The NIYA was originally a stern-steerer regatta organized to determine ice yacht supremacy in the Midwest. A,B,C,& D stern-steerers continue to compete in the NIYA.

Skip Boston of Detroit was the first winner of the NIYA in the DN class in 1954.

First sailed as a seperate class in 1958 and won by “Mr. Iceboat”, Elmer Millenbach.

The NIYA celebrated 100 years of iceboat racing in 2013 on Green Lake in Wisconsin.