Sailing the high seas of Wawasee

It was more of a weather fashioned year-end Hoosier Regatta than the Fourth of July. But the sailing went on as planned Monday in the final day of the Independence Day Regatta on the active waters of Lake Wawasee.Sailors in the E-scow and Lightning fleets took to the course of the two-day event, where a very long Sunday race day flowed into Monday’s more efficient two-race fixture. The E-scows took off first, with one of Wawasee Yacht Club’s top sailing crews aboard the Casey Call 99 leading the pack. The 99 held form for much of the first four lengths, only to find the crews of the Jamison Herdrich’s 11 and Chad Herdrich’s 21 closing in. At the line, Jamison Herdrich surprised with a top sail, its first win of the season, with Call second and Chad Herdrich third.In the second race, Dick Tillman’s 22 vessel jumped out to a quick lead and powered down course. Leading for nearly the entire race, the 22 came in for a first-place sail virtually unopposed. Call would sneak in on a late tack for second with Bob Herdrich taking third.In the Lightning races, Bill Allen opened Monday’s run with a win and placed second among the nine Lightning vessels to race. Allen came in second in the next race, trailing George Buckingham’s sailboat. Buckingham was third in the first race, just behind Brad Wagnon’s crew. Jeff Schmahl was third in the second race.Sunday opened the Regatta for the E-Scows and Lightning. Bob Herdrich collected two wins and Tillman the other, with Tillman taking two seconds and Bob Herdrich a third to go with his wins. Call, Chad Herdrich and JB Vanmeter all had third-place finishes.In the Lightning races, Allen went first-second-first in the three races while Schmahl took a first and second. Wagnon had a second and two thirds and Buckingham claimed the other third-place finish.For more information on the Wawasee Yacht Club, visit its website, which also houses social information.