WSSA Championship Final Results
Wisconsin Stern Steerers Championship Regatta
2018 WSSA January 13 & 14 2018 "Results are final as of 12:48 on January 14, 2018" Overall "Sailed: 5, Discards: 0, To count: 5, Entries: 9, Scoring system: Appendix A" Rank Class SailNo HelmName R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Total 1st A A10 Erik Sawyer 1 1 1 1 1 5 2nd C C 25 Mike Peters 4 3 2 3 3 15 3rd C C 2 Peter McCormick 3 5 6 2 2 18 4th C V 49 Jeff Seeboth 5 2 3 5 5 20 5th D D17 Andy Gratton 2 4 4 6 6 22 6th D V 36 Joe Terry 6 6 5 4 4 25 7th B S 3 M. Wiener/D. Tess 9 7 9 8 7 40 8th C W Mike Kroll 8 9 8 7 8 40 9th D D 7 Kurt Martinson 7 8 7 10.0 DNS 10.0 DNS 42 read more...
2018 WSSA Results Day 1
Photo: Michael Kroll WSSA 3rd race line up on Pewaukee Lake.
Via Skeeter Haven-Ice Boat Scoring Central Mary Jane Schalk
Rank Class SailNo HelmName R1 R2 R3 1st A A10 Erik Sawyer 1 1 1 2nd C C 25 Mike Peters 4 3 2 3rd C V 49 Jeff Seeboth 5 2 3 4th D D17 Andy Gratton 2 4 4 5th C C 2 Peter McCormick 3 5 6 6th D V 36 Joe Terry 6 6 5 7th D D 7 Kurt Martinson 7 8 7 8th B S 3 M. Wiener/D. Tess 9 7 9 9th C W Mike Kroll 8 9 8 read more...
WSSA Regatta Called ON
Photo: Jeff Russell; 2015 WSSA on Lake Mendota
The WSSA regatta has been called on for January 13 and 14, 2018, for the west end of Pewaukee Lake. Headquarters will be at the Sports Dock on Prospect Avenue, near the Pewaukee Yacht Club. There are two ramps available on either side of the building, the south ramp is a shallower angle. Head north once onto the ice. First race to begin at 11 am.
If you are looking for good ice and group to sail with, bring your stern steerer. If you need help setting up let us know. We welcome boats that would like to participate but not race as well as all the racers.
Some of the group have rooms reserved at AmercInn (262-646-3300) but the hot tub is not functioning. There are a few other hotels at the west end of the lake. Some of the group will be there on Friday to sail.
Best Western on Grandview Blvd, 262-524-9300 has rooms, tell them you are with the sailing group. I have a price of 168.96 for two nights for two queens. Hot tub, pool, breakfast. It is close to the lake.
Andy Gratton
WSSA secretary/Treasurer
WSSA Regatta Called ON
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta for 2018 has been tentatively called on for January 13 and 14. The site selected is Pewaukee Lake, west end. Final confirmation will be made by 1 PM Thursday, January 11. Check back here or call the Iceboat Hotline at 608-204-9876. Conditions are 15″ of ice with two ramps available. There is still some snow on the lake but it is expected to melt this week.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
Throw Back Thursday: The Day ROSEMARY Tipped Over
Many thanks to stern-steerer skipper Michael Kroll for posting a link to Andy Gratton’s story from this website on his Facebook page. Andy’s story about the legendary Oshkosh stern-steerer skipper, Don Ward, gets better with every reading. Michael writes, “I have read it many times, and when I see it, I can’t help but read it again because I’ve been in the back cockpit of this iceboat.”
The Day Rosemary Tipped Over.
© 2009 Andy Gratton
The 1992 NWIYA race was called on for Oshkosh. We had beautiful hard ice, except for
the typical crack in the bay. Nubs Salzsieder and I were discussing the upcoming
weekend, who was coming, etc. The usual plan for hard ice was that I would sail the
Timber Boat and he would sail Rosemary IV. We talked more about the boats, how Don
Ward had built so many, including the Rosemary boats, and how Don was always
interested in what was going on in Oshkosh, his home town. So Nubs called Don Ward
and told him to get on a plane and get back here from Washington State so he can sail on
his home ice. We didn’t really expect Don to do that, but a day or two later Nubs
informed me that Don would be sailing his old boat, Rosemary IV, and Nubs would be
sailing the Timber Boat. I was bummed because I had no other boat to race, so instead I
would help wherever needed.
read more…
2018 WSSA Regatta Update
Via Andy Gratton, WSSA Secretary:
Happy New Years, iceboaters!
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 13 and 14. The next update will be Sunday, January 7. Check back here or call the Iceboat Hotline 608-204-9876. Lake Winnebago has more than 12″ of ice but the snow drifts are rock hard.
Pictures of the Year
The fine folks at the Toledo Ice Yacht Club were out in force yesterday on Maumee Bay. Wayne Mckinney was there and shot these eye catching photos. That’s the KAY E BARKER, an 11,948 ton “bulk discharging carrier.” But wait, that’s not just any Great Lakes Freighter, she’s captained by none other than Eric Sawyer, who also skippers the Class A stern steerer, MICHIGANDER.
UPDATE: Yes, according to Eric’s dad, Chip, he was at the helm yesterday and that “he watched the boats sailing as he entered Toledo.”
Photo by Gretchen Dorian. Eric Sawyer’s MICHIGANDER at the 2016 Northwest Regatta on Lake Monona, Madison, WI
America’s Cup Concept Boat Revealed
Iceboating on water?
Watch the video here. Tip of the Helmet, Mike Peters.
WSSA Newsletter
The season is revving up in the Stern-Steerer class. Via Wisconsin Stern Steerer Secretary Andy Gratton, the 2018 WSSA Season Newsletter.Read it here.
Jeff Davis
Jeff, Carter, and Jay Davis.
The iceboating community lost one of our most avid stern-steerer sailors, Jeff Davis, on November 18. Our deepest condolences to the Davis family. They always make the effort to attend regattas. Jeff will be missed. His funeral will be held on Saturday, November 25 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Read his obituary here.
Andy Gratton writes:
I am sorry to report that one of our younger stern-steerer members, Jeff Davis, 42, lost the battle with cancer on November 18. He and his brother Jay restored and sailed the C boat “Flirt” for the last couple decades. Prior to that they both raced DNs. Jeff loved being on the ice and made many trips from Iowa with his brother and his dad, John, to sail regattas with us. He was looking forward to being well enough to attend the 2018 Northwest and to bring his son for the first time. He will be missed.
WISCONSIN ICE BOATING HOTLINE 608-204-9876
WSSA DUES
W.S.S.A. dues are $20.00 and can be mailed to Andy Gratton at the following address:
W.S.S.A.
c/o Andy Gratton, Secretary/Treasure
2102 Doty Street
Oshkosh, WI. 54902
***NOTICE*** Due to the high cost of “snail” mailing newsletters it is encouraged that you send in your $20 dues and an e-mail address. If not, your name MAY be removed from the mailing list. If you are no longer interested in receiving the newsletter please respond or email to Andy Gratton