Inland Lake Sailing in Wisconsin

A different kind of sailing

Wisconsin's inland lakes are small, the breeze is shifty, and the racing is some of the most tactical in North America. Lake Geneva, Pewaukee, and Mendota each have decades of one-design history.

Why inland lakes are different

On the ocean or a large lake, the wind is steady and the race comes down to boat speed and big-picture strategy. On a small inland lake, the wind shifts every minute, gusts and lulls come from every angle, and races are won on local knowledge and tactical sharpness. A sailor who's slow but smart often beats a sailor who's fast but lost.

The boats

Inland lakes are dominated by scows — flat-bottomed, twin-bilgeboard boats designed for shifty conditions. The most common classes are the E Scow (28 ft), A Scow (38 ft), MC Scow (16 ft), and the youth X Boat. Snipes, Lightnings, and Stars also race actively.

The lakes

• Lake Geneva — Home of the Lake Geneva Yacht Club, founded 1874. Deep history with E Scow and A Scow racing.
• Pewaukee Lake — Headquarters of the Pewaukee Yacht Club, a strong scow-racing club.
• Lake Mendota — Madison's lake; home of the Mendota Yacht Club and the University of Wisconsin sailing team.
• Lake Nagawicka, Okauchee, Pine Lake — Smaller but active scow lakes in the Lake Country region west of Milwaukee.

The Inland Lake Yachting Association (ILYA)

The ILYA runs the championship circuit for inland lake classes across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. The summer Bay Week, Inland Championships, and Bayview Mackinac on Lake Geneva are the high points of the calendar.

Takeaways

• Inland lake racing rewards shift-reading and local knowledge.
• Scows are the dominant class type.
• The ILYA circuit links the major lakes into a regional championship season.