No. 47 is No. 1 at Independence Day Regatta

By MIKE DEAKStaff WriterIt was quite a wrap-around weekend for the No. 47 E-Scow captained by Bob Herdrich, whose crew whistled to three victories in four races to command the waters of Lake Wawasee in the running of the 2017 Independence Day Regatta.The event, which sailed two races each Sunday and Tuesday, saw E-Scows and Lightning fleets from the Wawasee Yacht Club set sail with a brisk wind and a lot of ambition. Herdrich’s 47 was dominant, coming back from a first-third performance Sunday to claim the first race Tuesday handily. Bob Herdrich’s crew had to rally late in the final leg of the second race to catch Jamison Herdrich and Chad Herdrich, tacking to the left while the others stayed right to get the first call from Mikala Mawhorter in the buoy boat.Bob Herdrich’s crew has claimed six first-place runs this season, dating back to the open of the season Memorial Day weekend. Five of those have come since June 18.Jamison Herdrich took second in Tuesday’s second race to go with second and fourth-place runs Sunday. Chad Herdrich’s team went second and fourth Sunday, and were fourth and third Tuesday.JB Van Meter’s double-zero E-Scow was the lone team to break Bob Herdrich’s hot streak, claiming a top run in race two Sunday to go with his third-place run the same day. Tuesday, Van Meter was able to take third in the first race but was wedged out by the Herdrich conversions at the finish in the second run.Wrapping up top scores for the regatta Tuesday was Dave Irmscher, who didn’t land a top-four Sunday, but came through with a second-place run in the first race Tuesday followed by fourth place.Through the weekend, Bob Herdrich sits atop the E-Scow fleet standings, with Van Meter, Irmscher and Jamison Herdrich all within shouting distance of the top.The Lightning fleet raced just once Tuesday as four crews were entered. Stu Webster ran away with the race, taking honors with Jeff Schmahl a distant second. The Hursh and Snyder Lightnings wrapped up the race. Brad Wagnon, who did not enter Tuesday’s race, won both runs Sunday. Webster and George Buckingham split the second and third-place runs Sunday.Wagnon leads the Lightning standings with Webster and Buckingham within range.Wawasee Yacht Club will continue racing on Lake Wawasee throughout the summer, culminating with races Labor Day weekend. Races are free to watch and open to the public on the lake.