2015 Wawasee Flotilla Commodore Winner

Pirates of all ages took over Lake Wawasee Saturday afternoon for the 54th Wawasee Flotilla.

Each year the creativity of entries out do the year before. This year was no exception.

Pirate themed entries, patriotic decorated boats, business participation, and combination themes of pirates and lake life, were seen. Some were in costumes. Even the two shore entries went all out with their decorations and role playing. Music was played from several entries along with the shooting of cannons.

Commodore Ron Baumgartner and his wife Tami.

Ron Baumgartner, commodore for the 2015 Flotilla, took a look at each entry before making his choice as the Commodore Winner, and started the parade around Lake Wawasee.

“It was a postcard day, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Holly Tuttle, Flotilla chairwoman, echoed by committee member Lisa Hill. The judges had a hard time choosing the winners for the various prizing, with two last minute categories — Most Family Fun and Most Spirited — added and will be included in future flotillas.

Additionally the Flotilla Committee announced the theme for the 55th Flotilla will be “Christmas In July.” The date will be announced later.

Starting off the parade was a large group of wooden and antique boats, followed by the Commodore’s boat and the 14 flotilla entries. Winners were announced at the Wawasee Spink following the parade. Photos of the entries have been posted on the Wawasee Flotilla’s Facebook page for the public to participate in the People’s Choice Award. The voting ends Monday. This award will be announced at the Flotilla Cruise on the SS Lilly Pad, Aug. 8.

This year’s winner of the Commodore Award was the Jim Kroemer Family with their entry “Yes I’m A Pirate 200 Years To Late.” This is the second year in the row the Kromer family won the coveted trophy.

Additional winners were:

WPOA Award — Women of Today

DNR Award — Bob McNary Family

Wawasee History Award — Kanata Manayunk Association

Neighborhood Award — The Kendall Family

List Family Award (Most Original) — Steve Imler

Most Patriotic Award — Lakeland Youth Center

Most Family Fun — Deb Farmer family

Most Spirited — Molly Marsh

Wooden Boat Award — Luke Knecht, first; Jim Young, second

Antique Boat Award — Kevin Wallberg, first; and Jim Klotz, second.

Business/Commercial Award — Remax Realty, first; and Mercury Internet, second

Non-Profit Award — Wawasee Yacht Club

Youth Award — Emma Johnson, first; Roxy Morgan, second; Michael Violi, third; and The Hollister Family, fourth.

The Neighborhood Shore Participation Award — Wawasee Spink received first and the Zipfel Family took second.