Sport: Ice Yachting

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To the Brothers Meyer is also credited development of the popular "skeeter" ice boat. When introduced in 1931 on Lake Pewaukee by one Roger Joys of Milwaukee the first skeeter was merely a ten-foot triangular wooden frame supported on three runners, carrying a small sail on a 15-ft. mast. Today it is a sporty, front -steering ice-racing machine with 75-ft. sail area, manageable by a girl, thrilling enough for a man, inexpensive (150-$250). light enough (125 Ib.) to be disassembled and hauled about by auto. While not so fast as such legendary performances as Kittie's 1¼ miles at 107 m.p.h. at Red Bank in 1885 or Haze's reputed two miles on the Hudson at 120 m.p.h., a skeeter, like any well-designed ice boat, can attain a speed almost twice the velocity of the wind it is sailed in.

* Norwegians and Swedes lead the world in ice boating. They took the craft from Holland where they were used for winter canal travel. The Stockholm Ice Yacht Club has the largest active ice boat fleet of any club.

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