Until the advent of fast cars and airplanes, a trip across a frozen lake on an iceboat was faster than anything man had created. Even folks who were not sailors got swept up in the thrill and excitement of iceboating. One of them was O. T. Havey.

In 1946, he had a dream. O.T. wanted to own the fastest iceboat on the planet. An iceboat that would bring the greatest trophies in the sport back to his home town, Madison, Wisconsin. The city often called the “Iceboat Capitol of the Universe.”

O.T. built a dream team of the best builders and iceboat sailors he could find. This is his story and the story of his boat, Mary B.

Director(s):

Donald P. Sanford

A native of Syracuse, NY, Don Sanford lives in Madison, WI. During nearly three decades at PBS Wisconsin (Wisconsin Public Television) he served as lighting director, production manager, volunteer manager, and occasional on-air host. Don holds a BS in communications studies from SUNY Oswego and an MS from Syracuse University in radio, television, and film.

Captain Don is the author of On Fourth Lake, the Social History of Lake Mendota. LakeMendotaHistory.com He holds a 100-ton Masters License, Great Lakes and Inland Waters. A member of the Mendota Yacht Club and Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club, he spends whatever free time he has racing sailboats and iceboats.