THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR WINTER SPORTS PLAYBOOK. READ MORE HERE.
Sailing in Wisconsin doesn’t stop when winter hits. For some, it’s just the beginning. Our state is home to a robust ice sailing community. In fact, Madison has one of the largest clubs devoted to the sport in the entire world, The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club.
Ice sailors craft and race boats with metal rails that slide across the frozen water. Markers are placed on an iced-over lake – set directly in line with the wind so sailors have to tack back and forth to keep moving along the course. Half of the boats start on one end of the lake, and half start on the opposite end. The winner is first to round the final marker. And they are going fast.
“Speeds are anywhere from 60 to 100 miles an hour, and you have boats coming from opposite directions – it gets pretty exciting,” says Daniel Heard, a longtime member of Four Lakes, which typically sails on Lake Mendota. Ice sailing is a fickle sport, though. Heard and his crew keep close tabs on the weather and conditions, and before any race they run a thorough inspection of the ice to make sure it’s sturdy.
Interested in watching one of these wild races? Check iceboat.org for the latest updates on Four Lakes’ race locations and times. The club also offers rides to folks who’d like to experience ice sailing – and even loaner boats for those who feel up to trying it themselves.
