WSSA Regatta Tentatively Called On for Jan 19-20
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association annual regatta is tentatively called on for January 19 and 20 at Lake Petenwell between Necedah and Wisconsin Rapids. Final confirmation will be on Thursday, January 17. Note that the Northwest Regatta takes precedence. There is 14″ of ice at the launch site with 12″ to 13″ in the area we plan to sail.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 19 and 20, 2019. The next update will be Sunday, January 13. Check back here at that time.
Note that Lake Petenwell has 1″ of crusty snow on top of 13″ of ice near shore, a couple inches less thickness further out. Thickness checks will be made again next weekend in numerous areas of the lake.
Andy Gratton
WSSA Secretary/Treasurer
Regatta Watch: WSSA Postponed
2018 WSSA on Pewaukee Lake.
Via Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association Secretary/Treasurer Andy Gratton:
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to January 12 and 13, 2019. The next update will be Sunday, January 6, 2019. Check back here at that time. Note that there is 10″ to 12″ of smooth ice on an area of Lake Petenwell.
2019 WSSA Newsletter
Learn what’s new in the world of the big boats in the 2019 Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association newsletter via WSSA Secretary Andy Gratton.
2019 WSSA Newsletter
1930s Winnebago Iceboating Video
Great grandfather’s 8mm film of iceboating on Lake Winnebago in the 1930s. from r/OldSchoolCool
LINK TO VIDEO
This is an amazing video found on Reddit by Tom Lothian featuring Stern Steerers and early Skeeters in front of the Legion in Oshkosh. I’m certain there are photos of this regatta in the Carl Bernard collection. I recognize the DEUCE and at the very end, the 4LIYC’s Carl Bernard on the MARY B, I think. If you recognize any boats or people in this video, take note of the screen time and let me know. I’ll look over the photos from the Carl Bernard collection to see what I can find.
A big tip of the helmet to Tom Lothian!
Black Friday Ice
Stern-steerer fanatic Michael Kroll assembled his first video of the season from yesterday’s sailing highlights on White Potato Lake in northwestern Wisconsin.
Iceboating White Potato Lake with Andy Gratton, Dave Lallier, Mike Peters, Mike Derusha. Also Robbie and Bob Everhard from Oshkosh showed up with a Nite. We had DN’s, a Lockley Skimmer, and my small Stern Steerer. The wind came up quit nice and See if you can guess who was sailing the stern-steerer Sunshine when only 2 runners were on the ice. Fun time had by all. Great day of sailing!
WISCONSIN: Fine Art in America
“Iceboat” by Scott Smith
Here is something for the Labor Day weekend to get you thinking ice. Via stern-steerer skipper Andy Gratton who recognized his WISCONSIN iceboat but not the shoreline, though he thinks it may be Pewaukee. The image was created by Wauwatosa artist, Scott Smith, and can be purchased as a print or greeting cards on the fineartamerica website. Below is another great image of WISCONSIN in hiking mode.
Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Dog Days & Good Iceboaters
Stern-steerer news in this morning’s inbox from an undisclosed source – somewhere around Suamico, WI.
Sawyer Mafia “Erik & Ritch” working on runners for the ‘Gander @ the 311 skunk works… Good iceboaters as the dog days of summer are here.
Hot Day with MARY B
Iceboating weather can be extreme, but usually on the cold side. The MARY B group met on Friday, June 30 (on a day that the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning) to set up the historic stern-steerer. Their goals were to practice efficiently setting up the boat, to put up the newly cleaned sails, and to assess the boat. Despite the heat, a big group pitched in to make easy work of it. The new sails and the bright chrome made for an impressive sight.
TBT: Lake City, MN
Lake Winnebago stern-steerer sailors Andy Gratton and Mike Kroll might still be on the search for ice so that they can add to their 1000 mile season. Ice is rare this time of year but they did drop in to visit with an iceboater from Lake City, MN.
“Mike Kroll and I were in Rochester and stopped to see Bruce Eggenberger, a long-time stern steerer sailor at Lake City. He had this photo from his uncle who used to ice boat there.
The story is that most of these boats were all stored in the same barn. Some irate wives of the iceboaters burned the barn one night. Silly them, they didn’t realize the boats were keeping their husbands out of the bars. I bet it was Bob’s wife because he didn’t name the boat after her”.
Back of photo
In a related story, a few years ago, Harry Allen sent a link to this Lake Minnetonka Magazine article written about the iceboating scene on Pepin and Minnetonka in the 1890s. The story details a race between the Pepin and Minnetonka stern-steerers with the winning skipper of the race being a 17 year old girl, Nancy Bassett.
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