Lake Wawasee hosts ice boat regatta Ice boat racers from all over North North American and Europe. 0.7 mile course, less than the usual America and Europe gathered at the U.S. racer Ron Sherry of Michigan mile due to the ice conditions on Lake Oakwood Resort late in the day on won first place in the event, edging Wawasee. The shorter course re - Friday, Feb. 22, to honor the winners out Michal Burczynski and Tomasz Za - sulted in racers bunching up. “It of the 2019 International Detroit News kerzewski of Poland during the course made for exciting crossings with Ice Yacht Racing Association North of five races. Competitors reached other boats,” Kjoller explained. American Championship Regatta. In - speeds of 50 to 60 mph in what in - The race was moved to Lake ternational DN-style ice yachts are the coming IDNIYRA Commodore Jody Wawasee from Lima, Ohio, due to most popular ice racing boats in Kjoller called “tough conditions … the heavy, wet snow covering the ice on ice deteriorated as the day went on.” Indian Lake. Organizers were forced A total of 14 races — 93 boats di - to look for nearby accommodations vided into three “fleets,” bronze, sil - and found them, thanks to the efforts ver and gold, with the latter featuring of Rick Lemberg and members of the the 40 fastest racers — were run on a Wawasee Ice Boat Squadron, who See Regatta | Continued on page 2 Ice yachtsman Ron Sherry of Detroit won first prize at the IDNIYRA North American Championships held on Lake The Newsletter of the Wawasee Wawasee, Feb. 21-22. The awards pres - Property Owners Association entation took place at Oakwood Resort following the final races completed ear - P.O. Box 427 lier in the day. Sherry also designs DN- Syracuse, IN 46567-0427 style ice yachts, the most popular type in Phone: 574.457.7172 North America and Europe. (photo by E-mail: [email protected] David Hazledine, The Mail-Journal) Web Address: www.wawaseepoa.org Fax: 574.457.2907 Spring 2019 I N At the Helm T Winter carnival big success H Trails seeks state grant I S Big Earth Day event planned Rain on Lake Wawasee melted top snow and then refroze, resulting in what ice boat I Time to pay 2019 WPOA dues racers call a “Zamboni effect,” an ideal racing surface for the IDNIYRA North American S Championship’s 93 entrants. The wind propelled boats, or yachts, reaching speeds of S WACF acquires critical wetland nearly 60 mph. The racers traveled to Lake Wawasee from all over North America and U E Native artifacts on display Europe. (photo by Nicholette Carlson, The Mail-Journal) At The Helm — Spring 19 SPRING HAS ARRIVED AT LAKE huge job checking and double checking the day, in the evenings, and at night. WAWASEE! I know that seems a bit over - names and addresses as well as coordi - Each of the patrol people not only spend board but I think it is the general feeling nating much of the material that goes into many hours on the lake but during the off here that we have had a LONG winter. I the book. On top of that she starts the season they attend safety classes and am not sure it was longer in days or planning for this year’s events such as the other training. One of their favorite “jobs” weeks by any means but with record low fireworks and annual breakfast. (You is to spend time each summer with the temperatures and winds, as well as would not believe the paperwork involved young sailors that attend sailing classes record amounts of water, not necessarily for our magnificent fireworks display!) at the yacht club in July talking with them in the form of snow, it did seem that “old Janet keeps all those I’s dotted and T’s about safe boating practices. They have man winter” was here for a long time. As crossed for us! proven themselves to be invaluable on we ease into spring there are already Along with fireworks (thanks to your the lake in many instances providing signs of it, twinges of green as the spring generous donations the fireworks here at backup to the Sheriff’s department as well flowers are beginning to push through, Wawasee are one of very best displays in as assisting in rescue operations. the sounds of returning birds ( I heard the the entire state) what else do we do? The WPOA was instrumental in the de - Sandhill Cranes over the weekend), geese Safety is a main focus for the WPOA, velopment of the Dry Hydrants spotted and swans in the area, and piers going in! with that in mind we have a volunteer around the lake, maintain some of the All sure signs that Wawasee is springing lake patrol that man our four boats during street lights in areas that were deemed back to life. the summer. They are on the lake during dangerous over the years, and we main - Despite the cold there were bright tain and print the “NEIGHBORS” book spots this winter and one of the brightest each year that is delivered to paying was the Iceboat races that occurred in late Regatta | Continued from page 1 members of the association as well as February. What a feather in the cap of sending this newsletter to each person on our devoted ice boaters to bring such a have long lobbied for the competition the mailing list. prestigious event to Wawasee . and to be held on Lake Wawasee. In fact, We are also concerned about our com - Mother Nature provided perfect ice as Lemberg has annually filed for a per - munity and things that matter there . well. Much more on that event in this mit in recent years “to be on the safe primarily at this time the repair and main- newsletter. side.” tenance of the Syracuse Dam that con - During the winter it is a time for us to On Wawasee, the frozen rain cre - trols the lake levels in both Syracuse and regroup as well. It is time for Janet our ated what Kjoller called “the Zamboni Wawasee lakes. With a group of dedi - hardworking “Gal Friday, AE, you name it effect” — referring to the machine cated representatives from both lakes we she does it person” to get busy and make used to smooth hockey rinks — by are trying to work with the town on a plan sure that the new NEIGHBORS book is melting the snow on top of the ice, that will not only facilitate repairs but pro - ready for delivery to you in May. It is a which then refroze, creating an ideal vide a plan for the continued mainte - course. “Thank God, because the re - nance of this very important part of our gatta was about to not happen,” he lakes. WPOA Officers & Directors added. We also do “fun” things as well, we Ryan Lashaway, an ice sailor from sponsor the annual breakfast in June with Cleveland, Ohio, commented on the Kay Young • President our friends at the SLA, the annual meet - convenience of the Oakwood loca - ing in August that has varied from break - tion, which saved the racers from fast on the Lilypad, an evening at the Carolyn Anderson, Steve Snyder, having to travel to and from the lake James Tranter • Vice Presidents WACF pavilion, and this year a dinner thanks to having rooms right on the cruise on the Lilypad. We support the Ft. shore. “A lot of us take days off of Janet Hartley • Administrative Officer Wayne Philharmonic’s concert here as work to come to these, so you want well as donations to various other organi - to have a good time.” Kip Schumm • Communications Officer zations of the area. After the awards ceremony, Lem - So, as you can see we have not been berg was greeted by several racers Jane Finch • WACF Liaison hibernating here this winter, we have who congratulated him on his efforts. been working hard to make the upcoming He, in turn, acknowledged other local Chris Campbell • Fireworks Chairman months here at Wawasee a fun, safe time individuals and organizations that for you and your families . start helped make the regatta possible, in - Sharie Johnson, J. Scott Laughner, packing and planning for a great summer cluding his wife Cathy, Wawasee Area at the lake! Beth Morris, William Pipp, William Ruddell, Conservancy Foundation, Wawasee Jim Silcox, Tom Tuttle II • Directors Looking forward to seeing each of you Yacht Club, Andy Allen, Bob Fanning, soon . and remember . “if you are Ryan Baylor and Kenny Bowles. Jim Kroemer • LakeViews Editor lucky enough to be at the lake . you “It turned out absolutely wonder - are lucky enough!” ful,” Lemberg exclaimed. “We’ve had The Papers Incorporated • Publisher of LakeView some races but never any majors, so it worked out well.” Kay 2 Winter Carnival a success despite arctic cold Temperatures never made it out of the The dance was a popular part of the Win - mid-teens on Saturday, January 26, but ter Carnival in the latter part of the 20th that didn’t stop many brave souls from century, as a part of the annual snowmo - enjoying the activities of the annual bile drags. Chautauqua brought back the Wawasee Winter Carnival, held at Oak - masquerade ball for the first time in many wood Resort and several other venues. years, featuring the Hubie Ashcroft band. Activities actually began Friday Saturday’s events kicked off with evening, with the always popular breakfast at the Syracuse Public Library, Wawasee Kiwanis Soup Supper, with followed by a host of activities at Oak - dozens of entries at the Syracuse Commu - wood, including ice carving, a princess nity Center.