the Mary B, the Debutante currently owned by Mike Derusha, and Buddy Melges in his Ferdinand the Bull. The DNs were first recognized as a separate class in 1954 when Skip Boston won the inaugural NIYA DN championship. Other notable DN champions include William Sarns in 1956, Jane Pegel who first won in 1960 and went on to capture another nine championships. Class E Skeeters first raced the NIYA in 1936 when Lake Geneva sailor Harry Melges won in Mickey Finn. Elmer Millenbach took the 1949 trophy sailing his Renegade II back when the Renegades and Skeeters sailed together. Other famous ice boating names who’ve won the NIYA Class E championship include Bill Perrigo, Howard Boston, Frank Trost, Jack Ripp, Dave Rosten, Bill Mattison, Lou Loenneke, Buddy Melges, Bob Pegel, and Paul Krueger. The Renegades first raced in the NIYA as a recognized class in 1958 and of course, Mr. Ice Boat, Elmer Millenbach won his first of many NIYA Renegade Championships in Renegade III and went on to win every regatta until 1984. Other winners include Arlyn Lafortune, Lorne Sherry, Jack Ripp, Tim McCormick, Roger Derusha, Don Anderson, and Mike Derusha.
2025 Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta Information
RESULTS
The 2025 Northwestern Ice Yachting Regatta is on for Lake Winnebago northwest of Fond Du Lac. Dates are January 24th, 25th, and 26th.
The launch site is drive on the ice at the foot of Cemetery Road off of Highway 45. Cemetery Road is 1.4 miles north of the Wayside launch on the west shore of the lake. It is 5.8 miles from the center of downtown Fond Du Lac.
Racing will start with DNs at 11 AM sharp on Friday January 24th. The skipper’s meeting for all classes will be held at 10:30 AM near the starting line.
The annual meeting will be held at 6 PM Friday evening at the Fond Du Lac Yacht Club.
A dinner is scheduled for 7 PM at TJ’s Harbor Restaurant, located 2 miles north of the launch at Cemetery Road where County Z crosses Hwy 45.
WHAT TO KNOW:
Date: January 24 – 26, 2025
Location: Lake Winnebago, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
Launch: Foot of Cemetery Road off of Highway 45. Cemetery Road is 1.4 miles north of the Wayside launch on the west shore of the lake. It is 5.8 miles from the center of downtown Fond Du Lac.
Lodging:
Comfort Inn, 77 Holiday Lane Fond du Lac WI Ice Boaters Special 82.00 night See Michelle 30+ rooms 920-933-1159
Holiday Inn Express, 55 Holiday Lane Fond du Lac WI 30+ rooms 129.00-155.00 920-322-0460
Hotel Retlaw, 1 North Main St Fond du Lac WI 920 204 0400 129.00 and up
Eligibility Requirements for the Northwest Ice Yacht Association Regatta
To participate in the Northwest Ice Yacht Association (NIYA) regatta, all competitors must be members of a club that belongs to the NIYA. Below is a list of current member clubs. Please ensure you are a member of one of these clubs before registering:
- Boecraft Association
- Fond du Lac Ice Yacht Club
- Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club
- Green Lake Ice Yacht Club
- Hudson River Ice Yacht Club
- Lake Springfield Ice Boat Club
- Menekaunee Ice Yacht Club
- Minnesota Iceboaters
- Neenah Ice Yacht Club
- Oshkosh Ice Yacht Club
- Pewaukee Ice Yacht Club
- SIBC
- South Side Ice Yacht Club
- Toledo Ice Yacht Club
- West Michigan Ice Yacht Club
- Windjammers/United Skeeter Association
- WSSA
During registration, please indicate your club affiliation in the appropriate field on the form. If you are not a member of one of these clubs, you will not be eligible to compete.
Schedule of Events
Friday, January 24
- 7 AM: Online registration closes
- 11 AM: First Race
- Rotation*
- DN
- Renegade
- E Skeeters
- A, B, C, D Stern Steerers
- ISA B & C Skeeters
- 6 PM Northwest Annual Meeting at the Fond Du Lac Yacht Club 705 Mohawk Ave, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
Saturday, January 25
- 9:30 AM: First Race
- Banquet
TJ’s Harbor 7098 S US Hwy 45
Oshkosh, WI 54902
Social Hour 5 PM
Dinner 7 PM
Sunday, January 26
- 9:30 AM: First Race
*2nd and 3rd round of races Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will start at a time announced by the Race Committee.
**If all classes have at least 3 races complete at the end of the day Saturday, Stern Steerers (A, B, C, D) will start first on Sunday.
2024 Northwest Update: Stern Steerers Race at 9AM on Saturday 2-24
A long day on the ice. I’ll have more early tomorrow morning. A message tonight from NIYA Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schalk:
TIME CHANGE FOR FIRST RACE
Saturday, February 24, 2024 Schedule Update
9 AM: First Race. Stern Steerers Race #2
Followed by B & C Skeeter Race #2
Normal rotation then resumes:
DN
Renegade
E Skeeter
A,B,C,D Stern Steerer
ISA B & C Skeeter
Day 1:2023 Northwest Starting Positions
Good Morning from Waconia, MN, site of the 2024 Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Regatta. Starting positions will also be posted on the RC trailer on the ice.
Skipper’s meeting at the launch at 9 AM. See you on the ice!
The last time the NIYA was held was in 2019 on Lake Pepin in MN. The Northwest is the oldest ice sailing regatta in North America and was first sailed in Menominee, Michigan in 1913. It survived two World Wars, a pandemic and it’s great to be back. We are pleased to see such a large DN fleet this year with the DN North Americans having been called on for Waconia as well. The DN North American Championship begins on Monday.
Friday, February 23, 2024 Schedule
Skipper’s Meeting at 9 AM at the launch
First start 10 AM
Rotation
DN
Renegade
E Skeeter
A,B,C,D Stern Steerer
ISA B & C Skeeter
NIYA Annual Meeting at 6 PM at the Holiday Inn, Chanhassen, MN
2024 Northwest Regatta Information
The 2024 Northwestern Ice Yachting Association regatta is called on for Waconia Lake in Waconia, Minnesota.
REGISTER FOR THE NIYA
EVENT PAGE
WHAT TO KNOW
Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Regatta
EVENT PAGE
Dates: February 23 – 25, 2024
Location: Lake Waconia, Waconia MN
Launch: Lake Waconia Regional Park
8170 Paradise Ln, Waconia, MN 55387
ATTENTION: DO NOT DRIVE ON THE ICE. THERE WILL BE AN ATV TO TAKE YOUR TRAILER ON THE ICE.
Lodging:
Regatta Headquarters: Holiday Inn Express Chanhassen, MN
952-401-8850
$109 per night King
$119 per night 2 Queens
Online Booking Link
If you are booking online, please make sure to put in the correct dates otherwise it will say there isn’t an existing block.
Tell them you are with the Northwest Regatta to get the discount.
AmericInn by Wyndham Chanhassen, MN
612-293-6930
Country Inn & Suites Chanhassen, MN
952-937-2424
Super 8 by Wyndham Chaska, MN
1-952-448-7030
Register: Click here to register online.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, February 23
Registration closes at 7AM
Starting positions for the first race in each class will be posted on a Competitor list by 9:30 am at https://www.iceboat.org/regattas/niya/
First start 10 AM
Rotation
DN
Renegade
E Skeeter
A,B,C,D Stern Steerer
ISA B & C Skeeter
NIYA Annual Meeting at 6 PM at the Holiday Inn, Chanhassen, MN
Saturday, February 24
First start at 9:30 AM
Sunday, February 25
First start at 9:30 AM
Race Documents
Notice of Race
Sailing Instructions
Regatta Watch: NIYA Called ON for Waconia, MN Feb 23-25
The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association has called the 2024 championship regatta for February 23-25th at Lake Waconia Minnesota. This is the final call, launch site is Lake Waconia regional park on Paradise lane. Hotel information will be available tomorrow February 21st.
The ISA Championship is postponed to March 1st-3rd 2024.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/treasurer
NIYA & ISA
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
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
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
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
Regatta Watch: Northwest AND ISA Called ON for Feb 2-4 on Lake Waconia, MN
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
Regatta Watch: Northwest Postponed
Regatta Watch: 2024 Northwest Postponed to Jan 26 – 28
There are currently no suitable locations for the Northwest Ice Yachting Association Regatta for January 19 – 21, 2024. THE REGATTA IS POSTPONED TO January 26 – 28, 2024. Next update is Sunday, January 21, 2024.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
Northwestern Ice Yachting Association
2024 Northwest Regatta Notice of Race
Northwest Home Page
Click here to read the 2024 Northwest Ice Yachting Association Notice of Race.
The regatta is scheduled to be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 19, 20 & 21, 2024 but may be postponed until ice conditions are suitable.
Regatta Causes Lake Geneva Traffic Jam
PREVIOUS: Evron Kline’s 1947 NIYA Photos
Northwest Regatta Page
Here’s a scrapbook page filled with 1948 Northwest photos from Lori Klein-Clossen’s grandfather, Evron Kline. Evron was a member of the Battle Creek, Michigan Ice Yacht Club.
The 1948 NIYA was likely the first time an iceboat regatta caused traffic jams as spectators hunted for parking spots between Fontana, Williams Bay, and Lake Geneva. The FRITZ, a 4LIYC Class A Stern Steerer, was the boat to beat. A young Bill Mattison crewed on 18-year-old Jim Lunder’s FRITZ to win the A-Class title. New Jersey’s Art Siebke won a tie-break with Elmer Millenbach to take the Skeeter championship. Menominee, Michigan’s Dick Sawyer, and Sam Wells took Class B honors in RITA. Class C championship went to Bud Stroshine of Oshkosh, WI, sailing SUSAN JO, and Don Ward’s ROSEMARY won Class D.
Regatta Watch: 2023 Northwest Cancelled
Northwest Regatta Home Page
The Northwestern Ice Yachting Association 2023 race committee has not located any location suitable for the regatta for next weekend. With holidays filling the following two weekends, the 2023 Regatta is cancelled.
The 2024 NIYA Regatta is scheduled Friday January 19 – 21, 2024.
Steve Schalk
Northwestern Ice Yachting Association
Secretary/Treasurer
Historical Photos from the 1947 Northwest
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A55 is TAKU, currently owned by the Schloemer family of Lake Geneva, WI. Photo colorized by Photoshop.
Thanks to Lori Klein-Clossen for sharing two captivating photos from her grandfather’s collection from the 1947 Northwest at Oshkosh. These photos are a welcomed addition to the 1947 Northwest history page.
In 1947, after a five-year hiatus due to World War 2, the first post-war Northwest convened at Oshkosh. Among the notable triumphs, the 4LIYC’s FRITZ, under the new ownership of the Lunder brothers with Carl Bernard at the helm, clinched the A Stern Steerer trophy. Ed Rollberg, a future bearer of the Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant, secured the E Skeeter title.
The post-WW2 era brought a wave of innovation, with returning iceboaters, like the visionary Elmer Millenbach, designer of the Renegade.
A noteworthy read from the start of the 1946-1947 season: Yachting Magazine published a comprehensive article by eastern iceboater Ray Ruge, offering an in-depth exploration of iceboating in North America. Dive into the past and read it here [insert link].
Tip of the Helmet to Lori Klein-Clossen for connecting us with these historical photos.
UPDATE: Stern-Steerer skipper Mike Peters weighs in:
The only boat I can identify in the Skeeter picture is the left hand skeeter WILLY built by Al Ziebell of Oshkosh. I think the boat was new that year.
In the Stern Steer picture, from left is the FLYING DUTCHMEN owned by John Buckstaff, A-55 PHANTOM owned by Jimmy Kimberly, then sold to my Dad and Harvey Hayes. The boat is know TAKU out of Lake Geneva. Number 9 is FERDINAND the Bull from Detroit. Now owned by the Melges family from Lake Geneva. A3 is a mystery, looks like a Johnson Boat Works A Class. C12 is a bow steer CRAZY Craft owned by Bud Stroshine of Oshkosh. The last boat is a B from Pewaukee that won her class that year as noted in one of the most recent articles on iceboat.org.
Regatta Watch: 2023 NIYA Postponed to December 15 – 17
Via Steve Schalk:
The 2023 NIYA was postponed to December 2023 last spring. The Race Committee as of today has not found ice suitable for a Northwest Regatta anywhere in our range of travel.
The Committee will confer again next Sunday to make a final decision on 2023. If on Sunday December 10th, there are no feasible locations for December 15th the 2023 Regatta will be cancelled.
Steve Schalk
Northwestern Ice Yachting Association
Secretary/Treasurer
NIYA Notice of Dues for Iceboat Clubs
NORTHWESTERN ICE YACHTING ASSOCIATION DUES NOTICE
The annual dues for each club are $20.00 for 2023-2024 payable to the Northwestern Ice Yachting Association
Mail to:
Secretary/Treasurer, Steve Schalk,
W6001 Brick Church RD, Fontana, WI 53125
New agenda Items for the 2024 meeting must be received by December 1st 2023. Please be sure to send an update if you are no longer the contact for your Club.
Buddy’s BULL
FERDINAND THE BULL, owned by Buddy Melges, is one of history’s most successful Class A Stern Steerers. The BULL has its roots in a combination of a beloved children’s book turned Disney short film, a couple of brothers with a metal stamping factory now famous for vintage Coca-Cola machines, and leftover distinctive green paint from a cottage.
I am indebted to Grosse Point Yacht Club, Michigan historian and member Dr. Larry Stephenson M.D., for his article, THE GROSSE POINTE YACHT CLUB CONNECTION TO LARGE ICE YACHT RACING, about the history of the BULL. Read his article here.
Brothers Rex and Clare Jacobs founded the F.L. Jacobs Company, an automotive industry supplier and maker of Coca-Cola vending machines during WW2, which remain popular with collectors. Jack Jacobs, Clare’s grandson, invented the popular “J” iceboats, built for comfortable cruising. Rex Jacobs and George Hendrie, who also skippered, were co-owners of the BULL.
“At some point in the late 1930s or early 1940s, Clare Jacobs acquired DEUCE IV, a serious racing competitor to the BULL.” Both of these boats had been built in Harrison Township, Michigan, by the Vanderbush brothers. Their woodworking shop was just a few hundred yards from where iceboaters had been launching on Lake St. Clair in the 1930s, near the intersection of East Jefferson Avenue and Crocker Boulevard.”
Dr. Larry Stephenson M.D.
Even today, both DEUCE (now owned by Rick Hennig of Racine, WI) and BULL carry the same green livery, and there’s a reason for that. In a 2006 article about his grandfather Clare Jacob’s DEUCE, Jack Jacobs recalled, “The boat was the same flat green that the cottage on Harsens Island was painted. My grandfather felt you should never spend any time on parts of a race boat that don’t make it go fast (like paint).”
The boat’s namesake came from a popular children’s book, The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, published in 1938. The story, about a mighty bull who would rather sniff the flowers than fight, was made into a successful short film in 1938 by Disney Studios.
The BULL’S long record of championship titles began in 1940 in Menominee, Michigan. Rex Jacobs and George Hendrie traveled there with DEUCE and the BULL to compete against the Oshkosh Ice Yacht Club for the Stuart International Trophy. This race was originally established in 1903 by Michigan’s Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club. Skippered by George Hendrie, the BULL brought the trophy back to Michigan, beating out the cup’s defenders, John Buckstaff in DEBUTANTE III and Tom Anger in BLUEBILL II. The BULL went on to win more championships with Hendrie at the tiller.
“Around 1960, “The Bull” and “The Deuce” were sold to iceboaters in Wisconsin. “Ferdinand the Bull” was sold to Harry “Buddy” Melges, Jr., of Zenda, Wisconsin, close to Lake Geneva in the southern part of the state. Buddy, now 83, is considered one of the most successful competition sailors in history, winning dozens of national and international championships. He was the helmsman in America’s successful defense of the America’s Cup in 1992 and took both gold and bronze medals in Olympic sailing competition.”
Dr. Larry Stephenson M.D.
Someone once told me that the BULL journeyed from Detroit to Zenda on the top of a car. I don’t recall if Buddy effortlessly transported the BULL’s 40-foot hull from Detroit through Chicago’s Skyway to southern Wisconsin. Still, based on another story from Mendota Yacht Club’s Lon Schoor of Madison, Wisconsin, that may have been the case.
“Bill Mattison and I were partners in several A-Scows beginning in 1982. All were salvaged after the insurance company declared them total wrecks. Bill and Buddy were close friends and talked frequently about their shared interest in both hard and soft water sailboat racing. That friendship resulted in some bartering between them. We would build boat parts for Melges sails. Unfortunately, I do not recall the year we built a new hull for Buddy’s Bull, but I believe it was in the 80s… We loaded the hull on the [Buddy’s] Suburban, and I swear the truck was barely out the garage door when the overhanging hull was in the street, stopping traffic. I remember looking at Bill and saying after all that work, it will be a miracle if it makes it to Geneva. …you can imagine the overhang on a Suburban was ridiculous.”
Lon Schoor
Check out Peter Harken’s tale of survival mode while crewing for Buddy on the BULL as they charged towards the leeward pin during a regatta. You can find the video on YouTube.
Buddy Melges and FERDINAND THE BULL had a strong bond, and Buddy went on to win 22 significant Stern-Steerer championships.
Read More: 2001 Hearst
FERDINAND THE BULL PHOTO GALLERY
REGATTA RECORDS FOR FERDINAND THE BULL
Stuart International Cup
1940 -1947 DIYC, R. C. Jacobs, George Hendrie
1965 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Frank Morgan
1968 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Frank Morgan
1975 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., A. R. Wenzel
1980 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Harry C. Melges 111, Hans Melges
2001 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Harry C. Melges III, Hans Melges, Charles Harrett
Hearst International Cup
1961 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Frank Morgan
1962 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., G. Gerber, Frank Morgan
1963 – 1965 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Frank Morgan
1971 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Frank Morgan
1980 SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Harry C. Melges III, Hans Melges
2001 Ferdinand, SIBC, Harry C. Melges Jr., Charles Harrett
Northwestern Ice Yachting Association Championship
1961 Buddy Melges, Skipper; Morgan & Gerber, Crew
1962 Frank Morgan, Skipper Buddy Melges, Crew
1963 Frank Morgan, Skipper; Frank Trost, Crew
1966 Frank Morgan, Skipper; Buddy Melges, Crew
1967 Frank Morgan & Buddy Melges
1971 Buddy Melges, Skipper; Frank Morgan, G. E. Gerber, Jerry Sullivan, Crew
1980 Frank Morgan, Todd Morgan
1991 Buddy Melges