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About GTIYC |
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In the Beginning In the fall of 1986, Henry and Barbara Schantz moved from Grand Rapids to home on Elk Lake in the Village of Elk Rapids. Being an avid ice boater and member of the Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club (Michigan’s oldest iceboating Club), Henry brought along several Sprinter ice boats to sell so that he would have someone to sail with. Rick Conrad, owner of the White Birch Lodge on Elk Lake, bought one and became an avid promoter of the sport and resort host to several major regattas.
In the fall of 1986, Henry ran an advertisement in the Traverse City Record Eagle paper for sailors interested in forming a formal ice boating club. Eleven sailors showed up and the club was formed, with Henry as the first Commodore. After five or six years, the Commodore position was passed to Don Ball and then to the current Commodore, Dr. Don Willman. In the beginning, Evert Vandenberg traveled North from the Gull Lake Club to get the club up to speed on Regatta Racing.
The GTIYC has been privilege to host one National Regatta and six other major Regional and Central Regattas. Possibly the one major reason for the early success of the club were the articles in the club’s newsletter, Hard Times, under the byline of “BOB STAY”. These articles were put together by Don Scharman and, as Henry says, “were the inspiration that seemed to pull it all together.”
A “first” for the iceboating regatta world were the “Lunch on the Ice” meals put together by Dick Wollam. These lunches were a one-of-a-kind thing and continue today. In fact, many a monthly club meeting finds Dick dishing out a hot meal of Bar-B-Q, Chilly, or home made soup, not to mention the cookies and or brownies (thanks Julie). Last but not least are the picture collections shown each year at the GTIYC Annual Banquet by our Professional Photographer and our long time Vice Commodore, John Russell. The GTIYC’s personal annual event since its origin in 1990 is the Fun Regatta. Well known throughout the state and national iceboating circuit, the Fun Regatta is usually a closing event to the season of iceboating and is held in late February or Early March.
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GTIYC Grand Traverse Ice Yacht Club “Ice Boaters of NW Lower Michigan” |
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The club meets on the first Tuesday of the month, October through April, 7:30 p.m., at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club on M-22, approximately 1/2 mile North of the intersection of M-72 West and M-22 (NW side of Traverse City.) We have members of all ages, 10 through old enough to know better, so please feel free come and visit us at a monthly meeting or on the ice. Check our hot line for updates on where we plan to sail and come join us on the ice. If you would like some suggestions on how to get started in the thrilling sport of iceboating, or would like advice in tuning your boat, we have a number of highly qualified sailors that would be more than willing to pass on some knowledge and advice. Something new in the 2005 season will be the addition of a Sportsman Class. This class is designed for sailors that don’t have their boats tricked out with the latest high-tech racing gizmos and for anyone that would like training, advise, and encouragement in structured racing with other similar skippers. Please come join us, you are only a visitor once! |
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Henry Schantz and his Sprinters |
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1990 - Henry and iceboating friends cut a storm damaged Ash and Poplar from the White Birch Lodge (thanks to owner Rick Conrad) and buzz it up to build 4 more Sprinters. |
