Renegade Iceboats

International Renegade Ice Yacht Racing Association.
Affordable One Design Ice Yachts.

Rooted in DN & Skeeter Design

Elmer Millenbach’s timeless design introduced much of what modern ice yachting is today.

Organized in 1947

The IRIYRA was formed to promote the Renegade ice yacht.

About the Renegade Iceboat

The Renegade is an excellent boat for those seeking spirited on-design racing. It has been a winner and trend-setter ever since its unveiling in 1947, providing many of the design features found in today’s Skeeters. The Renegade bears 67 square feet of sail on a bendy wing spar, making it a powerful racing yacht in a small package. It is compact and light enough to be car-topped. The local Renegade fleet has seen tremendous growth as many skippers move to perhaps the fastest of the one-designs. For more information on the Renegade class, contact the Renegade Association. Detailed plans are available on this webpage in the links above or  from the IRIYA (for a mere twenty bucks).

Centennials

Toledo Ice Yacht Club Renegades

From a recently published book commemorating the Toledo Ice Yacht Club’s 100th Anniversary. ‘Unknown” is Lorne Sherry from the Detroit Ice Yacht Club.

Our friends at one of the most active ice yacht club’s in North America, the Toledo Ice Yacht Club, are celebrating 100 years of iceboating in 2019. They’ve published a book edited by Ken Dickson commemorating their history. Be sure to have a look at their book if you are lucky enough to sail on Maumee Bay this winter. 4LIYC members who attended the Renegade regatta there over 10 years ago still talk about the good times they had with the TIYC.

 

Pegel Slide Collection: Elmer & Cora Millenbach

Renegade iceboat

Elmer Millenbach rounds the weather mark in RENEGADE I on Geneva Lake. Note the film crew standing bravely at the mark.

Elmer Millenbach was one of the most influential iceboat builders in North America. Hamilton, Ontario ice sailor, Rob Intini, went so far as to stencil “We All Plays Elmer’s Tune” on his Class-A Skeeter boom as a reminder of Elmer’s iceboat innovations. Elmer designed the bow-steering Renegade and along with his wife, Cora Lee, created a successful one-design class. Cora Lee also served for many years on Race Committees and spent hours on the ice handling scoring duties.
Elmer designed the Renegade because the newly created DN Class couldn’t make up their minds on specifications.
From Renegade Reflections, an interview with Elmer Millenbach:

…. We no sooner got comfortably started when the Detroit Ice Yacht Club rescinded the allowable changes and reverted to the originally modified plans. That was it, as far as I was concerned! The three of us were stuck with sails and material for 3 boats, but I just couldn’t bring myself to build to the original plans. I told my two companions in the project that I was going to design my own boat and left it to their choice to do as they chose.
Read the entire article here.

NOTE: There are two steps to view photos at full size.
1.Click on photo, another page will open.
2. Click on the photo again and you will be able to see the full sized version.
Pegel Slide Collection Series Webpage

 

Regatta Watch: ISA & Renegade Champonship Postponed

1955 ISA regatta sailed on Lake Monona in Madison, WI.

Both the International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championship Regattas have been postponed.
Ice checkers found 25″ of hard black ice at Little Bay de Noc at Gladstone, Michigan but with too much shell ice for safe sailing. Next update will be Sunday, April 1, 2018. [Never thought I’d be typing that date about an iceboat regatta!-ed.]

In the meantime, let’s revisit the 1955 ISA championship won by Buddy Melges in MICKEY FINN. Jane Wiswell (before she married Bob Pegel) won the women’s division. There’s some good detail in this article if you are a fan of the sport.

Regatta Watch: Renegade Championship Called ON for March 30-31


Via Don Anderson: The Renegade Championship is called ON for March 30-31, 2018. The Renegade regatta will take place with the ISA, potentially in Gladstone, MI. The Renegade championship will be a two-day event for Friday and Saturday. It will be a six race regatta with three races scheduled per day. Final confirmation will be made Wednesday, March 28,

Regatta Watch: Renegade Championship Postponed


Via Don Anderson:

The Renegade Championship has been postponed. Next update is Sunday, March 18. There’s a possibility that the 2018 Renegade Championship may be sailed even if the ISA  cancels for this season. Keep your runners sharp and your trailer in the ready position!

Renegades Postponed

Not a big surprise, but the Renegade regatta is also postponed.
Next update Sunday evening.

Renegade

Don Anderson’s Renegade on Lake Mendota – before the snow.

2018 Renegade Championship Update


Via IRIYRA Secretary Ron Rosten, the 2018 Renegade Championship regatta has been postponed. Please check back on Sunday, January 14 for the next update.