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ISA History
The International Skeeter Association Championship Regatta was first sailed on Geneva Lake in 1940. Jack Vilas Jr. a member of the Skeeter Ice Boat Club, won the first regatta in Suzie Q II. The Renegade Class sailed with the Skeeters from first days of their development until 1950 when they were recognized as a separate class.

There are two early newspaper articles I've found that reference the beginnings of the ISA and the Skeeter Class in the Wisconsin area:
Oshkosh Daily News, Tuesday, January 23, 1940
TO SAIL SKEETERS
On the following weekend, February 3 and 4, the first annual regatta of the International Skeeter class will be sailed on Lake Geneva. An association of Class E boats was recently formed and it is believed this meet will attract entries from a wide area.

Wisconsin State Journal, Monday, December 21, 1936
Eight Williams Bay boats were the only entries In the invitational Ice yacht regatta held over the weekend by the Four Lakes Yacht club of Madison, Five races were sailed under perfect weather. The regatta was for "skeeter" boats. The "Hi Voltage," sailed by Fitzcharles, won the regatta; Harry Nye in "H" was second, and Art Anderson in War Horse Too was third.Fitcharles won all three of Sunday's races and placed second and fourth Saturday. Other skippers here were Don Campbell, Mel Jones, Jack Vilas, Jr., Jack Vilas, Sr., and Hank Ferris.

2009
International Skeeter Association Regatta

The ISA has been called on for Mallet's Bay, Colchester, VT. Updates will be posted here.

Friday's ISA report is posted.

International Renegade Ice Yacht Association Championship

2009 Nite Tune Up, Friday, March 13

Overall

Sailed:3, Discards:1, To count:2, Entries:4,

Rank	SailNo	Helm	R1	R2	R3	Total
1st	549	Charlie Harrett	(3.5)	1.0	1.0	5.5
2nd	419	Scott Ripkey	1.0	(3.0)	2.0	6.0
3rd	88	Bill Dale	2.0	2.0	(3.0)	7.0
4th	384	Don Sanford	3.5	(4.0)	4.0	11.5

March 15, 2009

IRIYA Day 3: Trophy Ceremony

Trophies ready to be awarded.

Master of ceremonies, Paul Krueger, with IRIYA Commodore Jim Lafortune.

Chief Judge Arlyn Lafortune with Renegade #1, Mike Disbrow.

From left: Greg McCormick-4th, Doug Kolner-5th, George Gerhardt-6th, Glen Betzoldt-7th and winner of the Over 60 Master Competitor, Greg Simon-2nd, Tim McCormick (& Don Anderson, not pictured) 1st, Arlyn Lafortune, Mike Derusha-3rd.

Bill Dale, winner of Friday's Nite "Tune Up" series. Bill leaves for the land sailing championships in Primm, Nevada on Tuesday.

...and what regatta wouldn't be complete without these pickled eggs, Menekaunee style.

IRIYA Day 3: Regatta Completed

The IRIYA & Nite Western ISA was called officially completed at 9AM this morning because of lack of wind and softening ice conditions. Congratulations to boat owner Don Anderson, who sailed two races on Friday before leaving for a regatta in Florida, and co-skipper Tim McCormick who took over the helm for the third race Friday afternoon and the two Saturday races. Bill Dale won the Nite Friday "Tune-Up" series and Jim Gluek won the Nite race on Saturday.

Kite Cam Photos and Video

Photo Credit: Craig Wilson
Tim McCormick in Don Anderson's #420 & Greg Simon #213 line up for race five in the one and two blocks
Photos and something different from Aerial Kite Photographer, Craig Wilson, video from a kite.

March 14, 2009

IRIYA Day 2: PM Report

Photographer Tammy Sawyer was on the ice Saturday and snapped a whole bunch of photos which you can see here on her website.

Photo Credit: Tammy Sawyer
Regatta winner Don Anderson's Renegade #420 with Tim McCormick at the helm.

Photo Credit: Tammy Sawyer
Renegader Ken Norton

Photo Credit: Tammy Sawyer
A Skeeter Paul Krueger

Photo Credit: Tammy Sawyer

Photo Credit: Tammy Sawyer
Nite Deb Gluek

Jason Jr. after goin' fast with dad.
The Renegades sailed two races today in different conditions than Friday. The wind was weaker and the ice started softening around noon. Only eight boats finished the second Renegade winds because the wind basically shut down. Twelve Nites were able to sail one race. Today turned into the annual "Towing of the Fleets" around 1PM today as trains of Renegades connected by ropes were hauled into the pits which were about four miles away.

Once again the Green Lake Ice Yacht Club was waiting there to make sure we had hot dogs, burgers, and beer- a welcome sight for all skippers, particularly the ones that ended up having to walk in their boats. They are celebrating their 100 year anniversary as a club and their hospitality this weekend is much appreciated.

Tammy Sawyer was taking lots of photos today and should have some good shots.

Aerial Kite Photographer Craig Wilson was there for all the action. He was enthused about the quality of light which should make for some excellent photos.

"When can I sail this, Dad?"

IRIYA Day 2: AM Report

Goose Blind Crew at Friday night Fish Fry
NWS wind forecast looks about the same as Friday's which wil make for another great day. More Nites are expected to arrive this morning. There is a crack to traverse to get to the bigger part of the lake. An orange cone marks an area towards the southern shore where most boats are crossing.

March 13, 2009

IRIYA Day 1: PM Report

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day on the ice. Winds were stronger than forecasted at about 15-17mph, the ice was hard, and 21 Renegades lined up for the first race. Four Nites raced a Tune-Up Series inbetween the Renegades and four Skeeters had some fun scrub racing. We ran three races for the Renegades and Nites & Skeeters very quickly. Unofficial results below.

Tim McCormick's mast failed in the first race.

Here's Green Lake Ice Yacht Club's John Hayashi
manning the brat grill.

IRIYA Day 1: AM Report

Geoff Sobering emailed that "forecasts are for wind to start out 5-8 mph in the morning and build to around 12 by noon or early PM. Watch for a shift from SW towards the west a bit, too." Off to breakfast and then registration. Watch for updates late today or tonight. My scoring partner, MJ, will be standing by in Fontana waiting to hear results so that she can plug them in to the computer. Unofficial results will be posted tonight.

March 12, 2009

IRIYA Day 0

Windshield time
Welcome to the International Renegade Ice Yachting Association Championships web page. Six Renegades arrived within one hour of each other at Sunset Park on Green Lake. Boats set up on the ice include Glen Betzoldt, Greg Whitehorse, Jim Nordhaus, Mike Disbrow, Andy Hopkins, and Mike Derusha. Jim Nordhaus put up sail to try out the ice but the wind dropped to nothing as soon as he put on his helmet.

International Skeeter Association Regatta

March 15, 2009

ISA Report: Final Results

March 18, 2009

Trophy Winners

Photo Credit: Bob Dill
ISA B Skeeter Trophy First Place George Neyssen with Tom Nichols

Photo Credit: Bob Dill
Tom Nichols with ISA C Skeeter First Place Guss Stauber. Tom Nichols emailed that "the A Skeeter sailors are very happy that Gus Stauber sails a C Skeeter. If he was sailing a bubble boat all of us INCLUDING DAN!!!!!! might be one place lower in the standings."

Photo Credit: Bob Dill
"Ten inches was enough, eight was not." via Tom Nichols

Photo Credit: Bob Dill
"Brought to you by Budweiser." via Tom Nichols

March 17, 2009

ISA Photo Gallery
Here are some photos from Jeff Smith. To see more photos of the ISA, take a look at Jeff Smith's Smugmug gallery.

A Skeeter first place: Dan Clapp	C Skeeter first place: Guss Stauber
B Skeeter first place: George Neyssen

March 14, 2009

ISA Report: Day 2

We sat out at the starting line all day waiting for the forecasted 10-15 to show up. What we got was 5-7? We got off one race in each fleet before the ice went to shit. Forty seven degrees and bright sunlight turned the ice into mush. A long push back in to the pits (two miles?). Incidentally, I led the first lap...3rd the second lap...and 2nd at the finish. Tom Nichols won the race quite handily. Rick DISBROW was sailing Rick Stavola's boat. He was in second for 2 of the 4 laps...ended up 3rd. Mark Hancik finally won a "B" race. Also quite handily today. 25 DN's appeared today for the New England Championships. They shared the course.

March 13, 2009

ISA Report: Day 1

Wed night, warm rain and high wind "scoured" the surface making it like cobblestones. It's vverrryy bbbummmpppy. Lots of vibration. However, that was not the most difficult obstacle. The bay was divided by several pressure ridges that changed as the day progressed. It was 1:00 before a course was set that was contained within the boundaries of the pressure ridges. Once racing did commence, there were many lead changes as the light wind (5-8 mph) was fluky. In the "A" Skeeters Tom Nichols, Rick Stavola, and Dan Clapp each lead a different lap of race 2 and 3. The B's also had several lead changes...4 different leaders. Tomorrow is predicted to be more wind.

ISA Called ON for Mallet's Bay, Colchester, VT

The International Skeeter Association Championship Regatta has been called on for Mallet's Bay in Colechester, VT. Registration is at 8:30 AM, Friday, March 13 on the ice.
Hotel is Hampton Inn 802-655-6177. If you have questions, call Tom Nichols, 908-752-3620.
Links: Map
Mallet's Bay Webcam
Hampton Inn Hotel

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