Wawasee Yacht Club Independence Day sailing

Steady as she goes this summer for the Wawasee Yacht Club.

The club has been and will continue to be on Lake Wawasee as part of its sailing programs and will conduct normal club races from July 1-4. The first race will start at 10 a.m. Satur- day, July 1 with ensuing races scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 2 and 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 4. Club races are free to the public to watch and include Sunfish, I-20, E-Scow and Lightning vessels.

The sail season opened May 28, with normal club racing on weekends. The sail season will continue through Oct. 2 concluding with the Hoosier Regatta on Lake Wawasee. Otherwise, each weekend, club sailing will begin at 10 or 10:30 a.m. each race day. Fleet captains are listed at wawaseeyachtclub.com.

The club is continuing its tradition with the Junior Sail Program, which caters to the future of sailing. Geared to kids ages 8-16, the program is taught by longtime sailing veteran Jeff Schmahl and runs five weeks starting the week of June 26. The classes are already booked, but a waitlist has been created for potential additions. Feel free to contact Schmahl by email at jrsailing@wawaseeyachtclub. com.

For further information on sailing schedules, the Junior Sail Program, or benefits of becoming a member of the Wawasee Yacht Club, visit wawaseeyachtclub.com or contact Commodore Betsy Berry at commodore@wawaseeyachtclub.com.

Past Commodores

Heather Harwood, the 2023 Flotilla Commodore will join the list of other prestigious names of commodores since the inception of the event in 1961.

Early Flotillas were held on Father’s Day to show celebrate the beginning vacation season and to welcome summer residents and visitors.

Commodores have included:

Lt. Gov. Richard O. Ristine, 1961; Kathie Burke, Miss Indiana, 1962; Eli Lilly, honorary commodore for life, 1963; Roger Ward, 1964; Spencer Pickles, 1965; Robert Harman, 1966; Lt. Gov. Robert L. Rock, 1967; Bud Smith, 1968; Bob Rule, 1969; and Joe Thornburg, 1970.

A fire destroying the Pickwick block in 1970 jeopardized the flotilla’s future. The newly organized Jaycees had taken over the sponsorship that year. The fire destroyed all of the Flotilla records that were in the Jaycees clubroom in the basement of the Pickwick block. The group disbanded, however, since the 1971 parade was already planned, the event went forward. There is no record who was the commodore that year.

Commodores since then have included:

Frank Putt, 1974; Ken Harkless, 1975; Ted Rogers, 1976; John Sudlow, 1977; Larry Griffith, 1978, Jack DeHaven, 1979; Lou Craig (in memoriam) 1980; Gordon “Short” McCormick, 1981; Jane Nearing, 1982; T. L. “Bud” Kline, 1983; Bill Beemer, 1984; Mike Kiley, 1985; Wiley “Bill” Spurgeon, 1986; John Kroh, 1987; Jack and Helen Alfrey, 1988; and Joe Hughes, 1989.

Also, Jim Caskey, 1990; U.S. Troops, 1991; Logan Love, 1992; Bob McNary, 1993; Tom Prckett, 1994; Chris Schenkle, 1995; Bob Knudsen, 1996; Doug Schrock, 1997; Clair Bumgardt, 1998; All past commodores, 1999; Harlan Steffan, 2000; Dale Butt, 2001; Old Glory, 2002; Jon Sroufe, 2003; Knights of Columbus, 2004; Harry Appenzeller, 2005; Jim Tranter, 2006; Ernie Rogers, 2007; Sam Cole, 2008; and Ken Robinson, 2009.

And, Howard Brembeck, 2010; Past Commodores, 2011; Bob Myers, 2012; Kay Young, 2013; Ian Rolland, 2014; Ron Baumgartner, 2015; Turkey Creek Fire Territry, 2016; Richard “Dick” Green, 2017; Dave Stell, 2018; Tom and Holly Tuttle, 2019; COVID-19 frontline workers; Herdrich Family, 2021; The Flotilla Founding Fathers, 2022; and Heather Harwood, 2023.